Simulator Noise and Sound Issues in close quarters?

[Brettster]

I'm considering a build in an addition with one wall next to my son's bedroom (he's 6 years old). I don't want to worry about keeping him up at night when I'm using my Sim, so wonder what my best options are for building my Sim? Can I just soundproof the one wall adjacent to his, and maybe that will be enough?

Or am I going to have to go further, perhaps even considering building an extra thick wall, or double wall (with soundproofing inside) to keep the noise down from the Sim? What about noise in the floor below, is that a problem too?

Anyone have a sim on an upper floor in your house, or with adjoining walls that can comment on how loud it gets (maybe a recorded audio) in the adjacent room?

Thanks,
-Brett

[Mxwoodman]

Few things -

Depending on the impact screen some are louder

Just the sound from the from the impact screen you'll need to do some very good sound proofing

Driver is also loud

And depending on how you setup the hitting surface you'll have to deal with that going through the floor and walls

Not sure a thick wall will do much. The double wall or floating room is the only way to really get it sound proofed.

Check out how the recording studios create sound proof rooms

I think this could cost some money so you might just want to setup a impact screen and mat and start hitting balls and see how loud it is and how much you are willing to spend on it.

[Brettster]

Thanks Mxwoodman... Is there any way to quiet the sound of the impact screen, blankets, or something behind it? I've played a local Sim/Bar, and I do know it is quite loud. Hmmmm... yeah, I'm also a musician, I know how expensive soundproofing can be... I was hoping I did not have to go that far!

Are there any other tricks / tips on getting a quieter sound when using my sim?

[tascot]

Use a quiet driver , and maybe get it hotmelted ( but that's for a different forum).

[goatbarn]

Won't be able to use real balls I wouldn't think. Almost golf or similar balls would be best.

Real balls would make noise at impact with club and with screen.

Maybe consider playing with these balls for practice at night and real balls when he's not sleeping.

I've said balls too much.

[Hoosierdaddy]

Lol Goat you crack me up...

I have heard of users adding memory foam behind the screen. I have never heard how anything turned out. The main issue was to reduce bounce back, But I would think anything that would reduce the bounce will also reduce the sound. My guess is the worst issue to solve is going to be at the mat. Especially if you hit down and through the ball. Next issue will be diver impact noise. Like goat said you can use practice balls but I have found that to be a less than satisfying experience. First off the feel is totally wrong. And feed back is gone almost completely. And depending on what sim you use the results will be less than accurate.

Here is my solution to your dilemma

Tell your son to go sleep with mom. And tell mom to turn up the TV. Situation solved!

Or Build a second story on the garage instead of the house. Man Cave central... Urrruh

[Brettster]

Thanks HoosierDaddy, I have considered building out a new garage to solve the problem. Though that could be quite pricey and I live where it can get to -20 in Winter so would have to be fully heated. I'm guessing that building out sound-proofing in one wall, or just reducing my play during sleep hours are going to have to be the best solution. That and adding a lot of padding under the floor mat, may help.

[mthunt]

I have 3 inch memory foam 3 inches behind an HQ2 screen. It's very loud.

[karladam]

I am going to add Memory Foam behind my screen in order to kill bounce back and help with noise. I am looking at 2 inch Queen Size, and I am down to two options. The first is Memory Foam and is ~12-13 lbs. The second is just a Foam Mattress Topper and is ~7 lbs (so quite a bit less dense). The price difference is negligible. Anyone have experience with Foam/Memory Foam? I am assuming the lighter option is easier to hang, but do I need the density of Memory Foam in order to kill bounce back and noise?

[mthunt]

I have 2 3 inch thick king sized memory foam mattresses between the screen and wall. The screen is 8" from the wall and the foam is in between. It was really heavy and stops the ball really well but does nothing to lessen noise.

[Brettster]

I have 2 3 inch thick king sized memory foam mattresses between the screen and wall. The screen is 8" from the wall and the foam is in between. It was really heavy and stops the ball really well but does nothing to lessen noise.

I'm guessing the noise factor is more related to the actual screen, and the material used, then in what's behind it to lessen the noise, would you agree with that? My feeling is that if I went with a netting material in front of the screen or, if I projected the image directly on the wall behind the netting (as I've seen done in some setups), that the noise would be considerably less from the ball hitting the screen...

What are some of the screen/net materials used for the enclosure that others have used, and how would I know the noise factor here? Someone (or some company) must have measured this? Maybe a netting supply company, or enclosure company?

[Mxwoodman]

The screens are loud - I have P2P mesh screen and HQ2 screen and the HQ2 is way louder and I now I have a net and then the mesh and then HQ2 and its still loud

If you want to put a net in front of the screen that would help a lot but if you do that you don't need the HQ2 the mesh would work fine

You can get a sample of the screen materials from P2P and go the P2P web site and they have more info on the screens

Also for netting look at west coast netting

[Brettster]

Thanks Mxwoodman - I'm going to see if I can get samples on the netting as well, and the screens... I know the ball-strike will be loud, but I'd like to keep screen/net impact to a minimum so there's really only 1 loud WHACK, instead of WHACK-THUD you get with the screens. I'm hoping netting will let me do that.