Are you going ECHONUTS? Overcome distracting sound reflections while working from home
Grant Crowell
Video Producer ?? | Instructional Designer ???? | Voiceover Artist ??? | Social Wordsmith ?????? | Author ?? | Neurodiversity Speaker ??? | Making Communication and Learning Fun! ?? ??
ech·o | ?ekō |?noun
a sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener.?
ech?o?nuts
the feeling of going insane from having to hear so much reflecting noise while doing remote calls.?
Why should people working from home consider professional sound treatment?
The echo can be a serious problem for some folks who are in a room without any sound treatment. Sometimes I’ll have a hard time understanding what someone is communicating because their voice is bouncing off their own walls.?
Professional sound treatment isn’t something reserved for just audio professionals. It’s also highly beneficial for people who work remotely, like myself!
A sound-treated work environment will greatly help your concentration, productivity, and the ability to produce a top-notch audio recording or phone/video call. Even a small amount of room treatment will make a noticeable difference.
Understanding sound treatment vs. sound absorption
Tom Miller of Carter Miller Acoustics, a local professional soundproofing company that helped me set up my room, shared with me some common assumptions people have (and mistakes people often make) about sound treatment for their home office:
“Not knowing the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption” is a big one, says Tom.??“Soundproofing is treating a space so the sound does not escape or get in from the outside. Sound absorption is absorbing sound within a space. A lot of people ask about getting their room soundproofed when they just need acoustic panels or drapes.”
Where to start with sound treating your home office?
I asked Tom,?what recommendations would you give to someone who is starting out with sound treatment??Including: when to hire a professional and how to best find one who meets your needs and budget?
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Getting started: match it with your most important work.
“First decide on what's the most important aspect for the type of work you do. If your room is reflective, and you’re doing a lot of phone/video calls, you’ll want to dampen the echo. Look at packing blankets, especially if you are on a shoestring budget or in a temporary home office.?They can be easily attached to walls or draped over microphone stands in the background. Also, look in your local classifieds for used acoustic panels.”
When to hire a professional?
“Hire a professional when you’ve done all you can do and are still not happy with the results.” Says Tom. “Sometimes hiring a professional from the start could save a lot of time and money. Often they’ll point you in the right DIY direction, especially if the budget is tight. Be upfront on what you’re willing to spend on materials and installation.”
How I sound-treated my own room
My job requires me to be on lots of online calls and meetings, along with doing voiceovers, e-learning tutorials, quick video captures, and sometimes fast audio messages to colleagues and vendors.?
The results? Audiogasmic.?
Since I had my room sound-treated, I am much better able to hear people on calls and have them hear me more clearly. I can also block out some outside noise, such as when there’s traffic or townhome maintenance.?
For anyone starting out, just purchasing some foam squares and command strips online will already make a difference. This seems to be the most common. I personally did a combination for my room. I had my back wall professionally treated since it shows up on my webcam in calls, so I wanted it to look nice. Everywhere else I purchased good quality acoustic foam used, on Facebook Marketplace. Then on the advice of my professional audio guy, I used?adhesive spray?on a foam board I got at Staples and then used this?industrial strength Velcro.?
I also purchased?sound-dampening curtains?on Amazon, since I also have windows. This is great for when the HOA mowers come around. It doesn’t eliminate it, but it does enough to not be heard when I’m recording.?
Conclusion
Even a small amount of room treatment will go a long way if you work from home. If your job requires you to share recordings, hear people more clearly on calls, or have them hear you more clearly, then sound treatment is for you! You’ll go from?echonuts?to having an?audiogasm?— the euphoria you get from experiencing a sound-treated room!
What are your biggest challenges with sound treating your own home office? Let me know in the comments below!