Acoustic Construction and Film Mixing Studio

What Is Acoustic Construction?

Acoustic Construction adapts existing spaces for acoustic performance through structural work, floating structures, sound isolation, absorption, reflection and diffusion, alongside air conditioning, ventilation, power and signal systems. These elements are combined to achieve appropriate reverberation time, sound insulation and background noise levels, controlling coloration, standing waves, flutter echo and feedback to create clear, balanced and full sound that meets professional requirements.

Reverberation time, sound insulation and background noise: acoustic calculations establish every sound quality target before construction.

Dingdong Acoustic Design and Construction Standards

Acoustic Design and Construction Standards Construction Standards · Ceiling / Side Walls / Floating Floor Isolation

Case Study: Film Mixing Studio

An existing empty room is acoustically renovated for ADR dialogue recording, DI color grading, post-production mixing and video editing, with separate recording and control rooms.

1. Project Overview and Design Approach

Acoustic design starts with the purpose of each space and follows national standards, acoustic calculations and performance targets to control reverberation and eliminate sound defects for film production. Interior materials meet fire rating B1 or higher and environmental grade E1. High-density isolation materials support NR25 background noise and 55dB wall isolation, with walls 15–30cm thick. Ceiling resonators address coloration and coincident modes across frequency bands.

Control Room11.94m long × 6.2m wide; floor area approximately 74.0 m²

Recording Room3.3m long × 2.3m wide; floor area approximately 7.6 m²

FunctionsADR Recording · DI Color Grading · Post-Production Mixing · Video Editing

Target Reverberation Time T60 (All Frequencies)

Frequency Band	Target T60
Low · 63–250Hz	0.3 – 0.5 s
Mid · 500Hz–2kHz	0.4 – 0.6 s
High · 4kHz–8kHz+	0.35 – 0.5 s

Background noise target: NR~25; an even sound field without resonance, flutter echo, standing waves, focusing or coloration.

Acoustic Floor Plan Floor Plan · Recording Room / Control Room / Mixing Console / Acoustically Transparent Screen

3. Acoustic Design

Ceiling

Ceiling absorption is central to room acoustics. A composite sound-isolating and absorptive ceiling works with resonators tuned to different frequency bands.

Walls

Highly absorptive, sound-isolating walls achieve 55dB isolation, with materials selected for appearance and fire safety.

Sound-Isolating Doors

Professional sound-isolating doors and sound locks provide overall isolation of 55dB.

Floating Floor

Studio dry floating floor: 35mm / 80kg·m⁻³ vibration isolation layer with timber framing + one 18mm blockboard layer + two 12mm gypsum board layers + carpet finish

Expected Acoustic Performance

55dB

Sound Insulation Dntw ≥ Sound Insulation

NR25

Background Noise Target Background Noise

0.6s

Reverberation Time T60 ≤ Reverberation Time

B1+

Interior Material Fire Rating Fire Safety Grade

Reverberation time is designed by frequency band (0.3–0.6s overall). Sound focusing, echoes and flutter echoes are largely eliminated. Project targets reference Dolby Laboratories mixing studio design standards.

Scope of Acoustic Construction

01Removal of Existing Walls

02Sound-Isolating Wall Installation

03Ceiling Sound Isolation Installation

04Floor Vibration and Sound Isolation

05Electrical Conduit and Cable Installation

06Wall Absorption Installation

07Ceiling Absorption Module Installation

08Floor Riser Construction

09Sound-Isolating Door Fabrication and Installation

10Room Acoustic Measurement and Sound Field Calibration

Construction Plan

Rough construction proceeds from the bottom up, while finishes proceed from the top down. Audio and video systems follow conduits and cables → equipment installation → calibration. Interior elevations use the floor +50cm reference line. Electrical distribution and lighting are coordinated with ventilation, air conditioning, noise reduction and sound isolation.

2. Design References and Performance Targets

Architectural Acoustic Design and Measurement Code JGJ/T131-2000
Building Design Code JGJ31-2003
Fire Safety Code for Interior Decoration GB 50222-95
Urban Environmental Noise Standard GB3096
Airborne Sound Insulation Classification and Testing for External Windows GB/T8485-2002
Airborne Sound Insulation Classification and Testing for Building Doors GB/T16730-1997
Design Guidelines for Low-Noise Workplaces: Noise Control GB/T 17249.1-1998
Building Sound Insulation Rating Standard GBJ121-88
Building Sound Insulation Measurement Code GBJ75-84
Dolby Laboratories Mixing Studio Design Standards

* The above standards are construction references

9. Construction Materials

Material layers and specifications follow acoustic calculations, with fire safety and environmental requirements checked individually.

Building Element	Material Layers and Specifications
Sound-Isolating Ceiling	Suspension hangers + series 50 light steel framing + 50mm / 32kg·m⁻³ absorption layer + vibration isolation pads + two layers of 12mm gypsum board
Absorptive Ceiling	Timber framing + 50mm / 32kg·m⁻³ absorption layer + polyester acoustic panels or suede fabric finish
Perimeter Lightweight Sound-Isolating Walls	Series 75 light steel framing + vibration isolation pads + 50mm / 32kg·m⁻³ absorption layer + 2×12mm gypsum board + acoustic sealant and joint compound
Double-Layer Studio Sound-Isolating Walls	Repeat the lightweight sound-isolating wall assembly to further improve sound isolation.
Absorptive Walls	Blockboard framing (two 18mm layers, 100mm wide) + 25mm / 32kg·m⁻³ absorption layer + 9mm polyester fiber or suede fabric finish
Floating Floor	Studio dry floating floor: 35mm / 80kg·m⁻³ vibration isolation layer with timber framing + one 18mm blockboard layer + two 12mm gypsum board layers + carpet finish
Sound-Isolating Doors	Custom steel acoustic doors rated at 30dB, combined with sound locks for overall 55dB isolation
Power Conduits and Wiring	Galvanized JDG conduits, ∮20 / ∮25, 1.2mm wall thickness; flame-retardant copper wiring ZR-BV2.5 / ZR-BV4.0
Lighting System	15W downlights for general lighting, combined with ambient and decorative wall lighting

Material and Construction Requirements

All materials must meet design requirements and pass documented testing before delivery to site.
Construction starts only after interior floors and walls have dried completely.
Absorptive material dimensions, framing sections and spacing, ties and cavity dimensions must follow the drawings.
Glass wool thickness and density must be tested and sampled as specified.
Flame-retardant acoustically transparent fabrics, perforated panels and other finishes require designer approval and testing where necessary. Grilles, coatings and other materials are ordered, fabricated and installed after sample and color approval.

Project Delivery Process

Dingdong Acoustics follows a standardized 14-step process, from requirements and site measurement to proposals, pricing, construction and acceptance. Final sound isolation and RT60 testing help assess whether studio sound quality meets the targets.

Dingdong Acoustics 14-Step Project Process

Complete Project Process · 14 Steps From Measurement to RT60 Acceptance

Alongside meeting acoustic standards, we place particular emphasis on aesthetics. Acoustics and aesthetics complement each other: a visually pleasing environment has a positive impact on the work within it.

Acoustic Design ReferenceDolby Mixing Stage Layout

Screen Format and Speaker Layout ReferenceScreen 2.4:1 / 1.85:1 & Speaker Array