How can I treat the outer edges of a door to make it close air-tight and prevent sound from leaking in or out? Putting up a second door isn't really an option and I'd like to do this economically. Any suggestions?
No, seriously. I'd nail (or screw - that's probably better) a board (5/8" multiplex or MDF) that is about 2 inches larger on either side and on top on the opening side of the door so that it covers the doorpost. Put a (fairly high, maybe also 2") treshold on the closing side of the door. Cover the part that sticks out and the treshold (on the door side) with neoprene. You might want to stick neoprene between the door and board as well. This goes for the treshold and the floor too.
Good luck.
-------------------------------------------------------- Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
For 'right now on the cheap', start by treating the door as if it's an 'exterior' door. If it's feasible and affordable, change the door to a heavy-duty, solid-core 'exterior' style door if it's not already. Add weatherstripping/barrier material around the door as if it's an exterior door to try to seal off paths that air can move around, over, or under the door when it's closed, as if you were trying to keep drafts from coming in your front door. You may also want to 'seal' around the weatherstripping and any 'seams' in and around the doorframe itself with caulk (preferably 'acoustic caulk', but regular stuff from the local Home Depot or whatever would probably still help, and cost a bit less - pretend the room has to be able to hold water like a fishtank, and seal anywhere the 'water' might be able to leak out).
Moving up from there, you can buy special pre-assembled doors and doorframes specifically designed for 'studio' use (pricey), add a second door (the least expensive and relatively unobtrusive way to do this would be to have two doors mounted on the same doorframe, one that opens 'in' and the other that opens 'out'), try mounting acoustic products on, in, or around the door, and so forth. If you really want to piss off a wife or girlfriend, prepare a speech about how your life won't be complete until you can salvage the door from an old 1930's bank vault to really seal off your room from the outside world.
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Competitions are for horses, not artists. - Bela Bartok
If you really want to piss off a wife or girlfriend, prepare a speech about how your life won't be complete until you can salvage the door from an old 1930's bank vault to really seal off your room from the outside world.
-------------------------------------------------------- Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
I can confirm zygons solution to be fully working, beeing economically and safe. I saw this type of sound sealing (in variations) alot in budget studios. But nevertheless all depends on the budget. There are more expensive but more professional *looking* solutions out there, i bet...
Kind regards Martin
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