Sound proofing panels for singing high notes?

[respice finem]

...They're like 300kg, I'd be worried about my office floor caving in from the weight...

This one is light and might help IMHO, combined with some isolation already mentioned

t.akustik Vocal Head Booth

Vocal Booth enables optimised vocal recordings in acoustically suboptimal surroundings / acoustically problematic rooms, Back plate can be pushed upwards, Adjustable mount for a microphone shock mount (adjustable in depth and up to 5 cm in height)...

www.thomann.co.uk

"minimally invasive" low-budget soundproofing of doors etc. may succeed with foam or elastomer tape

Soundproofing Tape: How Does It Really Work? - Soundproof Expert

The good and the bad of soundproofing tape and whether this noise absorbing adhesive can get the job done.

soundproofexpert.com

IDK if this may apply to your situation, but maybe: I've lived in an apartment block (decades ago). All walls were concrete, but still there was a problem with hearing the neighbors. This was caused by open wiring ducts. All we had to do was to inject a little self-expanding PU foam (normally used for fitting windows) behind every AC outlet, and the problem was gone.

 

[Curvature]

Speaking from direct experience, (I used to sell acoustic foam online) the acoustics companies know this, but most people search for "soundproofing" because they don't know this, so the acoustics companies follow suit so they don't go out of business. Educating the consumer is secondary to making the sale, and you can't do it if you don't get them to click your site in the first place...

I sometimes think about opening a shop, and then I think about how often I would probably talk my potential customers out of a purchase. And I actually did this all the time when I sold home theatre products.

"Do I need this warranty?"
"Probably not. Returns because of defective products are pretty low outside of a few ****** models."
"What's the difference between this cable and this other one."
"Nothing real."
"What's the difference between these speakers and the ones they have in studios?"
"The studio ones are generally better, but not always." And then blah, blah, blah, technical jibber jabber.

I was terrible at that job. Though I did make friends with a bunch of customers.

 

[kemmler3D]

I sometimes think about opening a shop, and then I think about how often I would probably talk my potential customers out of a purchase. And I actually did this all the time when I sold home theatre products.

"Do I need this warranty?"
"Probably not. Returns because of defective products are pretty low outside of a few ****** models."
"What's the difference between this cable and this other one."
"Nothing real."
"What's the difference between these speakers and the ones they have in studios?"
"The studio ones are generally better, but not always." And then blah, blah, blah, technical jibber jabber.

I was terrible at that job. Though I did make friends with a bunch of customers.

Funny enough I did the same thing while I was selling acoustic foam a few times, mostly they ended up buying more than we had initially discussed... I think people are maybe just excited to come across someone who is clearly honest about the product.

 

[FiftyTifty]

I would suggest Rose Brand curtains: https://www.rosebrand.com/

Gah they're US only. I live in Scotland, so that's not gonna work unfortunately. You wouldn't happen to know of any similar brands in the UK would you?

From what I've read, the best approach atm is mass loaded vinyl on the walls and curtains hanging in front of them. Not the worst for my pocket at least!

 

[Curvature]

mass loaded vinyl

I know this is effective for absorption. I haven't heard of it being used for isolation other than in wall cavities to augment STC. In principle I can see it working.

All we had to do was to inject a little self-expanding PU foam (normally used for fitting windows) behind every AC outlet, and the problem was gone.

I had not heard of this tactic. It's smart.

 

[Curvature]

Gah they're US only. I live in Scotland, so that's not gonna work unfortunately. You wouldn't happen to know of any similar brands in the UK would you?

Your local acousticians are amazingly organized: https://www.ioa.org.uk/find-acoustics-specialist-or-supplier

Four show up for curtain products:
http://www.siderise.com/
http://www.creationbaumann.com
http://www.jcjoel.com/
http://www.acoustic-curtains.co.uk/

 

[kemmler3D]

the best approach atm is mass loaded vinyl on the walls and curtains hanging in front of them. Not the worst for my pocket at least!

MLV is said to be really good for lower frequencies, mostly below the vocal range, for higher frequencies the bang-for-buck is said to be in dense rockwool like Corning 703. MLV will not totally fail but as a surface it's reflective to high frequencies, not absorptive.

 

[FiftyTifty]

Alright I have finally saved up some cash, so time to come up with a new plan.

Having a curtain all over the office room is a pain in the butt and makes it into a suffocation box with all the other stuff I've got in there. So I'd rather make a budget soundproof booth. Budget as in, it doesn't have to be isolated from people in the same room or even in the same house. Just enough that I don't disturb my joint terrace neighbours at 2am when I've got the most oomph for practising. Long story short; chronic illnesses are icky like that.

My mental image is a wardrobe wrapped in stuff that quietens the sound. Doesn't need to stop it completely, but whatever gets out and into the room won't make it through the adjacent wall into my neighbour's bedroom.

Here's my idea with 0 diy experience:
Timber frame - 0 idea and 0 resources
Fibreboard platform: MDF Fibreboard (£32 per 1.22m * 2.44m slab) - https://www.diy.com/departments/mdf-fibreboard-l-2440mm-w-1220mm-t-18mm/1696262_BQ.prd
Outside & Inside wall: 15mm Knauf Soundshield Plus (£32 per 1.2m * 2.4m slab) https://www.insulationshop.co/15mm_soundshield_wall_board_knauf.html
Fill between walls with 75mm knauf mineral wool: (£71 for 17.4m2 roll) https://insulationwholesale.co.uk/75mm-knauf-acoustic-insulation-roll-glass-mineral-wool/
Line inside with Acoustic curtain (£176 for 1.5m x 3m) https://www.sruinsulation.co.uk/studio-products/acoustic-curtains-1500mm-x-3000mm-ac3

4x Fibreboard (ceiling & platform from left over off-cuts?) = £128
4x Soundshield = £128
1x Mineral wool = £61
1x Acoustic curtain = £176
£493 Total for incomplete parts list

It's pretty pricy. Maybe it'd be possible to build it so I could test with just the fibreboard and curtain around it? If that's enough, then no point spending more.

 

[FiftyTifty]

This one is light and might help IMHO, combined with some isolation already mentioned

t.akustik Vocal Head Booth

Vocal Booth enables optimised vocal recordings in acoustically suboptimal surroundings / acoustically problematic rooms, Back plate can be pushed upwards, Adjustable mount for a microphone shock mount (adjustable in depth and up to 5 cm in height)...

www.thomann.co.uk

"minimally invasive" low-budget soundproofing of doors etc. may succeed with foam or elastomer tape

Soundproofing Tape: How Does It Really Work? - Soundproof Expert

The good and the bad of soundproofing tape and whether this noise absorbing adhesive can get the job done.

soundproofexpert.com

IDK if this may apply to your situation, but maybe: I've lived in an apartment block (decades ago). All walls were concrete, but still there was a problem with hearing the neighbors. This was caused by open wiring ducts. All we had to do was to inject a little self-expanding PU foam (normally used for fitting windows) behind every AC outlet, and the problem was gone.

Ooh this is interesting. Completely forgot to reply to this, but I looked around for gaps and there's a glaring one in the corner of this repurposed bedroom. And there's a few power outlets, a telephone line, and a modem box...I'd like to give this a try. Looking for acoustic tape and foam gives a bunch of generic results. Are there any good brands you can recommend? Also in the UK so we don't have the fancy American stuff here unfortunately

 

[respice finem]

Ooh this is interesting. Completely forgot to reply to this, but I looked around for gaps and there's a glaring one in the corner of this repurposed bedroom. And there's a few power outlets, a telephone line, and a modem box...I'd like to give this a try. Looking for acoustic tape and foam gives a bunch of generic results. Are there any good brands you can recommend? Also in the UK so we don't have the fancy American stuff here unfortunately

I can't, I was very young when we (resp. my parents) did it. Only the ducts of the AC outlets were treated, with standard PU foam, like that for mounting windows. There were no "acoustic" products available at that time. And it wasn't even much, IIRC one cartridge was enough for the whole flat. This foam expands even a bit much for this application, so use sparingly, It might be better to use some "audio grade" foam, if exists, that would expand less and be removable.

 

[kemmler3D]

Alright I have finally saved up some cash, so time to come up with a new plan.

Having a curtain all over the office room is a pain in the butt and makes it into a suffocation box with all the other stuff I've got in there. So I'd rather make a budget soundproof booth. Budget as in, it doesn't have to be isolated from people in the same room or even in the same house. Just enough that I don't disturb my joint terrace neighbours at 2am when I've got the most oomph for practising. Long story short; chronic illnesses are icky like that.

My mental image is a wardrobe wrapped in stuff that quietens the sound. Doesn't need to stop it completely, but whatever gets out and into the room won't make it through the adjacent wall into my neighbour's bedroom.

Here's my idea with 0 diy experience:
Timber frame - 0 idea and 0 resources
Fibreboard platform: MDF Fibreboard (£32 per 1.22m * 2.44m slab) - https://www.diy.com/departments/mdf-fibreboard-l-2440mm-w-1220mm-t-18mm/1696262_BQ.prd
Outside & Inside wall: 15mm Knauf Soundshield Plus (£32 per 1.2m * 2.4m slab) https://www.insulationshop.co/15mm_soundshield_wall_board_knauf.html
Fill between walls with 75mm knauf mineral wool: (£71 for 17.4m2 roll) https://insulationwholesale.co.uk/75mm-knauf-acoustic-insulation-roll-glass-mineral-wool/
Line inside with Acoustic curtain (£176 for 1.5m x 3m) https://www.sruinsulation.co.uk/studio-products/acoustic-curtains-1500mm-x-3000mm-ac3

4x Fibreboard (ceiling & platform from left over off-cuts?) = £128
4x Soundshield = £128
1x Mineral wool = £61
1x Acoustic curtain = £176
£493 Total for incomplete parts list

It's pretty pricy. Maybe it'd be possible to build it so I could test with just the fibreboard and curtain around it? If that's enough, then no point spending more.

At that price you might want to look around for used office "call" booths... They will likely cost closer to $1k but can be sold on for some amount when you're done with it, unlike homemade stuff that tends not to sell.