Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: Dampening Sound on Platforms

Dampening Sound on Platforms

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Topic: Dampening Sound on Platforms

Posted By: mtlong594
Subject: Dampening Sound on Platforms
Date Posted: 5/24/10 at 9:02pm

Any ideas on dampening the sound of people walking on platforms? We can't use carpet because the tops are painted to look like street signs. When the actors step on the tops, there is they typical wood squeaking and heavy step noises. The platforms are just 3/4" plywood tops with 2x4s to make the skeleton and 4x4s creating the legs.

Any help to cut down some of that extra noise? Thanks in advance!

Replies:

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/24/10 at 10:07pm

Beyond the warm props changing thier shoes for soft sole ones, try tighting the scews on the rostra tops & jionts. Also add extra bracing to reduce rostra movement.
Normally I skin the tops with calico [muslin] prior to painting.
With the squeeks squirt some lubricant [silicone based] on the likely areas. Most niose comes from the amplified drum efect of the open space under the rostra, however by filling in the all the rostra sides with ply or MDF this will also reduce the niose from hard shoes.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: David McCall
Date Posted: 5/24/10 at 10:09pm

Squeaking is wood moving against wood. More screws might help. Structural support in the form of 1"x3"s on edge glued and screwed to the underside. Padding between the top and the support might reduce the rubbing. The hollow box sound could be helped by filling up the box with soft goods or even stapling carpet to the bottom. I wonder if you could change the sound by gluing 2" foam insulation to the underside of the top.

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David M

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 5/25/10 at 8:06am

Our entire stage is covered in carpet, glued upside down... With the jute/plastic side up, we cover it with LOTS of paint. (Usually all our old scrap paint. This becomes a great painting surface, cuts down on noise and becomes a "self sealing" surface that we can drive screws into, remove and paint over after..... Something on a smaller scale may help with the footfall noise, but as previously stated, squeeks are wood on wood and you will need to try and support/tighten connections...

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Marty W

"Till next we trod the boards.."

Posted By: Mr. Lowell
Date Posted: 5/25/10 at 9:39am

When I build large platforms, a turntable, or a complete raked stage, I purchase 1/16" or 1/8" thick sheets of 4' x 8' "Masonite" panelling to cover the entire surface. (I call it "Masonite", but it is dark brown pressed fiberboard that now goes by several other names).

These sheets of wood not only bridges the cracks between platforms but deaden much of the foot noise. But I always install the slick front side down so that the "waffle" textured side is facing up. This rough side makes a much safer walking/dancing surface for actors. (And I try to sink the drywall screws in as much as possible to prevent tripping). This porous surface holds paint very well and adds to the textured look of stone or wood style painted floors.

By the way, another trick to keeping down noise on platforming is to store your surplus curtains, backdrops and fabric under the platforms, (after the platforms have been painted, of course).

And you can also seal the back side of the platforms with panelling or scraps of velour to keep the sound from echoing out the upstage side like a bongo drum.

Have fun! -Dana

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Mr. Lowell,
Lighting/Set Designer & Tech Director,
for the Linda Sloan Theatre,
in the Davison Center for the Arts,
at Greensboro Day School

Posted By: JoeMc
Date Posted: 5/29/10 at 10:14pm

With painting rostra [plates] tops & stage decking. I add into the paint ordinary white wood glue, which dries clear, this also reduces the clip clop niose & wear 'n tare to the painted surface.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: mtlong594
Date Posted: 6/15/10 at 12:31pm

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! We'll give it a go.

Posted By: Topper
Date Posted: 6/15/10 at 2:22pm

You might also want to try sprinkling talcum powder or graphite (pencil lead shavings) over screws and wood-on-wood squeaks. Both are forms of solid lubricants that might diminish noise.

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"None of us really grow up. All we ever do is learn how to behave in public." -- Keith Johnstone

Posted By: bebop
Date Posted: 7/22/10 at 10:34am

We use "ten test" or "fiber board", cut to fit exactly between the joists. This totaly dampend the sound.

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cheers
bebop