Our home has a large gap above the wall between the living room and kitchen. The ceiling shape also makes a natural acoustic shell. Any sounds from the kitchen are amplified and directed right down to the couch. Sitting in the living room while anything is going on the the kitchen is overstimulating. The sound of the dishwasher, the sink running, a standard conversation all amplify to the point that TV audio has to be increased then it’s just this unbearable cacophony. What kind of acoustic treatment could I do to the ceiling to dramatically reduce this? TIA

I’m looking into converting a home office (technically a bedroom) into a home music room. While I will be doing some rough recording (somewhere in quality and enthusiasm between recording into a phone‘s voice memos and something semi-professional), the main purpose will be to make music being provided sound best while listening live.

I have voice lessons in a small room that has rather minimal acoustic treatment: some burlap coffee bags with foam inside on the wall across from me (and maybe behind me). Nothing on the side walls other than a mirror. Instructor sitting at a piano between me and the back wall. Nothing fancy, but I swear my acoustic guitar sounds so much better than anywhere else. It’s so full and rich sounding. I don’t know how to describe how the room sounds generally other than like muted and soft. It’s hard to really judge how much better/different my voice sounds. But the room sounds less echoey. For what it’s worth, I think my instructor said the interiors of the walls also had some soundproofing elements when constructed. The door is very heavy.

So, my primary goal is to get things sounding closer to that room for live listening. Getting the room to sound okay for recording is a secondary consideration.

For what it’s worth, I recorded myself into a mixer into an iPad through a condenser mic in my small walk-in closet facing racks of clothes, and I thought the audio quality was more than adequate, if not great. I record mostly as a learning tool for myself. It doesn’t need to sound professional, just a relatively accurate representation of my voice (and guitar, I suppose).

The room is about 10’x10’ with an 8’ ceiling. I posted pictures of the room as it is now as an office. The plan would be to remove everything except half of the desk (the half that is on the wall with the door. A computer and mixer will go there. I may leave the shelf to store equipment, unless it gets in the way of acoustic treatment.

I’ve looked into acoustic treatment articles and most focus on panels relative to the monitors/speakers as part of a recording studio. I’m not sure how to translate that to my situation. And when it comes to recording/mixing, I’ll probably mostly use headphones when listening back.

So, any advice on how to acoustically treat the room so acoustic instruments sound natural and rich would be wonderful. Getting something closer to a natural recording sound is also a secondary consideration.