I researched a wide variety of soundproofing materials, sound isolation systems, and soundproofing construction methods in the early stages of planning my studio build. My starting point for the soundproof studio was a garden cabin built from 40mm thick timber - not ideal.

Some sound isolation products were mighty expensive and therefore out of budget until I came across an acoustic isolation system called The GenieClip System. This affordable component looked like it could perform quite well in my studio.

What Is The GenieClip System?

GenieClips are a component that simply screw into internal timber or metal stud frames. When installed these provide a platform for furring channel to clip to. The clip itself decouples furring channels from stud frames and ceilings. Plasterboards screw into these furring channels. GeniClips feature rubber on both sides that reduce airborne and impact noise.

Sound energy within a GenieClip "room within a room" studio hits plasterboard walls, whatever sound energy penetrates through the Tecsound and plasterboard mass ends up at the GenieClips where the rubber mounts reduce vibrations transmitting through to the stud frame. This principle also works in reverse - Airborne noise from the outside world vibrates through the outside structure, whatever sound energy gets past the air gaps between the main structure and internal stud work is again reduced at the rubber of the GenieClip.

There's No "I" in Team

The GenieClip system is a single sound isolation component that only works within larger soundproofing & sound isolation solutions. Such solutions require a wide variety of materials such as Tecsound and dense plaster boards installed in soundproofing construction methods such as "room within a room". GenieClips mounted directly to external structures with plasterboard isn't going to perform very well.

There are 3 varieties of GenieClip:

GenieClip - For Walls

We installed this variation of GenieClip for the studio walls.

GenieClips mounted to metal stud. 20mm air gap between metal stud and foil back insulation (external structure) See mounting tutorial video below.

GenieClip with installed furring channel, layer of plasterboard, layer of Tecsound and second layer of plasterboard.

GenieClip LB2 & LB3 - For Ceilings

We used the structural beams for the ceiling construction instead of installing metal stud framework because we wanted to retain the original pitch of the roof within the room. We didn't want the ceiling to be parallel with the floor so we chose to use the GenieClip LB2 for mounting furring channels.

Mounting GenieClips

For optimal GenieClip performance, internal partition stud walls are recommended for GenieClip installation because stud walls can be built to include a small air gap between the rear of the stud frame and external structure. Air gaps are a crucial soundproofing requirement as air gaps help to stop sound vibrations transmitting between structure masses.

Was The GenieClip System The Right Choice?

I've spoken with a handful of skeptical audio professionals about the GenieClip system. Some believe that The GenieClip system isn't a necessary soundproofing component as they believe that furring channels installed between plasterboard and stud frames are enough. I disagree. As studio owners, we understand the benefits of decoupling studio gear such as studio monitors, guitar cabinets and even microphones (in cradles/shock mounts). Was The GenieClip System the right choice? Yes, decoupling studio gear improves the performance of that gear, so I believe the same decoupling principles in the GenieClip System apply to sound isolation and soundproofing.