Acoustic treatment is no longer just about sound quality—it’s also about positively impacting the environment. The call for sustainable practices in music studios has grown louder, driven by a new generation of environmentally conscious musicians and producers. To delve deeper into this transition, we spoke with experts at The Wood Veneer Hub, pioneers in sustainable acoustic treatment.
The Wood Veneer Hub is reshaping the narrative around what studios can achieve without compromising on ecological responsibility by employing materials like natural wood and recycled felt backings. The new wave of sustainable acoustic treatment satisfies both the high-grade sound absorption requirements and the ethical considerations that are increasingly important in today’s music industry.
Learn More About The Wood Veneer Hub Here
How do you think sustainability in the music studio and acoustic treatment space has become more important in recent years?
We see that many of our clients, including musicians, are more concerned about their overall carbon footprint and sustainability impact. In our work, this guides how we select our products and materials.
As we know, traditional methods for audio sound absorption in music studios or acoustic treatment spaces are historically known to require mass amounts of synthetic materials to offer the same sound protective qualities that we achieve with our natural wood materials. We have even seen the return to a natural aesthetic for the look and feel of these spaces. The beauty of our sound absorption wood paneling is that it serves current practical needs and creates a finished product with the needed sound buffering capabilities to protect sound in studios and acoustic treatment spaces while also providing the peace of mind that the materials have been sourced responsibly.
It’s also possible to transform typically unexpected rooms into studios with the simple installation of our Acoustic Slat Wood Panels, which can be installed as a DIY project within a day or extended into the weekend.
We’ve found that with our clients, this need for simplicity and a quick turnaround is an important quality to get them hitting the ground running. We are proud to act as another instrument to aid their artistry. In some cases, we can see that our panels can be repurposed quickly to create studios wherever needed– providing the same sound quality as a traditional professional music studio. The slat panel wood is also vital in insulating while managing temperature control, which can be a great added factor for vocalists and singers.
What innovations have been introduced recently to make acoustic treatment more sustainable that is most exciting to you?
We are proud to use a recycled felt backing that helps protect and preserve sound quality and acts as the main buffer for sound absorption. Our recycled acoustic felt backing is specifically designed to provide excellent sound absorption. The slat panel design helps dampen sounds while creating a stylized and quiet space. Acoustic wall paneling lowers the reverberation time of noise in your space. We are proud to offer an eco-friendly product with a FSC Mix 70% certification, 70% of the wood content comes from FSC-certified forests.
Using batons has completely changed sound absorption quality, creating Class A absorption at a fraction of the price and approachable for any budget. Mineral Wool can also be used to increase sound absorption behind the paneling.
What are the challenges of creating sustainable acoustic treatments?
A challenge with any eco-friendly or sustainably responsible company is the choice not to cut corners and consider circular sustainability as a leading value– The Wood Veneer Hub is dedicated to providing the highest quality wood through eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
Wood is a natural material and requires time and energy to create. We must have patience and be mindful of consumption not to create scarcity.
How is the music industry’s demand for sustainable acoustic treatments changing?
Our clients are taking more responsibility and trying to understand the purpose of each task that needs to be completed. We have recently worked with many young content creators who have identified their need to create their own spaces– their feedback has highlighted a desire to make those spaces themselves. It can work for a home music studio or a place to record their podcasts.
How can music producers and sound engineers be educated about the importance of sustainability in acoustic treatment?
A diverse approach is needed to teach music producers and sound engineers about the significance of sustainability in acoustic treatment. This involves organizing workshops and talks at industry events, providing online resources, offering certification programs, working with equipment makers, sharing successful examples, and much more.
By using these methods, professionals can become aware and motivated to use eco-friendly practices, ultimately making the music production and sound engineering industry more environmentally friendly.
Will Vance is a professional music producer who has been involved in the industry for the better part of a decade and has been the managing editor at Magnetic Magazine since mid-2022. In that time period, he has published thousands of articles on music production, industry think pieces and educational articles about the music industry. Over the last decade as a professional music producer, Will Vance has also ran multiple successful and highly respected record labels in the industry, including Where The Heart Is Records as well as having launched a new label with a focus on community through Magnetic Magazine. When not running these labels or producing his own music, Vance is likely writing for other top industry sites like Waves or the Hyperbits Masterclass or working on his upcoming book on mindfulness in music production. On the rare chance he's not thinking about music production, he's probably running a game of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends which he has been the dungeon master for for many years.
