Watch the demonstration — then read what 54 dB actually means in practice.
The studio occupies a building in a residential mews that is normally quiet. But central London is not always quiet — workmen, deliveries, passing traffic. The video above was shot on a day when there were workmen directly outside. You hear it clearly on the street. You do not hear it inside.
That is what 54 dB of soundproofing means in practice. Not “reduced” noise. Not “acceptable” noise. Silence that is clean enough to record broadcast interviews without worrying about what is happening outside.
Sound isolation is measured in decibels of attenuation — how much the sound level drops between outside and inside. Every 10 dB roughly halves the perceived loudness. Here is where 54 dB sits:
Normal street traffic outside. Pedestrians. Distant construction. Passing vehicles. The kind of ambient urban noise that is present on virtually any weekday in central London. None of it reaches a microphone inside the studio.
A pneumatic drill directly against the exterior wall. The sort of impact noise that is felt as vibration as much as heard. In three-plus years of regular use, this has never been an issue — but if the Crossrail works had been happening outside, no studio short of a floating room would have helped.
Yes. The studio is used regularly for TV interview programmes, news packages, and broadcast documentary work. The noise floor is clean enough for broadcast without post-production noise reduction being required.
The Colonnade sits far enough from the Piccadilly line (Russell Square) that there is no perceptible vibration from passing trains. Some very low frequency rumble is generally not picked up by mikes.
The studio is a self-contained unit with its own entrance. The acoustic treatment includes the party walls as well as the exterior, and there are no shared spaces adjacent to the shooting area.
In normal circumstances, street noise does not reach the studio. See our demonstration video of how much noise outside is attenuated.
Absolutely on any free day. Contact us and we will arrange a time for you to visit. We would rather you come and hear it than book with any doubt in your mind.
Send us your dates and requirements. We aim to respond within two hours during business hours.