Soundproof Garden Studios: Can Hully Work for Musicians?

07/11/2025

Worth Reading

Thinking of turning your garden into a music studio? You’re not alone.

More musicians, producers and content creators are moving their creative spaces outdoors. Hully Pods offer an insulated, plug‑and‑play garden pod you can customise for audio work – no builders required, and fast installation.

But are they soundproof enough for real studio use?

Here’s what you need to know before you plug in a mic or amp.

TL;DR

Hully Pods are insulated and weather‑proof, but not fully soundproof by default.
With the right acoustic upgrades, they can be good for music production, vocals or podcast work- see our recommendations below
Delivered fully assembled; no concrete foundations required.
Each Pod is 2.4 m wide and 2.3 m high, available in three depths: 1.2 m, 3.0 m, or 4.2 m.
Better pricing and fast delivery than most garden room studios.
Ideal for solo producers, instrumentalists, and vocalists. For heavy drums/band tracking, this may still need extra investment.

Why Use a Garden Pod for Music Production?

Despite the high‑quality build, Hully Pods are not marketed as fully soundproof studios. They are insulated and weather‑resistant, but standard builds will allow some sound transmission, especially low-frequency and vibration‑based energy.

In other words, for voice, acoustic guitar, keyboards or production work, they may be eminently usable. For full‑band tracking, loud drums or high SPL guitar amps, you’ll need additional sound‑isolation work.

Here’s what musicians love about pods like Hully’s:

No builders needed: They arrive fully assembled.
Lower cost than brick studios or custom timber builds.
Fast delivery and install (usually within 6 weeks).
Minimal disruption to your home or garden.
All-weather use thanks to fibreglass marine-grade build.

You get a comfortable, heated, secure space that you can customise for your creative workflow.

Can a Hully Pod be used as a music studio?

What the base specification gives you.

Hully Pods are handmade in Southampton from a fibreglass outer shell with insulation built into the wals
They arrive fully assembled and are delivered free to England, Wales & mainland Scotland; no builders needed and no major site works.
Standard electrics: a 16A hook‑up connector and a twin 13A mains socket (upgrade options available)
Warranty: 20‑year manufacturer warranty on the major outer (fibreglass) structure against water ingress.
Firm, flat & level base is needed, but not necessarily concrete foundations.

Hully Pods vs competitors: Soundproofing & Studio Readiness

Feature	Hully Pods	Sonicbox Studios	Urban Escapes	Garden Spaces
Sizes	3 models (1.2–4.2 m deep)	Custom	Custom	Custom
Arrives Fully Built	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No	❌ No
Soundproof by Default	🚫 No	✅ Claimed	🚫 No	🚫 No
Acoustic Rating	Not listed	Up to 60dB	Unlisted	Not available
Floating Floor	🚫 No	Optional	❌ No	❌ No
Custom Add-ons	Yes, some at an extra cost	Extra cost	Unclear	Unavailable
Entry Price	£2,995 incl. VAT & delivery	£20,000+	£15,000+	£18,000+
Warranty	20 years	Not stated	10 years	Not stated

Verdict:
If you’re a solo artist or bedroom producer looking for a flexible, fast, and affordable studio space, Hully Pods offers a smarter base than most. You can tailor the acoustics without paying premium “studio build” prices.

Best acoustic upgrades for a Garden Music Studio

Here’s a practical musician‑tested upgrade plan:

Walls: Add 50 mm Rockwool or similar mineral‐wool insulation behind new acoustic plasterboard or panel. Add mass‐loaded vinyl (MLV) for better isolation.
Floors: Insert a floating floor platform or rubber underlay + plywood to decouple from base. Add carpet or heavy rug on top.
Ceiling: Use acoustic foam or heavy curtains; for best results install a dropped ceiling with absorbent layer.
Door/Window Gaps: Seal gaps with acoustic tapes or strips; use sound blankets or plug covers on windows when tracking loud instruments.
Ventilation & HVAC: Ensure quiet ventilation; isolate fan vibration; consider passive ventilation plus small quiet unit to avoid noise.
Monitoring / Trigger Vibration Control: Use monitor stands with isolation pads; ensure heavy monitors do not transmit vibration through floor to neighbours.

Cost Estimate: these additions might run roughly £1,000‑£3,000 (depending on scale & quality) still well below the cost of a full studio build.

See what our customers have to say…

“I record vocals and acoustic guitar inside a Hullypod with treatment. Sounds amazing and zero complaints from neighbours.”
Jack W.
indie folk artist, Bristol
“Used mine for mixing and podcasting — the insulation helps, and a few panels fixed the reverb.”
Sofia M.
voiceover artist, Leeds

Garden Music Room Noise Test

Do I need planning permission?

Usually not. Hully Pods are designed to fall within Permitted Development Rights if:

They’re under 2.5 m high
Positioned more than 2 m from a boundary
Not used as a separate dwelling

Note: If you add visible soundproofing (like external cladding), check with your local planning office.

FAQs: Music studios in garden pods

Is a Hully Pod soundproof?

No – not by default. The Pod is insulated and weather‑proof, but for serious sound isolation (especially for drums or loud amplifiers) you’ll need upgrades: acoustic panels, floating floors, heavy doors/windows.

Can I use a Garden Pod for recording vocals or podcasts?

Yes. For vocal or podcast work this is a very good option, provided you treat the interior (e.g., acoustic absorption and some isolation) to manage reflections, reverb and noise ingress/egress.

What instruments can I realistically play inside a Hully Pod?

– Guitars (electric clean/DI), vocals, keyboards, production work: good fit.
– Loud guitar amps, drums, full bands: possible but you’ll need serious isolation upgrades (and possibly neighbour mitigation).
– If you track drums you may still need a dedicated booth or hybrid solution.

What’s the best Hully Pod size for a music studio?

For one producer/engineer: the mid‑size (2.4m × 3m) Skipjack is well suited. The large (4.2m deep) gives you more space for console, monitors, couch, live instruments. The compact (1.2m deep) may be too shallow for many studio configurations.

Do I need a concrete base?

No. According to Hully’s FAQ, you need a firm flat base (concrete pad, paving slabs, sleepers, gravel grid) – but not necessarily a full concrete slab.

Final Take

If you are a solo artist, producer, content creator or musician looking for a practical, stylish and affordable garden studio solution, a Hully Pod is a strong contender. It offers a high‑quality shell, fast delivery, no builders, and customizable features.

However, if you require commercial‑grade soundproofing (e.g., tracking drums, full band loud amps or high‑budget production with zero noise escape), you will still need to invest in serious acoustic isolation. In that case, you might consider a pre‑built “studio pod” marketed for full isolation or a custom brick build.

But for many music use cases – vocals, production, mixing, home studio work the Hully Pod gives you a smart starting point that you can enhance to suit your workflow.