Auditorium Sound proofing
The Sound proofing Challenge
The goal of auditorium design is to deliver fine clarity to actual sound for all members of the audience irrespective of their seating position. Public speakers, performers, musicians, and singers all need quality soundproofing in the auditorium, so that every word is intelligible and the music is rendered with great harmony. The audience wants to experience superior acoustics having least “live” or “dead” spots in the auditorium.
The acoustical materials selected for soundproofing an auditorium have to be durable, class A fire rated, decorative, and able to absorb sound reflections to regulate background noise, and also to scatter the sound waves to generate more exposure and balance to the sounds originating from the stage.
Soundproofing Treatment
By installing fire rated, decorative, ceiling or wall sound panels in an auditorium, the sound reflections as well as their reverberations inside the room can be controlled better to deliver higher quality sound. Reverberating sound waves within the auditorium will be received by specially designed Architectural Sound Panels for transforming sound to kinetic energy. Diffusion Panels will help to scatter the reflected sound waves to provide balance to the live and dead spots in the auditorium. You must also install sound panels as a background in the stage or behind the musicians for controlling reverse echo. The ideal auditorium is usually fan shaped with a sloping or curved ceiling and inclining floor sloping down towards the stage area. This shape is meant to break standing sound waves.
Acoustic Results
The acoustical panels installed for soundproofing an auditorium will receive and transform the undesired background noise, reducing the reverberation time to within 2.0 seconds. This will result in better clarity of speech for the audience, and even out the tones rendered by the musicians. The diffusion panels scatter the noise for better balance spread all over the room irrespective of seat location. This will provide a more enjoyable experience and ensure that the audience will come back again.
Additional Soundproofing Tips for Your Auditorium
Well-designed auditoriums are designed with non-parallel surfaces that help to break up standing sound waves. Preventing “dead” spots and scattering the acoustics in the room are two other functions achieved. If your room is shaped more like a gymnasium, there will be repeated reflections of sound waves. This will increase the possibility of “live” and “dead” spots, and hence you need more diffusion panels. Keep in mind that absorptive panels minimize background noise, and diffusion panels scatter sound reflections in various directions for better acoustic balance in the space. For auditoriums shaped like a fan having sloping floors, a ratio of 10-1 between the number of diffusion panels and sound absorption panels is recommended. The aim is to absorb sufficient background noise in the auditorium to create excellent speech clarity, but leave adequate reverb in the space to mix the musical tones together.