#1647441 - 04/03/04 02:16 PM
Help with Hall Acoustics
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Martin L
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Registered: 03/21/04
Posts: 20
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Can you offer any advice as to how the acoustics can be improved in this hall? During events it is very difficult to understand the speaker. Thanks.
Martin
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#1647442 - 04/03/04 03:20 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Ethan Winer
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Registered: 06/12/00
Posts: 5405
Loc: New Milford, CT, USA
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Martin,
> During events it is very difficult to understand the speaker. <
This is a common problem in large, live sounding spaces, and the solution is always the same - placing absorption panels on the walls and optionally the ceiling.
It's not clear from your post if you're looking for a DIY solution or prefer to buy ready made panels. You can read all about using rigid fiberglass to build your own panels in the Acoustics FAQ, second in the list on my Articles page:
http://www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html
If you're looking for a commercial solution that's pre-built and ready to be installed, a number of companies sell such panels. You can click the link under my name below to see some commercial absorber panels.
--Ethan
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#1647443 - 04/03/04 03:37 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Bill@Welcome Home Studios
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Registered: 08/23/03
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As Ethan says, such rooms are often helped by hanging panels fromt he ceiling. It actually looks attractive, and I've seen it in many multipurpose gyms where other events are held.
But from your drawing, it appears that the speakers are in the middle of the room, and the stage is on one end.
That is a problem.
And since the room is so tall, I would consider a single point source speaker location, with an aray focused into the room. This will also help to eliminate the arrival time problems that you suffer.
In addition, such an aray will have a focused pattern/splay selected and aimed to keep the sound off of the walls.
From your drawing, it appears that the sound is aimed at the presenter, and bounces off of the procenium walll and back to the audience. These two factors both limit the available SPLs (never aim a speaker at a mic) and increases the ugly bounce and arrival time errors, by multiplying the number of reflections, and by shortening the distance to the reflective surface from the speaker cabinets.
All in all, what you have drawn is a good example of bad design.
Bill
_________________________
"...it's easier than hitting the kids, and almost as much fun..."
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#1647444 - 04/03/04 04:18 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Martin L
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Registered: 03/21/04
Posts: 20
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Thanks, guys. A do it yourself solution is required and I have a few more questions. Do you have any idea how many 2' X 4" OC 703 panels they would need on the walls to make a significant improvement?
Also, would the panels that hang from the ceiling be OC 703 as well? Further, would you hang them in the trusses or below and how far apart would you space them. Thanks.
Martin
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#1647445 - 04/03/04 06:25 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Andre Vare
Senior Member
Registered: 03/13/04
Posts: 125
Loc: Hamilton, ON Canada
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Thanks, guys. A do it yourself solution is required and I have a few more questions. Do you have any idea how many 2' X 4" OC 703 panels they would need on the walls to make a significant improvement?
If you go the do it yourself route, make sure to get at least 2" thick material. The 1" just doesn't work well at the low end.
703 is the trade name for Owens Corning. The generic description is 3 pound per cubic foot insulation. Also check on the prices in your area for mineral wool. Roxul is one brand and Fibrex is another.
Also, would the panels that hang from the ceiling be OC 703 as well? Further, would you hang them in the trusses or below and how far apart would you space them. Thanks.
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#1647446 - 04/04/04 12:41 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Ethan Winer
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Registered: 06/12/00
Posts: 5405
Loc: New Milford, CT, USA
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Martin,
Besides the great advice you got from Bill and Andre, note that it's best to space the 703 a few inches away from the walls and below the ceiling. If you make the air gap equal to the thickness of the material it's exactly as effective as using material twice as thick. So for the 2-inch thick 703 panels recommended, leave a 2-inch air space between the 703 and whatever you mount it on or hang it under.
--Ethan
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#1647447 - 04/04/04 07:17 PM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Martin L
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Registered: 03/21/04
Posts: 20
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Very good. Thanks everyone.
Martin
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#1647448 - 04/06/04 03:22 AM
Re: Help with Hall Acoustics
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Jason Poff
Senior Member
Registered: 05/11/01
Posts: 330
Loc: Lexington, Ky.UNITED STATES
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Can the speakers be moved? I think that would be the easiest way to improve the room. Of course that is in addition to the fiberglass.
Jason
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