Room acoustics

The acoustics of a room are largely determined by its geometry and the properties of its surfaces.

Every room has its own sound. Depending on the proportions and properties of the room, this room sound can vary between “dry” and “echoey”, and between “indoors” and “outdoors” - although it is hard to describe the sound of a room with terms like these (just like with numerical values).

Purpose and interior acoustics

There is a wide range of requirements in room acoustics. A recording of the spoken word should generally be relatively free of influence from the room, but with recordings of classical music the acoustic effects of a “large hall” may actually be desired. A measuring station on the other hand poses other requirements than those of a recording room.

Depending on how the sound is generated (speaking voice, singing, musical instrument, noises, etc.), on an individual’s hearing and on the type of any processing (sound recording, hearing test, measuring analysis), different sound characteristics will be desired and indeed necessary.

Individual room sound

Owing to the very varied range of uses, it does not usually make much sense to have room acoustics “off the shelf” – only in rare cases is a reduction to two or three “standard items” sufficient to adapt the interior acoustics to the physical situation and the individual needs of the users.

An effective approach to this sensitive topic can only be brought about by the individual adaptability of the room’s sound.

Room acoustics and influencing factors

Absorption

The curves show how the different absorbabilities of various acoustic elements and materials vary with the frequency f.

Reverberation

The type, arrangement and number of the acoustic modules used in a room result in different reverberation times with varying distributions of room modes and intensities.