Room acoustics and influencing factors

The aim in influencing the acoustics of a room is to adapt the “room sound” to the requirements of the use of the room. Different criteria will be important depending on whether an instrument will be played in a room, or singing or speech is going to be recorded, or perhaps a particular device is to be measured acoustically.

Room geometry

The influence of the room’s geometry refers to the diffusivity of the sound field, the distribution of the sound intensity in the room. If it is possible to alter the room’s geometry when a new building or an extension is being built, e.g. a studio, the acoustics that will be required later can be taken into account at the planning stage by creating favourable proportions or angles.

In the case of existing rooms it is possible to add structures to change the geometry within certain relatively narrow limits, and/or to influence the surfaces in the room.

Choosing a surface

The way that different surfaces in a room influence the acoustics depends on their ability to extract energy from the sound. Different materials affect the sound to varying degrees in different frequency ranges.

Modular acoustic elements, that is, wall claddings, variable absorbers and mobile wall panels are used to change the level of absorption in a room. Depending on the application, these items can provide a range of acoustics, such as transparent sounds, good audibility, a pleasant, restrained character or very short “technical” reverberation times.

The quality of an acoustically effective element is described by its absorbability – which is given as the absorption coefficient a.