Acoustical design of performance and rehearsal spaces influenced by instrument directivity

Abstract

The sound that we hear in a music space is determined by the direct sound, as well as the early and late reflections from the room’s surfaces, so instrument directivity and reflection control are of primary interest. Spatially directed sound by individual instruments and musical ensembles is controlled by the selection and placement of absorptive, reflective, and diffusive boundary surfaces, which contribute to the room’s preference for both the musicians and the audience. We will describe how these surfaces are measured and characterized for directional and random incidence and how they have been used in many types of musical environments. In this presentation, we will discuss and present before and after measurements in the design of an individual practice room addressing room modes; describe the essential ingredients in an ensemble rehearsal space; present before and after perception questionnaires for a variable acoustics modular performance shell for small music ensembles and a symphony orchestra; describe a stage canopy optimization as a function of the support objective measure and present computer model coverage predictions addressing rear wall and overhead canopy treatments in an auditorium.