How to Sound Like Charlie Brown’s Teacher
Back when I was in grade school, I loved the animated Charlie Brown shows. I have particular memories of the scenes in class where the kids’ teacher would address them: “Wa Wa Wa, Wa, Wa Wa Wa, Wa.” Thinking about it still makes me smile. What a simple scene that helps visualize the point of my topic today. (more)
David Byrne of Talking Heads Talks About Acoustics
In this TED Conference video, David Byrne, lead singer of Talking Heads, gives us a brief a history of music and how it evolved in relation to architectural acoustics and reverberation. Worth the watch.
One issue this video doesn’t address is that architectural acoustics can be designed and optimized in any building. Sure, Carnegie Hall has a signature sound, but that sound can be altered. He mentions in the video that arenas are notorious for terrible acoustics. Again it doesn’t have to be that way. At Acoustics By Design, we engineer acoustical solutions for everything from nightclubs to theaters to outdoor amphitheaters. With the right tools, experience, and expertise, we can design the acoustical performance for your next performance space.
Seven Common Acoustical Mistakes and Misconceptions
Acoustics really is a complicated subject. Many of our recommendations need to be formed on a case-by-case basis, and some of that advice is based on principles that are not very intuitive. So here is a short list of common acoustical misconceptions: (more)
How Much Acoustical Absorption Do I Need?
Every year my nieces’ elementary school has a winter concert in their gym. Excited kids from all grade levels file into one side of the gym while the parents and friends squeeze into every remaining space. It’s wonderful to see all the kids singing so proudly, but it gets very difficult to hear the music in such a lively space with the parents talking and moving around to get the best camera shot. At Acoustics By Design, we get called in frequently to help design acoustical improvements for large spaces like school gymnasiums, cafeterias, and large classrooms. The big question is always “how much absorption do we need?” (more)
The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics
Open office spaces with movable partitions and reconfigurable workstations have become more than a hot trend in office facility design; they have become the new normal. As acoustical consultants, we often work on open office spaces, and we always begin the conversation with something we call “The ABCs of Open Office Acoustics.” (more)
Have you ever increased the volume of your music or television program in an effort to “drown out” your noisy neighbors? Or have you noticed how difficult it is to hear a conversation while walking along a busy street? In both of these situations, the “masker” (your music/television, traffic) is changing the threshold at which the “signal” (noisy neighbors, conversation) is perceptible. In other words, some sounds are masking – or covering over – the other sounds. (more)
Acoustics By Design Honored As One of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Country!
For the first time in its history, the National Association for Business Resources has named the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For™ in the country. And guess what? Acoustics By Design made the list, alongside companies like Verizon Wireless, Henry Ford Health System, Amway, and American Academy of Pediatrics. (more)
How Does Acoustical Absorption Work?
Walk outside on a cold winter day just after the first big snowfall and you can hear the hush in the air. Everything sounds different because that hush in the air is the snow absorbing sound. Now, compare that to walking into a gym where the sound bounces around and lingers in the room. Also, have you wondered why some hotel rooms are “soundproof” and some seem to have walls that are paper thin? (more)
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