[Ansteorra] Sound Systems in Court (was Just a Question)

[Elaine Crittenden]

Iain has a point. My father was a partner in a company called Acoustic 
Control, Inc. It involved the absorption principle suggested.

The way the product worked was a series of two quarter rounds which were
electronically controlled to drop down from a ceiling or move out from a
side panel to create a half round of absorbent material for times when
speakers were on the platform. The half rounds retracted to expose
reflective material to support singing or music. The principle worked well
for churches. It was just a bit ahead of its time, economically.
(And, no, I am not suggesting anything to do with quarter-rounds, that's
missing the big point--absorbing unwanted sound is the point.)

Hanging more absorbent materials over and between reflective surfaces might
act as more of a buffer than we have now. As commedienne Judy Teneda used to
say: It could happen....

Lete
Just trying to be helpful...

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>From: iainmacc at juno.com

>         We can fairly well count on any hall we use being an acoustic
> nightmare. Concrete, tile or hardwood floors, hard surface walls and
> ceilings (especially steel), large expanses of windows/glass doors, high
> ceilings, large open areas, all contribute to poor acoustics. Can anyone
> think of a hall used for a major event that doesn't have at least half of
> these qualities?
>         However, all is not lost. Some of the problem with high ceilings
> can be corrected with hanging banners. Much of the problem with hard
> surface walls can be solved with tapestries/hangings. True, it involves
> having yet more stuff to keep track of, haul, set up, take down, store,
> maintain... but it does help alleviate the problem at a minimum of
> expense.
>