STUDIO ACOUSTICS

PN Bhakta
 Acoustics

The science of sound is called

Acoustics
 Objectives
• Control of reverberation time (RT) of different
audio frequency bands to maintain original
qualities of sound inside a studio.
• Attenuation of exterior and unwanted noises
and vibrations.
 Absorption Coefficient

It is the ratio of the sound energy absorbed per

unit area to the total sound energy incident
normally on the unit area
 Reverberation Time (R/T)
Time taken for the sound to decay to one
millionth of its initial value, i.e. 60 dB, after the
source has been switched off, is called
‘Reverberation Time’(R/T).
 Eyring’s Formula for R/T

Where, R/T = Reverberation time in seconds

V = Volume in cubic ft.
S = Total surface area of room in Sq.ft.
 = Average absorption coefficient

If, V is in m3, S is m2, then R/T is given as

 Average absorption coefficient (  ) is given by

S11  S 2  2  .........  Sn  n
 
S1 S 2  .......  Sn

Where S1, S2…….Sn are the areas (in sq. ft.) of different materials
provided, and
1 , 2 ……n are the absorption coefficients of these materials.
 Effect of R/T on Program
• Volume of program increases.
But more reverberation may impair the
quality of program and, therefore, should be
controlled.

• Reverberation results in prolongation of sound

inside the room.
This produces a very pleasant continuity in the
flow of music. However, Too much of
prolongation, may create loss in
intelligibility of program due to decrease in
clarity.
• Reverberation time of a room is dependent on
frequency.
Therefore, it modifies the frequency
characteristics of the total sound field
inside the room. High R/T at mid and high
frequencies leads to increased ‘aliveness’
and that at low frequencies increases
‘warmth’.
 R/T for Various Studios
• Talk Studio - 0.35 to 0.4
• Music Studio - 0.48 to 0.77
• Drama Studio - 0.44 to 0.59
• Transmission Studio - 0.35 or less
• MP Studio - 0.46 to 0.62
 Audio Frequency Range
• Low - 20 Hz - 300 Hz
• Mid - 300 Hz - 5000 Hz
• High - 5000 Hz - 20,000 Hz
• Tweeter-2000Hz – 20000Hz – High pitch sounds
by bird
• Woofer – 40Hz – 1000 Hz or so
(Woof – Dog’s bark)
• Subwoofer (or sub) – 20 Hz – 200 Hz – Low
pitched audio frequency (Bass)
Reverberation Time vs. Volume

1.1

MUSIC
STUDIO

0.9
REVERBERATION TIME IN SECONDS AT 1kHz

0.7 TALK
STUDIO

0.5

0.3

0.1

0
0 1000 10000 100000
VOLUME IN CUFT
 Optimum R/T vs. Frequency
RATIO OF R / T TO THAT AT 1kHz

2.0

1.6

1.2
1.0
0.9

0.1
0 100 200 1000 5000
FREQUENCY IN Hz,
OPTIMUM R / T vs FREQUENCY

Recommendation – MORRIS & NIXON

 Acoustic Absorbers
• Porous Materials: Mineral wool, glass wool, etc.
• These materials are very good absorber and are
most effective in mid and high frequencies.
• However, these cannot be used without some
facing material.
• Carpets and curtains also fall in this category.
• Fibrous Materials: Celotak, insulation
boards, perfotiles, jolly-low tone tiles etc.
• Absorption efficiency of these materials
depends upon the trapping and dissipation
of sound energy in tiny pores.
• Absorption gets reduced if the surface
pores are filled with paints etc.
• These materials have very poor absorption on
low frequencies.
However appreciable improvement at these
frequencies is possible by providing air-gap
behind these materials
 • Panel Absorbers: Panel absorbers are thin
sheets/membranes with an air cavity behind.
• The mass of the panel and the springiness of the air in
the cavity resonant at some particular frequency.

• Panel absorbers with 3mm teak ply-facing +

50mm air gap + 25mm mineral wool resonate at
about 125Hz.
• This is generally used as low frequency absorber
(LFA).
• Perforated Panel Absorbers:
• Perforated hardboard (PHB) spaced from the
wall constitute a resonant type of sound
absorber.
• The absorption can be considerably enhanced
by inserting suitable porous/fibrous damping
materials in the air cavity.
 Sources of Noise and Sound
Insulation
• Outside the building
• Inside the studio itself and /or
• Outside the studio but within the building
Noise from Outside of the Building
It may be due to
• Aircraft
• Road and
• Rail traffic
 Noise from Inside the Studio
It consist of:
• Air-conditioning noise due to air flow,
• The noise from fluorescent lights,
• From cooling fans in equipment etc.
 Noise due to Air-conditioning Plants
• To minimise structural borne noise-
A/C plant is installed in a separate block.
• To avoid transfer of airborne noise-
 Duct is insulated internally with sound
absorbing materials e.g. glass wool.
 Speed of the blower is kept low (about 750
rpm)
Modular Acoustic Panel Designs
610 610 610

610
610

610
(a) LF Panel (b) MF Panel (c) HF Panel

3mm TEAK PLY 12mm Perforated 5mm Perforated

+50mm AG Hardboard (PHB) Hardboard (PHB)
+25mm GW +25mm GW +25mm GW
+3mm Comp. Ply +3mm Comp. Ply +3mm Comp. Ply

Fig. (1) Fig. (2) Fig. (3)

1230

610 610
HF
610

2805
610

MF
2440
610

915

LF
610

150
150

Composite
(a’) LF Panel (b’) MF Panel SKIRTING Panel

DETAILS AS IN (a) DETAILS AS IN (b)

(c’) HF Panel

22% Open Area Perforated Hardboard (PHB)

+25mm GW +3mm Comp. Ply
Low Frequency Absorbers
Non-Resonant Panel
Different combination of Acoustic
Panels
 Various types of acoustic treatment
• A1 = 3mm teak ply + 50mm Air Gap + 25mm Glass
Wool
• A2 = 3mm teak ply + 75mm Air Gap
• B1 = 5mm PHB + 38mm AG + 12 mm IB + 3mm Coml
ply
• B2 = 5mm PHB + 12mm IB + 38mm AG + 3mm Coml
ply
• B3 = 5mm PHB + 25mm MW + 25mm AG + 3mm Coml
ply
• B4 = 5mm PHB + 50mm MW + 3mm Coml ply
• B5 = 5mm PHB + 50mm AG + 3mm Coml ply
 Comparison of RT Characteristics of
different Studios

Type of RT Value at different frequencies

Studio 125 Hz 250 Hz 500 Hz 1000 Hz 2000 Hz 4000 Hz
Transmission 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35 0.35
Studio
Talk Studio 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
Music Studio 0.77 0.65 0.53 0.48 0.48 0.58
Multipurpose 0.62 0.54 0.47 0.46 0.46 0.49
Studio
(M.P.STUDIO)
Drama 0.59 0.53 0.47 0.44 0.44 0.49
Studio