Auditorium Acoustics

Auditoriums require premium sound quality for voice and music, delivering crisp tones and clarity to sound to every member of the seated audience. Most auditoriums are built with non-parallel sets of perimeter walls, with angled ceilings and floors that will combine to scatter sound wave reflections evenly throughout the space. Poor room acoustics are caused by a lack of absorption, leaving echoes in the room that combine to blur original sound signals. Clarity to speech and harmonies to music are compromised, the audience is left straining to hear.

We show you how to properly calculate needed auditorium acoustic materials and apply sound panels to the perimeter wall or ceiling surfaces.

Questions?  Call 1-800-638-9355

Related Auditorium Acoustic Product Options

The same Fabric Panels can be “floated” off your ceiling inside the Auditorium to produce the same sound values back that a perimeter wall or ceiling flush mounted treatment will deliver. These are called Ceiling Clouds and are designed to suspend mechanically from the ceiling as you wish, spread evenly across the expanse of your ceiling. And yes, the treatment will perform to the same levels of absorption as a lower wall mounted treatment would deliver back to the room. Another popular option for an Auditorium is to wrap perimeter wall mounted sound panels with graphics, imagery, logos, photography and artwork to generate the ultimate visual WOW factor along with the sound values delivered into space. These are called PicturePanels, be sure to check them out!

Auditorium Soundproofing:  Q&A

How to design a new Auditorium for premium sound quality

There are certain rules of thumb when designing a new auditorium. For premium sound quality, most auditoriums are fan-shaped by design with angled floor and ceiling surfaces, and walls that are not parallel to one another.   The design removes the possibility for standing sound waves, which would deliver an imbalance to the acoustics being broadcast on stage.  The goal for premium auditorium acoustics is equal distribution of sound for seated members of the audience regardless of their location in the auditorium.  Designing an auditorium for premium sound quality starts with the basic layout of the room, ensuring that sound waves are evenly distributed throughout the space.  This explains why auditoriums are typically not shoebox shaped rooms.

How to improve sound quality in an existing Auditorium

Unwelcome levels of sound wave reverberations will echo throughout an auditorium and blur original sound signals coming from the stage.  This will compromise the clarity to sound and the ability for the audience to understand speech or appreciate music.  To improve the sound quality to the auditorium, a set of perimeter wall or ceiling mounted sound panels can combine to properly capture and convert the unwanted echoes from the space.  By dropping the level of background noise, greater clarity to original sound is restored and premium sound quality produced.  These sound panels can be placed as you wish throughout your existing auditorium, so long as panel thickness and coverage amounts are accurate.

How does acoustic soundproofing protect onstage musicians from back slap echo?

Slapback echo is excessive sound that reflects off of the hard surfaces behind the stage or against the wall opposite the stage in an auditorium. This can be challenging for artists because it distorts their original sound signals and makes it difficult for them to perform.  Sound panels can be used to capture and convert these echoes, and protect the value of the performance.   To absorb the echo, it’s important to install auditorium acoustic panels on the rear wall and front balcony, as well as the stage area to control sound from musicians. This will protect the musicians from slapback echoes and restore sound clarity.  Soundproofing an auditorium is important not only to improve the listening pleasure of the audience, but the performance value of the musicians and speakers on stage.

How to maximize clarity to speech in an Auditorium

Because there are many reflective surfaces in an auditorium, it can be difficult for an audience to hear clearly. Speech can become unintelligible and muddled due to sound waves that bounce off the perimeter surfaces in the auditorium.  To correct the distorted sound, it’s best to apply acoustic soundproofing to the space. Fabric Panels are the most popular option because they can be evenly dispersed on walls or ceilings and can be customized to the size, shape and color of your choosing. The soundproofing application will result in the greater clarity to original sound, lower levels of background noise, and a more satisfied audience experience.

How to balance musical harmonies in an Auditorium

The goal is to enhance sound wave reflections that arrive earlier rather than later, and time them to arrive as a sound signal simultaneously to the listening audience.  Because sound waves reach the back of an auditorium last, they can reverberate and distort the clarity to original sound signal.  It’s imperative to apply acoustic soundproofing panels to the back walls in order to absorb the echoes, reduce the flutter, and generate clarity to original sound. Sound panels can flush mount to perimeter wall or ceiling surfaces, or can “float” mechanically as clouds off the ceiling.   The goal is coverage.  Be sure you introduce the right amount of sound panel into the room.  Call our help desk for a free Room Analysis to calculate your coverage amounts.

How many sound panels does an Auditorium require?

Coverage amounts for auditorium acoustic panels will depend on the size, shape and surface textures of the room. To properly soundproof an auditorium, the goal is to deliver a net RT60 time of 1.5-2.0 seconds.   This is the length of time it takes for echoes to die off, and the threshold for human ear.  Echoes that carry in an auditorium for longer than 2 seconds will cause distortion and a lack of clarity to the sounds on stage.   Once the echoes start to collapse, background sound interference will drop, and premium sound quality for your auditorium will be achieved as original sound clarity is restored. To calculate coverage amounts for your acoustic soundproofing, call our help desk at 1-800-638-9355 or submit our Room Analysis form.

Where should Auditorium acoustic panels be placed?

The key to success is to ensure that you are not under treating the space. Once the right square footage totals are calculated for your sound panels, the goal is to evenly distribute them around the back and side walls of your auditorium. The placement of NetWell’s acoustic Fabric Panels is irrelevant as long as the acoustic soundproofing is evenly distributed throughout the space. Be sure to order 2” thick panels to effectively capture and control your low base frequency sounds.   Sound panels can also be flush mounted to your ceiling, or floated off the ceiling as a cloud.   The panels can also be placed behind an orchestra pit or back wall behind the stage.  Available in 60 colors including Black.

How are Auditorium acoustic panels installed?

Clips will be included with your shipment of sound panels. If your wall is concrete or brick, metal clips will be anchored to the backside of your panels with a corresponding set of mechanical bars. The bars and clips will engage to anchor the acoustic soundproofing to the perimeter wall or ceiling surfaces in your auditorium. If your surfaces are drywall, then a set of Rotofast clips will be shipped with your acoustic Fabric Panels. This is a clever clip system designed to help clients easily self-install their sound panel treatment.

What are the benefits to using NetWell’s acoustic soundproofing products?

Without a sound panel treatment, echoes will carry throughout your auditorium and distort sound signals. The background noise will cause interference with new sound signals, blurring original sound and making it difficult for the audience to discern speech or musical tones. Once your Fabric Panels are installed in your auditorium, the panels will collectively work to capture these unwanted echoes, forcing the background noise to collapse and sound clarity to rise. As a result, auditorium acoustic panels will deliver peak performance values to the space and premium sound quality to every member of your audience.   Sound panels will protect the quality of the performance on stage and maximize the listening pleasure of the audience.