That’s because all of the sounds you hear, at all frequencies, are phase coherent when they reach your ear – at least relative to the immediate source. (If these direct sounds are from a loudspeaker, the phase relationships may be altered relative to the original source, but that’s another story.) Direct sounds will be free of any smearing of consonants in speech, so similar words are easily distinguished. Also, staccato music sounds with rapid transient changes are perceived individually with full clarity.Įarly reflections give an acoustical space a feeling of “life” and “air.”Įarly reflections actually contribute to speech intelligibility by increasing the total sound level while maintaining coherence of consonant sounds. Early reflections also enhance musical clarity and allow members of ensembles to hear each other. Stage orchestra shells are basically made to create early reflections. However, it is rare that you will hear nothing but direct sound. Indoors, you’ll experience it only in an anechoic chamber - a room made for acoustical measurements that absorbs all sounds at all frequencies. Even outdoors it’s uncommon. You’d need to be away from any large objects since buildings, pavement, water, or even large tree trunks will reflect some sounds.īenefits – Direct sound is always good, for two reasons.įirst, direct sound is the foundation of both musical clarity and speech intelligibility. ![]() ![]() With pure direct sound, no reflected sound waves at all are reaching your ears.ĭirect sound refers to those acoustical waves that emanate directly from the sound source. One solution is the use of highly directional, digital beam steering loudspeakers as at Trinity Lutheran Church in Spring, Texas.īefore you invest in your next sound system upgrade, it’s important to understand exactly how sound waves propagate in an enclosed space, and how the complex interrelationships of direct and reflected sounds are perceived by listeners in the context of music and speech program material. In order to wrap your head around that process, you first must master four fundamental terms that define how sound interacts with any architectural space.įor each of these terms, we’ll look at a working definition, consider how this characteristic affects speech and music in a church environment, and evaluate how it can add to or distract from the worship experience.ĭefined – This one is relatively straightforward. Direct sound refers to those acoustical waves that emanate directly from the sound source. The source could be a person speaking or singing, a musical instrument, or a loudspeaker. ![]() Excessive reverberation makes speech intelligibility problematic in large, traditional churches.
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