SOUND
ADVICE
By Graham Hendry
THE EMOTION OF AUDIO
PART 1 : IDENTIFYING THE EQUATION OF EMOTION
Consider , for a moment , your favourite performing arts venue . Too hard to choose ? Then think of one that has impressed you recently . Picture yourself in a venue you absolutely love . It might be your own venue – or it might be one that you hope your venue can emulate or borrow elements from . Regardless of where it is , or how it looks and sounds , these favourite venues spark emotion within us .
There is certainly emotional information in almost any kind of sound people receive every day : be it transmitted by means of speech ; the emotion intended by a composer while writing a musical piece or conveyed by a musician while performing it ; or the affective state connected to an acoustic event occurring in the environment , in the soundtrack of a movie , or in a play .
There is an equation involved in creating an amazing space — be it a theatre , stadium , performing arts venue , or other creative space . That said , is this equation quantitative in nature ? For audio alone , there are many architectural components to consider , and impressively helpful acoustic models to be done ; however , these elements don ’ t exist in a vacuum . The architectural elements , for example , are a component of that picture you painted in your head just moments ago . The sightlines of the performance worked in concert with the audio capabilities of the venue . The lighting , the décor , the performance itself – it all combined to create an undeniably qualitative sum that left you impressed .
The fact that a physical location can leave such an emotional impact on us is a true joy of the human experience . It ’ s also a main driver behind our desire to return to arts centres , performance venues , worship spaces , and live sports after nearly two years of restrictions .
For this piece — and part two next issue — we will look at the soundscape of the performance facility and how it dovetails into the overall equation of what makes a live performance venue truly epic in our eyes and ears .
Talking Audio Upgrades First and foremost , it ’ s important to recognize the reality of the past two years of consumer entertainment . We have largely been confined to our homes , and many have upgraded their residential AV systems to accommodate their demanding , quarantine-era entertainment requirements . This is coupled with the fact that we are living in a golden age of content . High-quality streaming services cater to nearly every type of audio or visual performance , with high-definition surround-encoded audio part of the package – and it ’ s readily available on-demand .
This all places a heavy emphasis on the live performance industry ’ s requirement to compete in terms of both content and AV performance . Performance venues must consider every seat in the house . Unlike the home environment , where it ’ s much easier to seat yourself within the audio system ’ s “ sweet spot ,” a performing arts venue must look at giving patrons at the back of house the same experience as those at the front . Achieving this requires expertise in system design that is not normally associated with home hi-fi and custom install . It also demands a higher level of manufacturer support , and data available to the sound designer .
A manufacturer who has worked in the performance venue space can provide designers and integrators with solutions that look to a venue ’ s own walls for inspiration — drawing from the dramatic , historic , or otherwise significant architecture as an influence for decor and other details . Yes , the space may have hard surfaces and non-sound-absorbing materials as the main fabric of the building , but the special consideration given to these elements in the design phase means acoustic challenges are less detrimental to the quality of a performance — remediation using acoustic treatments may not always be a practical solution . The channel has a great chance to partner with manufacturers that understand this challenge and can help turn it into an opportunity .
The First Steps As a sound designer or integrator , the first step here should be , of course , to find a manufacturer interested in partnering for success . Seek out a manufacturer that specializes in offering solutions and request a demonstration to ensure the product lines provide the necessary requirements for the venue . This allows you to seek out those offering top-of-the-line technologies and innovative solutions .
In part two of this piece , we will look at what cutting-edge technologies are available . But , if you don ’ t want to wait , the first consideration should be to explore digitally-steerable loudspeaker solutions . Digital beam-steering technology allows users to focus and direct a beam of sound such that it can be given a required vertical direction and intensity . This enables optimal venue coverage and a direct / reverberant ratio for improved clarity and speech intelligibility . The sound can be directed with precision and away from reflective surfaces or away from areas not in use . With digitally-steerable loudspeaker solutions , sound goes where you want it : on the audience .
We will look at the technical details in part two , but now is the time to do the research , make the initial calls , and let potential partners know you are interested in working together . In the next issue we will look at the options you can offer end users , and reinforce the benefits they will provide for you , your client , and their patrons .
Graham Hendry is the Vice President of Strategic Development at Renkus-Heinz .
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