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Writer's picturePerf Bass

So, What is room acoustics really?




Ever noticed that sometimes your guitar, violin, or portable speakers don’t always sound the same in every room that you played it in? Well if you haven’t, I would encourage you to pull out your acoustic guitar right now and strum your favourite tune, and sing along too! That was fun, no doubt. But now, I’d like you to just step outside the confines of the room you are in, perhaps on the balcony or a terrace, or another larger or smaller room and give the same guitar and the same tune a go. Except now, when you go through the motions, I’d like you to really listen to the sound of your instrument or portable music player. Does it sound different? This may seem obvious, considering that you’re going from a closed space to an open one, and things are bound to sound different! Well, you are right. But I think you may not have realised why things sounded different, and how they could have a ubiquitous influence in your everyday perception of sound.


Room Acoustics – What it means

So, what is Room Acoustics? Essentially, it is how the room or the boundary of your listening environment influences the quality of the sounds being produced in that room. Any room, be it a closet, a warehouse, or a Home Studio, has an impact on the quality of the sound being played there. Except that, in Home Studios and Professional Studios alike, proper room acoustics can be pivotal in making your music sound hit-record worthy.


Why is room acoustics important?

Now that we know that Room Acoustics, broadly speaking, is the science of improving the acoustic tonality of an environment, can you think of why it is important in a professional setting? It is essential that that your recording/critical listening/home theatre space is able to deliver the quality of the sounds being recorded or played back with the highest possible fidelity. And for this, yes, your room needs to be treated!


Does your studio need acoustic treatment?

Just to reiterate, whether your room is a Home studio, a Professional studio, or a Home Theater, the tonal influence it will bring will adversely affect your listening experience in that room. Regardless of how high end or “best-buy” your sound system is, the inescapable truth is that an untreated or poorly treated room will mask the quality of your sound system in a displeasing way. The resulting sound may have you questioning the value of your sound system, instead of realising that it’s the room itself!

Of course, there is no better way to experience this professed difference than to hear it for yourself. So stay tuned to the next blog coming later this week, to hear for yourself, how quality room acoustic treatment can overwhelmingly change your listening experience in a room.


 

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