IDEAL ACOUSTIC AND INTERIOR DESIGN FOR A JAZZ CLUB Essay

IDEAL ACOUSTIC AND INTERIOR DESIGN FOR A JAZZ CLUB - Essay Example Very often the when dealing with small, closed places, such as a club, there are a few vital aspects that need to be taken into consideration. One such aspect is reverberation. It is the residual sound that remains after the source of sound, or music in this context, is stopped. This occurs due to the presence of highly reflective surfaces such as hard walls and wooden floors. When more such surfaces are present, the reverberation time, i.e. the time duration for which the sound is sustained after the source is turned off, increases. This can cause disastrous effects by increasing the overall noise level. A similar problem is the reflection of sound. This can be very annoying to a listener due to an effect described as the ‘microphone effect’ (â€Å"Education: Acoustics 101†). This is a problem caused due to peaked roofs and reflective corners. Both these problems can be countered by the use of absorptive materials. When the word â€Å"absorptive† is used c ommon materials that come to mind are carpets and wall hangings. While usage of a carpet is a good idea, it will in no way be sufficient to overcome the ill effects of reflection and reverberation. As mentioned before the peaked or domed ceiling should the dealt with. Also if the back walls are flat or, worse, concave they can contribute to the slapping back of the sound to the performer(s) on the stage. Adding absorptive materials to the ceilings and acoustic wall paneling to the back walls can effectively reduce the above mentioned problems (â€Å"Project remedies†). Adding absorptive material, preferably black, to the stage back wall and also sometimes the side walls, is in some cases a very effective measure to obtain same reverberation times both on the stage and the rest of the room. A factor not be overlooked is the audience itself. The audience themselves contribute to the absorption factor. The space is less absorptive without the audience, so care must be taken to m aintain consistency in