News out of England that recently caught our attention: Meta has opened a $16 million lab to conduct audio research and development for the company's AI glasses and other AI equipment. In addition to anechoic and semi-anechoic chambers, the lab also features what it is calling "one of the world’s largest configurable reverberation rooms," equipped with "101 individually adjustable acoustic panels" to simulate different environments ranging in size.
Whereas anechoic chambers completely absorb sound (to the point that people have reported feeling disoriented after standing in one for a prolonged period of time), reverberation rooms are designed to create reverberation and send sound energy around the space. In fact, when an acoustics company like Audimute wants to calculate the noise reduction coefficient, or NRC, of its acoustic panels, it sends them to laboratories that test the acoustic products in such reverberation rooms. NRC ratings range from 0.0 (no absorption) to 1.00 (total absorption), with Audimute's panels boasting NRC ratings as high as 0.95.
We're excited to learn more about the role that acoustics will play in, as Meta says, "developing intelligent audio that adapts to users and their surroundings." And, hey, Meta - if you ever want to build a reverberation room stateside, feel free to reach out to our Acoustic Specialists for a consultation!
Many times at Audimute, we'll hear from folks who need help with "soundproofing." Their office is too echo-y, there's some high-frequency sound in their restaurant, they want to be able to hear their drums, etc. All completely valid acoustic concerns; except the solution they're looking for isn't soundproofing; it's sound-absorbing.
At Audimute, we do both (more on that later). But let's delve into what those terms really mean.
Soundproofing has become the easy, shorthand term for any kind of sound management solution, but it really only speaks to a specific kind: the total containment of a room or space so that no sound is getting in or out. 100% soundproofing is possible, but it can result in an acoustic environment so tightly regimented that it ceases to be comfortable (check out anechoic chambersfor more).
Maybe you don't want 100% soundproofing, but you do want to block some sound from getting into or out of a space. There are plenty of scenarios where where that's the case:
You live in a house next to noisy train tracks
You own a loud rock venue and don't want your sound to bleed into the quiet coffeeshop next door
You live in a house next to noisy train tracks and a loud rock club
You own a loud rock club located inside a house next to a quiet coffeeshop by train tracks
...You get the idea.
Soundproofing – in the truest sense - requires new construction: tearing up a wall, adding a false floor, etc. It requires a significant amount of time, money, and labor. In short, it can be done, but it calls for a lot of commitment.
Sound absorption, on the other hand, is the use of mounted products such as acoustic panels to absorb echoes, reverberations, and mid to high frequencies within a room (We often tell people to think of sound waves as water and a sound-absorbing acoustic panel as a giant sponge soaking up those sound waves). There's installation involved with sound-absorbing panels, but likely no construction.
Let's futher explore the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption with some real-world scenarios featuring our friend, Audie:
Audie wants to drum loudly in his home studio but he doesn't want to disturb his neighbors. Audie needs a soundproofing solution. (Like our Peacemaker® Sound Barrier – 3mm).
Audie is drumming but his drums sound muddy due to echoes in his home studio. Audie needs a sound-absorbing solution. (Like our Sound Absorption Sheets).
Here's another one:
Audie's clients at work have a hard time hearing him during conference calls due to reverberations in his meeting room. Audie needs a sound-absorbing solution. (Like our Fabric Acoustic Panels).
Audie's desk at work is constantly rumbling and shaking due to vibrations from the parking garage downstairs. Audie needs a soundproofing solution. (Like our Peacemaker® Soundproofing Underlayment – 6mm).
One last one:
Audie wants to drum loudly in his home studio but he doesn't want to disturb his neighbors AND he wants his drums to sound less echo-y in his home studio. Audie needs a sound-absorbing AND soundproofing solution (Like our 2-in-1 isolé® Sound Barrier Sheets).
In summation, when it comes to soundproofing vs. sound absorption, here's a nifty little rhyme to help you remember the difference:
If loud noise is coming through the walls, floor, or roofing Then the solution you want is soundproofing. But if echoes create distraction and distortion, Then the solution you want is sound absorption.
Ready to discover your sound-absorbing or soundproofing solution? Contact our Acoustic Specialists for a free acoustic consultation!
