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As a company born from the love of music and sound, we catch ourselves these days living vicariously through musicians who release their one-of-a-kind art and sound into the world. It’s always an honor to learn that our acoustic panels are helping musicians create desired sounds and aid in their artistic process.

We caught up with Jerry Jean, a New York City based award-winning songwriter, arranger, producer, and musician. Read what he had to say about his path to becoming a musician and his experience with Audimute’s acoustic panels:

Q. Tell us about your path to becoming a songwriter and music producer.

A. I took violin and piano lessons from a young age and went to NYU to study vocal performance. Upon graduation, I worked as a freelance musician in New York, playing shows and contributing keyboards and strings on both indie and major label records. I also coached singers frequently and taught music theory at my alma mater. Although I was grateful making a living as a musician, I did not feel I was leaving a tangible record of my own music. So in 2010, I expanded my focus to encompass writing and producing. I’ve since released 3 EPs, and am currently working on my first solo full-length album.

Q. Tell us about your songwriting process. Where do you find creativity and inspiration?

A. Sometimes there is no predetermined subject, and I simply begin by improvising while singing at the piano. I let the subconscious determine the song as I play novel chord changes and vocalize whatever comes out: spontaneous refrains, wordless melismas, whatever. It's a rather vulnerable, private practice. I record these explorations on my phone, listen back, rinse and repeat. Other times, I set out to encapsulate a predetermined emotion, vibe, or event taken from life experience, either from my own or from what I observe from other people. When the song's seed is predetermined, the process will still go back to the improvisatory method I mentioned previously. These explorations are ultimately refined into the lyrics and music that win out.

Q. What is important to you when you start to produce a new sound or a song?

A. It’s important to be genuine, and to create something that can stand the test of time. This means investing effort and money not only to improving the songwriting and performance in the songs, but also to the technical aspects of proper recording, mixing, etc.

Q. You use acoustic panels on your studio wall. When did you realize you needed to improve the acoustics in your studio?

A. I installed the panels in late 2011, shortly after deciding to convert my spare room into my studio. The room was initially full of undesired reverberations. When I was coaching singers and they sang loud notes, the entire room shook with reverb. Although singers sometimes enjoyed this phenomenon, I knew it would be detrimental when recording since I wouldn’t be able to remove the excessive sound reflections. I ultimately installed 8 large Audimute panels. They have a stylish aesthetic, and are totally functional.

Q. How do acoustic panels help you achieve a desired sound?

A. The paneling effectively absorbs the unwanted reverb. Combined with my room’s carpeting and furnishings, the panels keep the sound controlled to my taste. More paneling would dampen sound reflections even more, but I wanted to maintain a modest element of liveness in the room so didn't go overboard with coverage.

Q. What successes have you seen as a result of using Audimute's acoustic panels?

A. My song Your Love, created completely in my music room, was a winner in the International Songwriting Competition. It now has over 50,0000 views online, and the Audimute panels can be seen in the studio performance video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYymQbVah54.

My EPs Your Love and Fighting For You have both charted on iTunes, and I’m steadily improving my craft with each new project. Since setting up my studio, I haven’t had to make any adjustments to the paneling, and it remains an integral part of my daily listening environment. Not being bogged down with technical issues like proper room treatment allows me to focus my energies on making music and growing as a writer / producer. While working on my new full-length record, I’ve recorded live strings, horns, vocals, acoustic basses and guitars in my studio. The panels help me obtain clean recordings during each session while making listening back more accurate. Visually, they also complement the vibe of the room.

To learn more about Jerry, connect with him below:

Official website: http://www.jerryjean.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jerryjeanmusic

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/jerryjeanmedia

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jerryjeanmusic

When shopping for the acoustic solution that will best solve your sound issues and best fit your space’s style, acoustic panels and acoustic tiles can both get the job done. But there are differences between the two. Let’s look at a side-by-side comparison:

Style needs and desires can help you determine which solution will work best for you.

Audimute’s Acoustic Panels

Our acoustic panels are perfect for making your space come to life with vivid, high-quality images. Browse our galleries of popular images or upload your own personal photo, logo, or design for a personal touch.

Looking for a more classic look? Find just what your space needs with customary, luxury, and designer acoustic fabrics for a finished look unique to your space.

Audimute’s Acoustic Tiles

Acoustic fabric tiles bring a clean-cut, professional look to any space. With a wide-range of fabrics to choose from, you can match any design theme.

AcoustiColor™ Tiles and Audimute Acoustic Shapes will add personality, vibrant color, and fun shapes and configurations to your walls. Choose from seven standard sizes and thousands of color options to create your desired wall art.

Head on over to our acoustic panel vs. acoustic tile treatment comparison page to find more information on how these acoustic solutions differ.

When you realize you have a sound issue in your space, where do you start when seeking a solution?

Quickly searching for soundproofing solutions may seem to make complete sense. But solving an acoustical issue isn’t a one size fits all solution.

There are two-sides to the acoustic solutions story: the well-known soundproofing and the less-known, but effective, sound absorption.

So, what’s the difference?

Soundproofing

Soundproofing is the prevention of the passage of sound. Soundproofing products stop or block sound from leaving or entering a room.

Soundproofing materials and products are typically found inside walls, making soundproofing efforts inconvenient to accomplish once a structure is built. Different than sound absorption materials (as we will discuss next), soundproofing materials are typically dense and made to separate two sides of a wall.

Sound Absorption

Sound absorption is the process by which sound waves are taken in or soaked up by soft surfaces. Sound absorption materials absorb unwanted noise, like an echo, within a room.

The misconception that sound solutions are soundproof-based commonly occurs. But when fixing sound issues, blocking all sound is not always the best or desired solution.

Products like acoustic panels, tiles, clouds, and ceiling baffles are all effective sound absorption products that are designed to dampen reverberation and reduce reflected sound in a properly treated space.

Additionally, when researching an effective, accurate sound solution for your space, it’s important to know that products that block sound and products that absorb sound are subject to entirely different rating systems for efficacy.

Sound absorption products are given a NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) rating, while sound blocking (or soundproofing) materials are given a STC (Sound Transmission Class).

While both acoustic products reduce unwanted sound, they accomplish sound reduction by different means, and are best suited to different applications.

Check out our video to see the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption.

Sound solutions just got edgier. With the launch of our AcoustiColor Accent Ceiling Baffles featuring three new styled edges, you can take your design possibilities in a whole new direction. Whether you're establishing simplicity in your space or looking to make a dramatic statement with your sound solution, these new AcoustiColor Accent Baffles will bring any ceiling to life, according to your design motif.

Bring the City to Life

These individually crafted, non-traditional baffles seek to not only control reverberated sound and reduce unwanted noise, but to also represent a city's iconic skyline. You can take these baffles in a number of design directions.

Make Some Waves

Create a free-flowing feel in your space with these wavy acoustic baffles.

• Hang them in straight lines along your ceiling to create a smooth waved look.

-or-

• Hang them in a staggered pattern along your ceiling to create an edgier, boisterous design pattern. 

Think Outside the Box 

Turn heads upward by creating a geometric inspired atmosphere with these AcoustiColor Accent polygon-edge Baffles.

• Place the same polygon design on every acoustic baffle you order.

-or-

• Mix and match whole rectangle acoustic baffles with these polygon-edge baffles.

Complete your geometric theme by adding Audimute Acoustic Shapes polygon acoustic tiles to your wall.

The best design news yet? As with all of our acoustic solutions, you can match them to any Sherwin Williams paint color with the AcoustiColor^® option.

Get in touch with one of our Sound Solution Experts today at (866) 505-MUTE to discuss your unique space, sound issue, and goals for creating a remarkable acoustic experience.

It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked here at Audimute. “What exactly is an NRC?”

 Well, in technical terms, it is a scalar representation of the amount of sound energy absorbed upon striking a surface.

I know, that sounds like something you heard from your fifth grade science teacher once upon a time and forgot all about - so what exactly is a noise reduction coefficient? Do NRC ratings really matter? (We’ll give you this one - yes they do!)

I’m here to break it down for you and share with you the 5 most important things you need to know about Noise Reduction Coefficients.

1.) NRCs are an average rating of how much sound an acoustic product can absorb. This rating is important to know because it determines just how much quieter an acoustic product will make your space.

It’s easier to understand if you compare an acoustic panel to a sponge. Like a sponge absorbs water, an acoustic panel absorbs sound and NRCs tell us just how much sound it can soak up.

2.) NRC ratings vary on a scale from 0 to 1. An NRC of 0 means that the acoustic product is perfectly reflective – absorbs no sound, while an NRC of 1 means the acoustic product is perfectly absorptive – absorbs all sound.

The formulas used to find a product’s NRC does not result in a percentage and therefore, values larger than 1 are possible - like our bass traps that have a NRC of 1.15, but we’re not bragging. ;)

If you’re on the hunt for a solution to a noise problem in your space, you’ll want to look for acoustic products with high NRC ratings. The higher the NRC, the more sound the product will soak up.

3.) Thickness & density of a product are two really big factors in determining an NRC.

Here at Audimute we offer acoustic products in varying thicknesses. Thicker, less dense acoustic products absorb more. Thinner, more dense products absorb less.

4.) Acoustic product NRCs are determined using a microphone and fancy equipment that measures sound frequencies.

Well at least ours are. There are a few different ways to determine NRCs. We use the ASTM Standard Test Method for Sound Absorption.

5.) Soundproofing products do not have NRCs.

NRCs apply to absorption products, while STC ratings apply to soundproofing products.

If you’re not an acoustic expert - and we don’t expect you to be, it’s really easy to assume that all acoustic products are ‘soundproofing’ products. Not all acoustic products are created equal. You can learn more about the differences here.

If you’re interested in creating an amazing sound experience in your space with high ranking NRC products, give ourexperienced acoustic specialists a call or fill out a free room analysis form to find the perfect acoustic solution for you!

Resources:

http://www.alionscience.com/About-Alion/Labs-and-Facilities/Acoustics/Riverbank-Acoustical-Laboratories/Lab-Features

Are you ready to improve the acoustics of your home theater? We receive countless inquiries about home theater treatment each day, and the most commonly asked question is where acoustic panels should be applied to most effectively improve the sound quality in the theater. Today, I am going to take you step-by-step on finding reflection points and how you can use this as a guide for perfect panel placement.

First, we need to discuss what reflection points are. The primary reflection points are the points throughout your theater at which sound is initially reflecting. In other words, it’s the first surface that sound comes in contact with after leaving your speakers. Primary reflection points are important to find as these are the most effective treatment points throughout your home theater.

Now picture this: you just finished your home theater set up! You spent hours shopping for the right speakers, the most comfortable couch, and the best screen or projector. You throw in your favorite movie and notice something: you forgot to take the room acoustics into consideration! Fear not! That echo you’re noticing can be treated by adding acoustic panels to your theater!

To find the reflection points, you will need the following:

      • A home theater

      • A handheld mirror

      • Sticky notes

      • A patient friend

1. First, set up the room as if it were finished. Speakers and seating in your space should be placed in their final

locations. Moving any of these elements will change the primary reflection points of sound throughout your space.

I recommend leaving the walls mostly bare (aside from any speakers). This will make the process of marking and finding reflection points much easier.

Once the walls are bare and the speakers are in their final position, it’s time to start listening. Carefully examine where the sound is coming from in the theater.

2. Second, have your friend hold the handheld mirror parallel to the wall surface. Face the screen in your theater, and move the mirror around the walls until you can see any speakers reflected in the mirror. Be sure not to move your head or tilt the mirror throughout this process, as this will alter the reflection points. Mark these points with a sticky note. These are the primary reflection points.

Each speaker in your space should have 6 reflection points (one on each of 4 walls, one on the ceiling, and one on the floor). For a 5-speaker system, there should be 30 reflection points. Some of these points may not be treatable. This would include points that are blocked by open hallways, furniture, or other objects. This is not an issue. While treating primary reflection points is important, treating every reflection point is not necessary to improve the sound quality in your theater.

3. Once you have the reflection points marked, you can begin adding absorption.                 

For reflection points on the floor, consider adding a rug. If the theater is carpeted, treating the floor should not be necessary. For any windows, consider adding curtains or drapes.

To treat any reflection points on the ceiling, consider flush-mounting Acoustic Tiles to the ceiling surface, or suspending Acoustic Clouds from the ceiling.

4. Finally, for the reflection points on the walls, consider adding Acoustic Panels. With a variety of sizes, colors, and styles to choose from, Audimute Acoustic Panels are an excellent option to consider for any home theater application.

For more advice on creating the perfect home theater, please don’t hesitate to contact one of our Acoustic Specialists!

November 15, 2016, Cleveland, OH – Audimute Soundproofing and its parent company, One Wish LLC, are proud to announce our selection as one of Smart Business’s 2016 World Class Customer Service Award recipients. This award distinguishes 25 organizations from 17 Northeast Ohio counties that manifest their commitment to delivering world-class customer service internally and externally.

“Nothing is more important than the customer,” says Mitch Zlotnik, President and Founder of Audimute and One Wish LLC. “Providing remarkable customer service is in our daily conversation at Audimute. How well we serve our customers is how we engage in the success of our business. Our company is unique because we have the opportunity to personally connect with our customers and provide expert advice to find a solution to their sound issue(s).”

Our entire team is committed to creating the ultimate customer journey and we are honored to be recognized for this effort throughout the company.

Audimute Soundproofing is headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio. Audimute specializes in the design and manufacture of eco-friendly solutions for noise abatement and sound control in residential, commercial, and institutional spaces. Since our inception in 2005, we have been solving sound problems in many industries including healthcare, construction, architecture, restaurants, house of worship, recording studios, manufacturing, and education.

The World Class Customer Service awards honors companies for their superior customer service. The award raises awareness of the importance of customer service in the business world, recognizes organizations that demonstrate exceptional customer service and share best practices in customer service from those that do it best.

November is International Drum Month. That means that now is the perfect time to set up your home drum room! When setting up your drum room, make sure to keep in mind the acoustics of your space. This will help to keep your neighbors (and the cops) away, while also ensuring that the space sounds great. 

Follow these helpful tips to help improve the acoustics of your drum room for yourself and your neighbors.

1) Consider drum kit location

Where you place the kit can have an impact on the sound in your drum room. For the best results, I would recommend placing the kit in the corner of your room, facing out towards the room. Keep the kit away from any shared walls. This will help to push sound into the room, instead of directly at any walls, and will help with the process of enclosing the kit, which brings us to the next tip…

2) Enclose the kit (to the best of your ability)

Enclosing the kit can help to create a barrier around the drums. This will help to weaken the sound before it has a chance to reach the walls of your drum space. This can be accomplished using our Absorption Sheets. Placing Absorption Sheets behind the kit (one on each wall) will reduce the amount of sound reflecting off the walls. Hanging Sheets in front of the kit will help to effectively enclose the kit, creating a “room-within-a-room” with Absorption Sheets.

3) Treat any windows

Windows are a common point if weakness in most structures. Adding mass and density to any windows can help to reduce the amount of sound traveling through them. Creating a plug for the window using a heavy, rigid board is one option to consider. Isole® can be another great option to consider. The Peacemaker® inside of the Isolé is designed to help block the amount of sound capable of escaping through a window.

4) Don’t forget about doors

It’s important to treat any doors to your drum room. Anywhere air can travel, sound can also travel. Because of this, sealing off the door to your room will help to reduce the amount of sound capable of escaping your space. Isolé can also be a great option for door treatment, helping to provide mass and density to the door to your drum room.

Following these tips will help to improve your drum room for yourself, and all those around you. For additional questions on treating a drum room, please feel free to give our Acoustic Specialists a call at (866)505-6883.

You know you have a sound issue. However, you're not sure if you need to block or absorb the sound. Sound absorption and sound blocking are two very different principles. Using sound absorption in a space will help to improve the sound quality by limiting sound reflections, reducing echo and reverberation. Sound blocking, on the other hand, will help to ensure that sound is not traveling through any shared walls, floors, or ceilings. Most acoustic problems can be treated by utilizing either sound absorption or sound blocking. But what do you do if you need both? That’s where isolé® comes in.

Originally designed to block sound traveling through shared hotel room doors for The Ritz-Carlton, isolé is a two-in-one sound solution, providing elements of both sound absorption and sound blocking. Each isolé consists of a layer of our eco-C-tex sound absorption material, along with a layer of our Peacemaker® Sound Barrier, which is a recycled tire rubber barrier designed to block sound transmission. Isolé’s 36” x 82” size should be perfect for most door applications.

Although isolé was designed specifically for doors, its applications go far beyond just door treatment. Isolé can be a perfect option for window treatment. The layer of Peacemaker included in the isolé will help to provide mass and density to a window. Three metal grommets make installing isolé over a window a snap!

Isolé can also be an effective solution for rehearsal spaces. Using isolé on any shared walls will help to reduce the amount of sound exiting your space, while also improving the sound quality inside your rehearsal space.

If you have any questions about isolé or treating your space, please feel free to fill out an online analysis form, or contact any of our Acoustic Specialists!

What is an acoustical ceiling cloud?

Ceiling clouds are designed to effectively reduce reflected sound in large and open environments as well as to delineate space. Stylish lines and soft shapes suspend horizontally from the ceiling and absorb sound across their entire surface for unequaled acoustical performance.

Ceiling Clouds create a modern appearance combined with noise reduction and reverberation control in most environments including residential and commercial spaces. Along with exceptional sound absorption and superior aesthetics, clouds feature outstanding architectural design flexibility and visual interest.

Are there other ways to perceive space?

Walls are perhaps the easiest and most recognizable architectural elements that define a room. Current design trends are focused on rooms that flow into one another without visual obstacles. Clouds are a subtle yet distinct method of delineating the differences that exist between areas.

How is a ceiling cloud different?

There is an acoustical benefit to exposing the backside of clouds. More air heightens the panel’s ability to capture and convert echo from the open space.

Acoustic clouds are hung parallel and offset from the ceiling allowing them to absorb sound waves at two points. Sound absorption occurs as sound travels toward the ceiling and then again as it bounces back to the floor. This dual-absorption ceiling cloud reduces echo and dampens noise.

Key Features:

     • The perfect soundproofing solution for areas with limited wall space

     • Dual sound absorption

     • Define spaces and accentuate a feature area

     • Mix and match sizes and shapes

     • Custom configurations available

     • Suspend individually or in groups

Acoustic ceiling clouds are the ideal solution for absorbing reflections from ceilings, reducing sound reverberation, and improving speech intelligibility!