Any studies in acoustics should include a basic course on room acoustics. The subject area of room acoustics includes subjective response to voice and music in rooms, methods for calculation of sound propagation, reflection, absorption and scattering of sound in rooms by reflecting surfaces, measurement and characterization of sound fields in rooms and methods for correcting room response. Microphones pick up sound differently from how humans listen so the interaction of audio devices with rooms is of importance. The goal of the course is to give the students a deeper understanding of room acoustics than that obtained by studies of the course Audio Technology and Acoustics, VTA135. The course also will provide students with the necessary skills to handle simple room acoustical problems of small and large rooms both for industrial noise problems and for rooms for voice and music. It will be a starting point for anyone interested in a career in room acoustical consulting.
When: | Quarter 3+4 |
Course code: | VTA145 |
Credits: | 7.5 ECTS |
Exam: | No exam; grade based on evaluation of the students’ reports on project assignments |
Contact: | Wolfgang Kropp |
Course materials |
Content
- Sound propagation in rooms: the sound field at an impedance interface, physical room acoustics, geometrical room acoustics, statistical room acoustics, diffuse sound fields.
- Techniques for room acoustic planning: Scale and Computer modelling, training in the use of architectural acoustics software, auralization & binaural techniques
- Measurement methods for determining a room’s acoustic properties.
- Design of sound absorbers and scatterers. Use of sound absorbers and scatterers for altering room response.
- Participation in the yearly student competition of he Acoustical Society of America.
- Group activities with architect, acoustic consultants, and musicians.
- The course is given over two study periods, attendance over both periods is necessary.
For the course syllabus (e.g. intended learning outcomes) please see the course page at Chalmers.
Literature
The book primarily used in the course is the book by Long, M. : Architectural Acoustics (see also course page)