Acoustics and Noise Control At Media Pro Scotland Ltd we also offer a number of services relating to the acoustics of a building or room. Below is an outline and things to consider, but if you have any projects coming up, please do not hesitate to get in touch via email or phone Please do not wait until the build is complete. Here is something to consider – We were recently contacted by a customer who had just taken delivery of a New-build project. They reached out when they discovered their main hall was not useable due to its acoustic nature, it was “hard to hear other people and was terrible for music” (RT60 in excess of 4.5 seconds, reverberation or “echoes” lasted a long time) and asked if we could help. I was surprised with the size of the project (£1m+) that the acoustic nature of the room had not been considered – “The architect told us you can’t look at that until the Hall is built” – This is not the case. We can work out mathematically how the room will sound after it is built even at design stage – so working with customers, we can provide a quotation to treat the room acoustically before the room is built allowing the customer to consider the cost implications. We find out what you plan to use the room for, then make a suggestion on the most suitable RT60 and engineer the solution to suit discussing finish, colour and panel location. Pictures to follow – this is a work in progress currently. Acoustic Treatment – Hall Take a Community Hall, typically multi-use so Kids Creche, Coffee Mornings, Birthday Partys with Disco, Fundraiser with Band too Badminton and Football. Typically it has a wooden floor, the walls have no adornment as you don’t want to break anything playing games, you don’t want kids to pull/break anything and cost was probably paramount when it was built so nothing fancier than a plain flat roof with some lights. This however does not make it a very pleasant place to be – the noise of the kids just “echoes” round and round, the “clink” of cutlery becomes a “noise”, any music playback even at low level is not very clear and even people speaking – you find yourself straining to hear correctly. Everyone using the hall has commented on the amazing difference and how the hall is much more welcoming – and – bookings are up (they feel because of the treatment). RT60 taken from 2.35 seconds to 0.89 seconds (T20 100-4K) (we had calculated that our correction would give an RT60 of 0.9 seconds). Room still lively enough for live music/ceilidh and much nicer for a Creche or Coffee Morning. Acoustic Treatment – Cinema/Cinema Room Not only halls – we recently completed a project for a local Cinema. Again we measured up and calculated what was required. We also took into account how the room looked and how we could fit an acoustic treatment into the room without it looking out of place. Treatment had a huge impact on the room, and the customer was “excited” to show it off. The difference in the audio detail when watching a film was fantastic, you can really notice all the little details. Licenced Trade – Noise Management Plans Your local licencing board may recommend that you put a noise management plan in place as part of your terms – this is something Media Pro Scotland Ltd can help you with. We visit your site, discuss your plans (assume live music, music playback or DJ), measure the site, measure your surroundings, neighbours, neighbouring properties, produce drawings, calculate noise transmissions, recommend levels to work with within your venue that will not impact on your neighbours. Then design a Noise Management Plan to suit your venue, your building, your neighbours and the Licencing Board. We can provide installation of hardware to monitor (if required), demonstrate and train staff (as required) – resulting in you being granted your licence. We also provide outline contracts for your performers letting them know how your Noise Management Plan works and what they can do to work along with you. It is also a good idea if you are planning introducing live music to put a noise management plan in place before any application – again showing you take the matter seriously. Licensed Trade – Acoustic Treatment to Rectify a Noise Complaint Media Pro Scotland Ltd can also help here. We can liaise with local EHO with regards to any complaints; often this helps with EHO as they realise you are treating any complaint seriously and are trying to work with your neighbours to rectify any problems. As above, we study the building, construction type and look at how we can reduce any noise transmission problems; designing an acoustic solution when required, installing equipment as required, and again demoing and training staff as required. Sometimes this is a simple fix, sometimes a bit more involved. We also provide outline contracts for your performers letting them know how your Noise Management Plan works and what they can do to work along with you. Soundproofing – Engineered for your studio or practise room. Stopping sound getting out from your rehearsal space, pub or nightclub is essential for you to maintain you licence (or to stay friends with your neighbours). At Media Pro Scotland Ltd we can engineer you a solution. A meeting to discuss both your site/venue and your plans is the start point with some investigation into the building and construction next, with an engineered resolution to follow. We can supply and install – or engineer the solution for your own trades to complete.