tuga
Major Contributor
An interesting BBC Research and Development Report on control room design:
CONTROLLED IMAGE DESIGN: The management of stereophonic image quality
R. Walker, B.Sc.(Eng.), C.Eng., F.I.O.A., M.I.E.E.
Summary
Historically, the basis for the acoustic design of control rooms for stereophony has been the reduction of discrete reflections by means of sound absorption.
As an alternative, the use of non-absorbent surfaces to direct early reflections away from the listener makes it possible to obtain good stereo image sharpness without making a ‘dead’ acoustic environment.
It also makes the stereophonic effect less dependent on the room.
To test the principle, an experimental room was constructed.
This contained a region around the main listening position from which early reflected sound was excluded.
Following successful evaluation of the experimental installation, the principle was used in the BBC as the basis for the design of three refurbished control rooms in Broadcasting House, London and one new control room for the Transcription Service in Bush House.
The results of acoustic tests from these areas are presented. The problems of reflections from the top surfaces of mixing desks are also discussed.
CONTROLLED IMAGE DESIGN: The management of stereophonic image quality
R. Walker, B.Sc.(Eng.), C.Eng., F.I.O.A., M.I.E.E.
Summary
Historically, the basis for the acoustic design of control rooms for stereophony has been the reduction of discrete reflections by means of sound absorption.
As an alternative, the use of non-absorbent surfaces to direct early reflections away from the listener makes it possible to obtain good stereo image sharpness without making a ‘dead’ acoustic environment.
It also makes the stereophonic effect less dependent on the room.
To test the principle, an experimental room was constructed.
This contained a region around the main listening position from which early reflected sound was excluded.
Following successful evaluation of the experimental installation, the principle was used in the BBC as the basis for the design of three refurbished control rooms in Broadcasting House, London and one new control room for the Transcription Service in Bush House.
The results of acoustic tests from these areas are presented. The problems of reflections from the top surfaces of mixing desks are also discussed.