A long with the return of workers to the office environment, sound masking systems have had a homecoming as well. Speech privacy is once again a central component of the job setting. All the pandemic-era conferencing from home demonstrated just how bad room acoustics and speech intelligibility can get. Once sound leaves the wire, it enters the acoustic world and encounters challenges that require some creative solutions.
Simple and effective elegance are designed into the well-known Class-A fire-rated GeerFab Acoustics MultiZorber II panels that feature a custom 2in. 2# fiberglass substrate with grommet holes in the corners. A broad choice of colorful Guilford FR701 fabric spans the front of each panel while nylon sailcloth adds durability and bass absorption to the contact surface. The panels can be wall or ceiling hung and even draped from mic stands for easy and flexible temporary acoustic room adjustments. Each panel is 24x48x2in. in size and weighs 32.2lb. The available colors include black, Bone, Coin, Flannel, and red.
Available as either the barrel or pyramid diffuser, the Acoustical Fulfillment Diffuser 4-Packs work over a wide spectrum in scattering audio frequency emissions. They are designed with a non-reflective white finish to blend with virtually any visual environment whether that be a recording studio, church, classroom, or other meeting space. Both versions have a core of 0.125in. recyclable thermoformed co-polymer that ensures stability and a solid fit covering an overall 24x24in. area. For rooms with ten-foot or higher ceilings, the pyramid diffuser is usually the best choice with its off-center angular shape that scatters frequencies randomly. The 15/16in. perimeter flange allows easy and sturdy wall attachment.
The Acoustic Geometry Cinema Port Window is an architectural answer to sound proofing for enclosures such as recording studios, theaters, and projection booths. The easily installable frame holds angled double pane glass designed to minimize reflection. Available sizes of the glass are 17x22in. and 17x18in. The frame may be clear anodized or bronze anodized aluminum. Glass options include standard plate, Opti-White & double optically coated high performance types. The frame is separated from the wall by elastomeric seals that help keep out moisture. For larger area needs, there are the Studio Soundproof Windows with the same options for the aluminum frame.
For two-zone sound masking with integrated amplification, the AtlasIED ASP-MG2240 masking controller provides a range of features including separate analog masking generators with EQ, 24/7 scheduler, balanced mic/line input, auxiliary input for background audio, and a line output. The system may be PC customized with storable/recallable settings to suit a very specific sound environment. It can also be configured for a single masking zone up to 7000 square feet or it can be set up to cover two 3500 square foot zones. At the heart of the system are two internal 30W 70.7V amplifier channels and internal DSP. A single switch activates the Speech Privacy Enhancement mode.
Equipped with many handy features for a multizone amplifier, such as a 30-band fully customizable DSP and twin 140W channels, the Revolution Acoustics RevNet 2140-D includes a built-in configurable sound masking generator. Among the control options are WiFi, LAN, USB, and Dante. The rear panel of this model is equipped with Phoenix connectors for Inputs/Link Output, Amp Out, and RVC. Billed as the AV integrator’s Swiss Army Knife of amps, the RevNet 2140-D works in both low impedance and 70/100V systems. Sound masking adjustments can be made to suit the specific room’s acoustic environment.
Class A Fire Rated per ASTM E84, Acoustical Surfaces Fabrisorb Acoustic Panels come in a wide assortment of standard and custom colors so they can be as decorative as they are sound absorbent. Four thicknesses between 1in. and 2in. can be used and edge patterns may be square, radius, bevel, or half-bevel. Custom sizes range up to 4x10ft. and an impaling clip is included with each panel. This holds it in place until the separately sold adhesive dries. The panels are constructed of 6lb. density glass fiber with woven fabric and micro-perforated vinyl facings. Customization options for thickness, shape, color and construction offer a huge range of choices.
Acoustic room treatment goes over the top with Primacoustic Archadia Clouds in a wide range of colors, shapes, and styles. The custommade units are made of premium glass wool in a choice of 1.18 inches, 1.57 inches, and 1.97 inches. Standard shapes include rectangular, circular, hexagonal, square, and trapezoidal. The finish on each panel is glass wool tissue micromesh sealed with paintable Absolute White latex coating and all panels are Class A fire rated. The products are tested by third-party company Riverbank Acoustic Laboratories. These models join with Archadia baffles, curved clouds, and wave baffles to offer a solution for any size or style of acoustic space.
The ASI Architectural Grille panels take the dignified look of wood to the maximum level with a huge selection of colors, wood types, and rail dimensions. Working just as well on walls as ceilings, grilles can be stained to match existing décor and there are five styles available. For ceiling installation, the attachment clip system is fixed to a 15/16in. HD T-Bar grid and for enhanced acoustics the grille panels may be paired with acoustical liner. The standard size is 8x12ft. and custom lengths range to 10ft. Standard panel sizes can be field cut to fit irregular spaces.
Acoustic room treatment and aesthetic statement are again unified in the Snowsound Blade modular sound absorption panel system. These special panels incorporate slim shelves made of epoxy powder-coated steel. They are made of a wall-mounted load-bearing core and a thin external lining. Selection from an abundance of colors and shelf arrangements can present the appearance of a bookcase, wall shelf group, or a wall-mounted acoustic absorption box. Colors may be combined for a plethora of creative, room-enhancing options. The wall contacting back is only 1/4in. thick but each unit is rated to absorb 94% of human speech frequencies.
While wall panel options abound, ceilings need not be dull as proven by the Acoustics First Fireflex Wave. In this case, the same panels can completely change the appearance and acoustical response of a ceiling area depending on how they are hung. The first option is to use the included corkscrew anchors to mount the panels as waves parallel to the ceiling particularly in areas where the ceiling height is limited. Where there is more height, they can be hung vertically as baffles. The construction of the 24x48in. contoured sheets is lightweight porous acoustic melamine with an internal cellular complex of slim, flexible webs.
The Meyer Sound NADIA network-based digital audio processing and distribution platform is the newest processor for the famous Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system. NADIA works with the Spacemap Go spatial sound design and mixing tool to allow users to create sophisticated spatial sound designs very easily. NADIA features two processing paths. One of these is dedicated to Constellation active acoustics while the other handles the venue’s amplified audio systems. All NADIA-based systems need at least one NADIA-CP core processor, capable of processing and routing up to 224 inputs to 128 outputs at 96kHz/64-bit floating-point resolution. Each additional module can add 128 system outputs.
The easiest and most simple way to treat a room acoustically is by using a kit with everything needed for installation. The Prosocoustic WAVERoom Pro Basic Kit is the introductory opening for this kind of acoustic upgrade with 2 WAVEPro Big Panels at 48x24in. along with 4 WAVEPro Small Panels at 24x24in. and six sets of 18in. Z-Clips for making all the attachments. All panels have one inch of absorption material and are available in standard black or stone. They are wrapped in pure polyester with a moisture-wicking finish. There is also a diamond knit fabric option in a wide range of colors.
Among many innovative acoustic sound control products, the Soniflex soni Circle instantly appears to be among the most fun with which to be creative. From just over 9in. to nearly 15in. in size, the round panels are real attention-getters while reducing reverberation and lowering overall room noise levels. Each has a flame-retardant rating in accordance with DIN EN ISO 13501 and DIN 4102. For installation a special adhesive can be used or an alternative self-adhesive soni Velcro Tape can fix the panels in place. Under each attractive surface color is non-woven polyester. Available in the same range of bright colors is the soni Hexagon in different shape but similar design.
Any place that needs a statement made in both in sound and visuals is the home ground for the GIK Acoustics DecoShapes Hexagon acoustic panels. Presenting an open door to creativity in both realms, these sound-absorbing elements can be purchased in 1 to 4in. thicknesses, 1 and 2ft. sizes, and 15 standard colors. The panels may be covered in Guilford of Maine acoustically transparent fabrics or, for an additional charge, the Guilford of Maine FR701 Upgrade may be selected. Each is a six-sided polygon noise-reducing panel that can be grouped and arranged with others to afford an endless array of eye-catching designs.
As sophisticated as sound masking and speech privacy systems have become, they still work best in a room with optimally installed acoustical materials and the Auralex Acoustics AuraPanel is designed to accomplish this. Each panel is composed of a 3.7x24x48in. ECOCELL core with keyholes in the rear support frame for easy mounting. The core can be wrapped in a wide range of fabrics and colors. Among these are Auralex SonoSuede, Liba Fabrics and Burch Fabrics. This range of options assures each installation to be as decorative as it is acoustically complete.
In commercial environments that need a lowkey answer for maximizing collaboration and videoconferencing sound, the Acoustical Solutions AlphaSorb Pro Acoustic Room Kit comes in such a selection of colors that it can disappear into the room décor. The small kit has four 2x4x2in. panels, two 2x2x2in. panels, and two 1x4x2in. corner traps. Medium kits add two more of the large panels and two more of the square ones. For even greater spaces the large kit contains eight of the big panels, six of the square pieces, and four corner traps for 104 square-foot coverage. All installation hardware for these fabricwrapped panels is included.
At the center of the Logison acoustic network is the Logison Acoustic Network Manager providing a control interface for adjusting sound masking and paging settings in offices, auditoriums, meeting rooms, and other work spaces. The network is based on hubs from which control signals operate the system’s speakers. 128-bit AES encryption ensures that commands are secure whether transmitted to the panel by wired or wireless connection. Downstream, the network is standard RS-485. Audio input modules allow sound sources for paging and music to be selectively added to the setup. Using Page Director software, the system operator can add customized zones for paging, music, and sound masking in any combination.
Small size and large effect are the characteristics of the Yamaha VSP-2 Speech Privacy System available with a pair of black or white speakers. The VSP-CU2 control unit can support up to eight ceiling or wall-mounted speakers to provide an acoustically customized system. These setups can include huddle spaces, open conversation areas, and a range of room sizes. The VSP-2 can mix four types of sound and four types of sound effects audio to the speech sound masker. These along with power and sound level can all be set at the controller. On the rear panel of the controller there is a speaker switch (2, 4, or 8) and four EQ options based on the configuration of the speakers.
d&b audiotechnik Soundscape is a complex next-level system that can rebuild the acoustical environment through the En-Space application and place the apparent source of sound elements into it using En-Scene. In addition to replicating the sound environment of various famous venues, En-Space can capture the sound characteristics of any chosen room and put those acoustics into any performance hall. The En-Scene performance module can connect with the DS100 system hardware brain and place the sources on its input channels anywhere in the sound scene. As many as 64 sources can be run to a customized combination of up to 64 speakers.
The Biamp Cambridge Qt X 300/300D is a complete full-featured sound masking system designed to interface with the local life-safety system for coordinated function in an emergency. The system is composed of a sound masking generator, controller, third-octave band equalizer, and amplifier with two analog audio inputs. Collectively, these can be operated with paging and background music controllers, digital media devices and connect to 3, 6, or 8 sound masking speakers or emitters. It works for installations up to 36,000 square feet in a 3-zone network. The unit is rack or wall-mountable and the 300D also supports Dante streams.
Among the most widely used sound masking systems is the Soft dB smartSMS-NET, a networked, multi-zone solution with a variety of controllers and other hardware customizing options. The ML-Series units are small footprint, powerful devices that can be swapped for more zone capability as needs arise. The ML12-2ch controller has twin, individually adjustable outputs, auxiliary sound source inputs, and it handles up to a dozen speakers. The ML24-4ch extends this to four output channels with four auxiliary inputs and 24 speakers. For larger systems, the ML48- 8ch handles 8 output channels, 4 dedicated auxiliary inputs, and powers up to 48 speakers. Active volume control sensors are part of each controller.
