Sound is something that we experience everyday. Whether through nature or through music, sound affects us for our entire lives. This can be a good and pleasing sound, like the flowing of water, or perhaps the music we enjoy. However, what happens when sound becomes noise?
Sound is a two-edged sword: in one form, it can be a powerful tool for relaxation and productivity. In another form, it could have an impact on our focus and even our overall health. Whether the passing of a train or the loud neighbors next door, noise isn’t just a nuisance. It can also be detrimental.
We’ll be discussing noise, acoustics, and their great impact on our lives. Joining Alexander McCaig is Charles Salter, one of the foremost pioneers in audio engineering. Charles Salter has done countless acoustical consulting work over his 50 years as an acoustic engineer.
There are two aspects when it comes to assessing the noise of a given area. First, are the state and federal standards that everyone must follow. These standards concern the safety of people in regards to noise, as it can have adverse effects on both health and productivity.
The second aspect, however, is a more subjective standard. This concerns the tolerance and sensitivity of the people affected by the noise. As some people are more sensitive to noise than others, acoustics must be well-designed to meet the standards of everyone affected by a given area.
For example, a hotel must meet acoustical standards because poor design can drive away clients. Another effect of poor acoustic design is the potential noise complaints that will arise.
On the other side of noise, Salter shares a case where a meeting room was too silent. The floor was carpeted, while also having an acoustic tile ceiling. This created a room that sounded dead, which made occupants uncomfortable.
And so, the acoustics of a room have to sound natural. It must not be too loud nor too silent, as both are uncomfortable and undesirable. The room has to make everyone not only relaxed, but also have good acoustics for its specific function.
Because acoustical design is so important, proper and accurate communication between the architect and acoustical consultant is key for a place to have a balance between good design and acoustics.
When you look at evolution, being able to hear has always been a requirement for humans to survive. It is a mechanism that not only allowed early humans to keep away from dangerous sounds, but also as a tool for hunting and communication.
In the modern era, sound is a bit less of a life-and-death tool, and more of a convenience. Music is one example. It is a form of entertainment and expression for people. If we had to use sound to avoid predators back then, in modern times our biggest concern is keeping away from noisy neighbors.
In acoustics, biophilia is a type of design that aims to replicate the natural sounds found in our environment. Its main objective is to reduce the stress within a room, looking to nature for inspiration when designing acoustics. Integrating biophilic design into the infrastructure of modern buildings is one way we can use the power of sound to create more conducive living and working spaces.
The noise given off by water is an example of biophilic design, because the gurgling of a stream or the cadence of a waterfall is naturally relaxing. From an evolutionary standpoint, our response to these types of sounds has been ingrained in us by our ancestors where these sounds meant that they had a source of water nearby.
Acoustic engineering has been around for a long time, improving our auditory experience of the world. A good example of this is noise-canceling technology. As the name suggests, it aims to remove unwanted noise around us. It does this by using a microphone to listen for ambient sound, and then producing sound waves of an opposite frequency.
Sound as an aspect of our existence doesn’t get enough focus. We tend to focus on visuals and whether something looks good or not, rather than focusing on both the implications of sound on our everyday lives. For us to have the space to evolve into our best selves, we should strive to design everything to be acoustically pleasant, while still aiming for its specific function.
