As sound bounces around a room, it is perceived as either reverberation (diffuse sound traveling in all directions) or as discrete reflections.
The level of reverberation and time it takes the reverberation to decay is one factor in measuring the room acoustics. Another is the level and arrival time of the reflections.
All of these are determined by the room size, shape, and finishes.
From all this information, it’s apparent that the room architecture really determines the room acoustics.
You can’t fix the acoustics without making changes to the architecture.
Another important piece of puzzle in attaining quality sound at your church is how the sound system interacts with the acoustics of the sanctuary.
These are two somewhat separate issues, but are directly interrelated in that each one affects the other.
Ideally, both the acoustics and sound system design take place at the same time and are carefully coordinated.
This approach will minimize the number and severity of unforeseen problems.
There are several sound system design approaches. While some may be better than others, the chosen path should be driven by the program and the room design.
A newer technique for the main sound system involves multi-channel (left-center-right, or LCR for short) loudspeaker arrangement, which can produce an excellent sound experience.
Note that these systems can be very complex to design and set up, but once they’re up and running are fairly easy to operate and can produce stunning results.
The bottom line is that the sound system design is equally as important as the room acoustics.
Each one affects the other, mostly in negative ways. Even the best speaker system in the world will still sound bad in a room with poor acoustics.
Vance Breshears has worked for decades as a system designer and consultant in the professional AV industry, and heads up the California offices of Acoustic Dimensions.
Other Articles By Vance Breshears:
Building Your Worship Center For Quality Acoustics