Whether it's a conference room, lecture hall, or church, when it comes to designing large rooms, you need to think about acoustics. How the sound moves around the room is integral to its functionality. Although much of this relies on a sound system, the room itself matters too. While there are many aspects to it, an important one is sound dampening. To better understand why, here's what you need to know. 

Why You Need Sound Dampening for Large Room

Large rooms are very spacious, and because sound travels in waves, sounds tend to bounce around. Not only can this make a room noisier than necessary, but the incorrect sounds can become amplified. Without the correct acoustics, like sound dampening materials, the sound of someone's heels on the flooring can end up reverberating and drown out the person speaking at the podium. 

Furthermore, both the noises inside and outside the room can travel between them. Using sound dampening materials ensures what's in the room stays in the room and what's outside doesn't get in. It softens the intensity and keeps the volume manageable and appropriate to the room. 

How to Achieve Sound Dampening

The key to sound dampening is using thicker materials. For example, a solid wood door is better at sound dampening than a hollow-core one. As for the walls, more insulation or even another layer of drywall helps dampen the sound. If you're building from the ground up or renovating, materials like concrete or bricks are great for this. 

How Sound Absorption Works

Aside from sound dampening, another critical factor to acoustics is sound absorption. Although they are commonly mistaken for one another, unlike dampening, this type redistributes the sound waves. The materials are soft and porous, and upholstery and carpeting are fantastic at sound absorption. They should be used in concert with dampening materials and placed throughout the room: on the walls, flooring, and the ceiling itself. 
 

If you have a large commercial space, Claiborne Sharp Professional Audio can ensure you have the proper acoustics and sound system. For more than 30 years, they've provided a variety of professional audio and video services for businesses throughout the Shreveport, LA, area. You can learn more about their services by visiting their website or by calling (318) 861-5953.