REVERBERATION [5] dead spaces to realize adequate acoustical separation between tracks. Music directors and band leaders often require different reverberations for different instruments, hence hard areas and absorptive areas may be found in the sae studiv, The range of reverberation realized in Lis manner is limited, but proximity to reflective surfaces does affect local conditions. Spaces for speech require shorter reverberation times than for music because of the general interest in direct sound. In general, long reverber- ation time tends toward lack of definition and clarity in music and loss of intelligibility in speech. In dead spaces in which reverberation time is ys ble to specify precisely optimum reverberation times for different services, but Figs. 7-13 through 7-15 show at least a rough indication of recommenda- tious given by a host of experts in the field who donot always agree with each other ‘The reverberation times for churches in Fig, 7-13 range from highly reverberant liturgical churches and cathedrals to the shorter ranges of ver short, loudness and tonal balance may suffer. It is not poss Churches Reverteration time - seconds. 1 voit 100,000 Volume -cubie feet TEE “Optimum" reverberation time for churches. The upper area applies to the more rever- berant liturgical churches and cathedrals, the lower to churches having services more ori- ented to speech. A compromise between music and speech is required in most churches,152 CHAPTER sevEN the lower shaded area characteristic of the more talk-oriented churches. Churches generally represent a compromise between music and speech. Figure 7-14 represents the range of recommended reverberation limes for different coucert halls, Syuiphouy orchestras ave near the top, lighter music somewhat lower. The lower shaded area applies for opere and chamber music. ‘Those spaces used primarily for speech and recording requize close to the same reverberation times as shown in Fig, 7-15. Television stu- dios have even shorter reverberation times to deaden the sounds asso- ciated with mlling cameras, dragging cables, and other production noises. It should also be remembered th acoustics in television are dominated by the setting and local furnishings. In many of the spaces represented in Fig. 7-15, speech reinforcement is employed. Bass Rise of Reverberation Time The goal in voice studios is to achieve a reverberation time that is the same throughout the audible spectrum. This can be difficult to realize, Concert halls 100,000 Volume -cubic feet TS “Optimum” reverberation time for concert halls. Symphony orchestras are near the top of the shaded areas; lighter music is lower, The lower shaded area applies to opera and chamber music.REVERBERATION [9 Speech and recording Auditoriums Recuuing studlivs for speech ZL _ SSS ‘Televisidn etudiow 19.00 f E i i E Volume -cubie feet aH Spaces designed for speech and music recording require shorter reverberation times. espucially al low fequeucies. Adjusuueut uf reverberatiow lie al Light frequencies is easily accomplished by adding or removing relatively inexpensive absorbers. At low frequencies, the situation is quite different as absorbers are bulky, difficult to install, and sometimes unpredictable. Researchers at the British Broadcasting Corporation observed that subjective judgments seemed to indicate a tol of hass rise of reverheration time. Investigating this in controlled tests Spring and Randall” found that bass rise to the extent indicated in Fig. 7-16 was tolerated by the test subjects for voice signals. Taking the kHz value as reference, rises of 80% at 63 Hz. and 20% at 125 Hz were found to be acceptable. These tests were made in a studio 22 x 16 X11 feet (volume about 3,900 cu ft) for which the midband reverberation time was 0.4 second (which agrees fairly well with Fig. 7-15). Bass rise in reverberation time for music has traditionally been accepted to give “sonority” to the music in music halls. Presumably, somewhat greater bass rise than thal for speech would be desirable in listening rooms designed for classical music. ance for a certain amount