Concert Hall Acoustics

1. Introduction.- 2. Sound Transmission Systems.- 2.1 Source Signals in Terms of the Autocorrelation Function.- 2.2 Reflection from Finite Surfaces.- 2.3 Reflection from a Periodic Structure of a Wall.- 2.3.1 Analysis.- 2.3.2 Numerical Calculations.- 2.4 Scattering by Diffusing Walls.- 2.5 Physical Hearing System.- 2.5.1 Head, Pinna and External Auditory Canal.- 2.5.2 Eardrum and Bone Chain.- 2.5.3 Cochlea.- 2.6 Nervous System.- 3. Simulation of Sound Fields.- 3.1 Signals at Both Ears.- 3.2 Simulation of Sound Localization.- 3.3 Simulation of Sound Fields in Concert Halls.- 4. Subjective Preference Judgments.- 4.1 Linear Scale Value of Preference.- 4.2 Sound Fields with Single and Multiple Early Reflections.- 4.2.1 Preferred Delay Time of Single Reflection.- 4.2.2 Preferred Direction of a Single Reflection.- 4.2.3 Preferred Amplitude of a Single Reflection.- 4.2.4 Preferred Delay Time of the Second Reflection.- 4.2.5 Preferred Spectrum of a Single Reflection.- 4.2.6 Preferred Delay Time of the Strongest Reflection in Multiple Early Reflections.- 4.3 Sound Fields with Early Reflections and Subsequent Reverberation.- 4.3.1 Scale Values vs Delay Time of Early Reflections and Subsequent Reverberation Time.- 4.3.2 Scale Values vs Listening Level and IACC.- 4.3.3 Scale Values vs Subsequent Reverberation Time and IACC.- 4.3.4 Agreement with Other Preference Judgments.- 5. Prediction of Subjective Preference in Concert Halls.- 5.1 Model of Auditory Pathways.- 5.2 Optimum Design Objectives.- 5.2.1 Listening Level (Temporal-Monaural Criterion).- 5.2.2 Early Reflections After Direct Sound (Temporal-Monaural Criterion).- 5.2.3 Subsequent Reverberation Time After Early Reflections (Temporal-Monaural Criterion).- 5.2.4 Incoherence at Both Ears (Spatial-Binaural Criterion).- 5.3 Theory of Subjective Preference.- 5.4 Calculating Subjective Preference for a Concert Hall.- 6. Design Study.- 6.1 Walls and Ceiling.- 6.2 Floor and Seats.- 6.2.1 Sound Transmission Over Seat Rows.- 6.2.2 Effects of Seat Configuration and Floor Absorption.- 6.2.3 Effects of the Angle of Wave Incidence.- 6.2.4 Effects of a Slit Resonator Under the Floor.- 6.3 Stage Enclosure.- 6.4 Concert Halls.- 7. Acoustic Test Techniques for Concert Halls.- 7.1 Transfer Function or Impulse Response Measurements.- 7.1.1 Single Pulse Method.- 7.1.2 Correlation Method.- 7.1.3 Fast Method Using the Pseudo-Random Binary Signal.- 7.2 Reverberation.- 7.3 Interaural Cross Correlation.- 7.4 Subjective Preference Judgments of Sound Fields in Existing Concert Halls.- Appendices.- A. Subjective Diffuseness.- B. An Example of Individual Difference in Preference Judgment.- C. Perception of Coloration.- D. Correlation Functions at Both Ears.- E. Computation Programs for the Fast Method of Measuring Impulse Responses (Computer: Univac 1100/83 ASCII FORTRAN Compiler, ANSI STANDARD X3.9 -1978).- Glossary of Symbols.- References.