

Beyond D C the direct field continues to fall off as per the inverse square law. This point is called critical distance (D C). At some point the level of the reflections and reverberation in the room are equal to the level of the direct sound. As you move farther away the direct sound level decreases, following inverse square law. This is a great aid in evaluating an existing system.Īs you may recall, in a normal room when you are very near a sound source, the direct sound from that source is dominant. What’s needed is a technique to quickly determine coverage, at least approximately, and help to determine where one may wish to place a measurement microphone for more detailed study. There are numerous precision measurement systems that can determine the direct field level at a given location. Better to have decent sound quality for everyone, than to have glorious sound for a few and bad sound for the rest. If certain seats aren’t covered well, then for those listeners, the sound system isn’t doing its job well. Uniform direct field coverage is one of the most important parameters in a sound reinforcement system. Dale Shirk presents a practical way to check coverage in live spaces using tools you may already own. In most spaces, the “time blindness” of this technique will render it useless. This only works when there is no significant reflected energy present.
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It seems logical to stroll around in a room with a sound level meter to check coverage. Theory and Practice – By Dale Shirk Dale Shirk presents a practical way to check direct-field coverage in live spaces using tools you may already own.
