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Audio Design |
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Audio systems in Leisure Centres
The quality and intelligibility of audio systems in swimming pools and leisure centres is generally very low. PA systems must reproduce clearly if they are to be effective; if the spoken word cannot be deciphered clearly important messages may be misinterpreted or even ignored. Many swimming pools today incorporate voice evacuation; for this to be effective the message must be easily heard and understood.
Many pools suffer from very poor sound quality, there are many factors affecting this such as:
-no or little attention to the audio specification during the design stage
-badly set up equipment
-variations in the acoustics of the pool halls
-acoustic reflective surfaces
-faulty equipment
-location of speakers
-high humidity
-high ambient noise
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Audio Design
A good audio designer must take into account; the physical dimensions and volume of the room, the physical shape and characteristics of the room and also have an awareness of sonic reflections leading to reverberation and standing waves. Without an understanding of these fundamental elements intelligibility from the system will be of low quality. Choice of any equipment for a pool hall is always limited, because of the harsh, corrosive environment. A typical system found in many swimming pools would comprise re-entrant style horn loudspeakers; these are very good at resisting the harsh environment and are simple to install because of their 100 volt line operation, but they are not good at sound reproduction. A painful example of poor sound quality produced by re-entrant horns can be heard on railway stations. They are very good at directing sound at relatively high pressure levels however this causes your hearing to actually close down, the opposite of what is required. |
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Another common mistake with audio installations is to locate the speakers high up, this is totally wrong, why fill an empty space with sound; it’s also a maintenance nightmare!
Speakers are only one factor, the acoustics of the room are just as important, it is very encouraging to visit a venue and see acoustic baffles or acoustic panels fitted; these break up the standing waves and shorten the reverberation times. This treatment of a room greatly helps the audio designer achieve a high quality, intelligible sound.
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Good design would be based on low energy soundfields; that is to say multiple loudspeakers placed at low level with relatively low levels of amplification. This nearfield design approach will ensure that the sound is in the area of the listeners and not be wasted in large empty spaces. |
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Sound Advice
Some tips to improve your audio system
-A misconception is that “if it can’t be heard properly, turn it up” this has the opposite effect in a swimming pool.
-Check all the speakers are actually working
-Aim the speakers at the listeners not open air
-Try turning the level down by a small amount
-Flatten the sound by setting the bass and treble controls to “0”
-If a graphic equaliser is installed there should be no more than 3dB variation from one frequency
to the next; gradually reduce the level of frequencies below 200Hz to “0”
-Play a recording or broadcast of a news reader to check intelligibility
-Call/email SPSC
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