image: This is the Berlin Philharmonie. view more
Credit: Aalto University
Therefore, such a concert hall shape affects perceived dynamic range even though rooms itself amplify all passages the same amount.
"Dynamic expression is an inseparable part of music. For this reason, a concert hall's ability to transmit the orchestra's played dynamics is one of the most important criteria of good acoustics. Our research is the first that explains how halls influence perception of dynamic expression," Dr. Jukka Pätynen says.
The importance of early lateral reflections to good concert hall acoustics has been known for decades. Earlier, they were believed to widen the perceived overall sound image and increase the perceived closeness of the sound. Now, Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America has published an article that expands our understanding of how perception of dynamic musical content depends on concert hall acoustics. The findings will lead to better concert hall designs than ever before.
Dr. Jukka Pätynen works as a post-doctoral researcher in Tapio Lokki's Virtual Acoustics research group. The group aims to understand how room acoustics affect sound signals, and how people perceive room acoustic properties. Research focuses on improved prediction and understanding of concert halls and other acoustically demanding spaces. Notably, the concert hall acoustic research group has developed methods, unique in the world, that are described in a second article that was just featured on the cover of Physics Today: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/magazine/physicstoday/article/67/1/10.1063/PT.3.2242
PNAS Article #13-19976: "Concert halls with strong lateral reflections enhance musical dynamics", Jukka Pätynen, Sakari Tervo, Philip W. Robinson, and Tapio Lokki.
Link to the original open-access journal article: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1319976111
Press photos: http://materialbank.aalto.fi:80/public/43973d23c8C2.aspx
Further information:
Researcher Jukka Pätynen
+358 44 058 5547
jukka.patynen@aalto.fi
Aalto University School of Science
Department of Media Technology
Professor Tapio Lokki
+358 40 578 2486
tapio.lokki@aalto.fi
Aalto University School of Science
Department of Media Technology
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences