Analytical Study Of Conference Loudspeaker

ABSTRACT

Meetings are a common activity that provides certain challenges when creating systems that assist them. Such is the case of the Speaker recognition, which can provide useful information for human interaction modeling, or human-robot interaction. Speaker recognition is mostly done using speech; however, certain contextual information can provide additional insights when a good loudspeaker is used which produces quality sound in a conference. In this paper, Simulations of different combinations of sound absorption and diffusion treatments have been carried out with the updated version of the software, ODEON 15.  The panels were positioned in the meeting rooms following the guidelines of the DIN 18041 standard and the scientific literature. The results advise the application of absorptive materials on the ceiling or around the borders, creating a reflective middle area, and on the upper part of one the lateral walls, including the rear wall. Configurations with diffusers do not generally bring significant improvements. The Speech Transmission Index (STI) is a less sensitive parameter for the different acoustic scenarios, compared to Reverberation Time (T) and Clarity (C₅₀). The research also outlined a design workflow, useful to successfully design meeting rooms and rooms for speech in general, which allows to determine the optimal number and location of acoustic panels and to minimize the costs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 Title page

Approval page

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Abstract

Table of contents

CHAPTER ONE

• Introduction
• Background of the study
• Statement of the problem
• Aim and objectives of the study
• Significance of study
• Scope of the study

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0      LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1      Concept of Loudspeaker

2.2      Historical background of loudspeaker

2.3      Review of different loudspeaker driver

2.4      Review of different types of loudspeaker

2.5      Audio system in a conference

2.6      The importance of high-quality audio systems in conference rooms

2.7      Key components of conference room audio systems

2.8      Factors affecting audio quality in conference rooms

2.9      Importance of high-quality conference room audio systems

2.10   Review of related studies

2.11   Guidelines on the optimal placement of absorbing, diffusive and reflective materials in a conference room

CHAPTER THREE

3.0Materials and Methods

• Case Studies
• Parameters for Conference Room loudspeaker Acoustics Quality and Typical Values
• Measurements
  • Equipment and Settings
  • Analysis of the Acoustic Measurements
• Simulations
  • Calibration of the Models
  • Optimal Area for the Acoustic Materials
  • Configurations of the Acoustic Materials

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0        Results

4.1.    Measurements

4.2      Simulations of the Different Acoustic Configurations

4.3   Optimal Configurations of Sound-Absorptive and Sound-Diffusive Panels

CHAPTER FIVE

• Conclusions
• Recommendation

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                            Introduction

1.1                                                Background of the study

Meetings are essential in our society, from universities and industries, where they are commonly held to coordinate professional matters such as projects, researches, funds, etc., to informal meetings where people discuss everyday issues. In all cases, the person of interest is the one who is speaking because she/he is (usually) the center of attention of all participants. Moreover, communication takes place not only through voice, but also with certain behaviors or gestures that we can observe. Interpreting this audiovisual information in order to estimate the person of interest or active speaker can be useful in several scenarios, such as human-robot interaction, multi-media, among other (Nijs et al., 2011).

A conference room sound system works at its optimum when it is designed specifically for the room by professional audio engineers. To get the most out of audio conferencing, companies of any size should consider using a firm that is in business to provide state-of-the-art sound systems to entities that need them. Companies such as Data Projections that have years of experience in designing and installing systems, training clients in their use, and providing support after the fact are essential for getting the best results. Leading edge sound systems give a company the tools it needs to make it possible for everyone involved in a conference call to hear each other clearly. The effectiveness of any meeting or collaborative effort is only as good as its weakest link. Clear audio facilitates communication, thereby promoting productivity (Nijs et al., 2011).

For a conference room, sound system design is based on a number of factors. The size and shape of the room, for example. Other factors involve the acoustics of the room, the number of people that will participate in the conference call at any given time, and the budget constraints of the company needing the equipment.

A robust conference room sound system will improve workflow and communications during a meeting. It is a useful way to bring people together that doesn’t require traveling and is not restrained by geographical borders. It will bring the world to your doorstep. In this information age, being able to communicate in a timely fashion is a critical factor in the success of business (Bradley et al., 2019).

Technology advancements have made it possible for businesses to stay competitive and profitable. This is true whether it is the use of video streaming technology or conference room sound system engineering. With the right technology, a meeting room can become a rich environment for collaboration and planning. Gone are the days of struggling to get a conference call to work and having to endure distorted sound. Enjoy crisp, clear audio by upgrading your conference room sound today, with the technology of tomorrow (Bradley et al., 2019).

1.2 Statement of the problem

In order to hold a conference meeting efficiently and meaningful, great sound is essential, not only for interaction, but also for speech intelligibility. This is the case no matter if media sound is being played or participants are connected via conference.

Often the enclosed conference room itself influences the loudspeaker intelligibility. Walls and ceilings reflect sound, especially if they are made of hard elements such as glass or concrete. In this case it is particularly important to choose the right sound system. For this purpose, it is important to analyze the study of conference loudspeaker.

1.3 Aim and objectives of the study

The aim of this study is to carry out the analytical study of conference loudspeaker.

The objectives of the study are:

1. To determine the optimal placement of sound absorbing and sound diffusive material for the effective loudspeaker design of two medium sized conference rooms characterized by poor acoustic conditions
2. To determine the directivity pattern measurement of a loudspeaker used in a conference room.

• To provide a means of having a good audio system in a conference room.

1.4 Significance of study

This study will serve as a means of improving the audio system of a conference room. It is used as a means of increasing the effectiveness of sound masking, choosing the loudspeakers with wider band.

The study will also serve as a means on helping sound engineers in creating wide band loudspeakers to respond the sound masking systems wide spectrum that also has enough acoustic power to cover maximum floor area and to create homogeneously sound ambiance. This will alleviate the engineer design and the total quantity of the speakers which will make the entire system less complex and more effective (Bradley et al., 2019).

1.6 Scope of the study

This work covers the study of analysis of optimal placement of loudspeaker sound absorbing and sound diffusive material for the effective loudspeaker design of two medium sized conferences. In the study, guidelines on the optimal placement of absorbing, diffusive and reflective materials in a conference room for speech will be the reference for our study

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1                                          CONCLUSIONS

The whole study aims to lead to a systematic approach for loudspeaker acoustic design and conscious application of the acoustic treatment in medium sized conference rooms. The first part involved an extensive review of the literature, which aimed to collect useful guidelines on the optimal placement of acoustic materials in medium sized rooms used for conference.

The second part covered methods and results related to the acoustic treatment of two conference rooms at Abuja. Measurements were carried out in the untreated rooms, with two software, and results were comparable among them apart from Clarity, which is affected by recognized uncertainty related to its computation procedure from the impulse response.

Simulations of different configurations of sound absorptive and diffusive panels have been carried out with a geometrical acoustic based software. Reverberation Time can be obtained in the octave frequency band 0.125 kHz with an average error of about 50%, and in the range 0.25–4 kHz with an error between 10–20%. A slightly higher divergence from 10–20% is expected for Speech Transmission Index, since it covers all the frequency range from 0.125–8 kHz.

Results from the different configurations tested in the two rooms recommend the application of absorptive materials on the ceiling or on the perimeter of the ceiling, and on the upper part of one of the three lateral walls, including the rear wall. A range between 50–70% of the ceiling and 20–40% of the walls, including the rear wall, covered with sound absorbing material is recommended in regular shaped rooms with volume around 500 m3, while a range between 20 – 30% of the ceiling and up to 15% of the rear walls is advised in conference rooms with volumes around 300 m3. Generally, the configurations with diffusers do not lead to significant improvements compared to solutions with sound absorption. STI is the least sensitive parameter of the different acoustic scenarios, compared to Reverberation Time and Clarity. The research also outlined a design workflow, useful to successfully design meeting rooms and classrooms in general, which allows to determine the optimal number and location of acoustic panels, and to minimize the installation costs.

When considering audio solutions for video conferencing or remote meetings, choose equipment that provides clear audio coverage and can be easily calibrated and troubleshooting.

5.2 Recommendation

Ultimately, a well-designed conference room audio setup can enhance the audio experience from the loudspeaker for all participants, making meetings more efficient and productive. We recommend that investing in high-quality audio solutions and loudspeaker, you can ensure that your conference room is optimized for the best audio quality possible.