The effect of modular acoustics on a performer's perception in multi-use (symphonic and operatic) concert halls

This thesis studies the varying degrees in a performer' s perception of the difference in the adjustable acoustics of a specific performance hall, namely, what is the difference between the opinions of instrumentalists and vocal musicians? Reverberation times in the Rogers Center auditorium in Andover, MA were taken onstage with the hall's acoustical curtains either hidden or exposed. Performers in the school musical and in a local symphony group were given surveys after doing two rehearsals in the hall, one in each configuration. The results from the reverberation time measurements show a clear difference between reverberation times perceived onstage. Performer surveys, however, show that neither group of performers noticed a strong contrast between different configurations of the curtains. They did, however, respond strongly when acoustics were changed that affected reflective surfaces directly surrounding them.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• DeBoer, Jennifer (Jennifer J.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Carl J. Rosenberg.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32865

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32865