Acoustics of auditoriums

by Floyd Rowe Watson

Marage. “Qualites acoustiques de certaines sailes pour la voix parlée.” Comptes Rendus, Vol. 142, p. 878, 1906. An investigation of the acoustical properties of six halls in Paris.

Norton, C. L. “Soundproof Partitions.” Insurance Engineering, Vol. 4, p. 180, 1902. An account of experimental tests of the soundproof qualities of materials that are also fireproof.

Orth, A. “Die Akustik Grosser Raüme mit Speciallem Bezug auf Kirchen.” Zeitschrift für Bauwesen. Also reprint by Ernst and Korn, Berlin, 1872. Assumes that sound waves behave like light waves. Discusses, with detailed drawings, the paths of sound in the Zion Church in Berlin and the Nicolai Church in Potsdam. Also gives his opinion of the effect of surfaces and materials on sound.

Rayleigh, Lord. “Theory of Sound.” Two volumes, Macmillan, 1896. The unsurpassed classic in the subject of acoustics. References to architectural acoustics as follows: “Whispering Galleries,” Vol. II, § 287. “Passage of Sound Through Fabrics,” Vol. II, p. 311. “Resonance in Buildings,” Vol. II, § 252.

Sabine, Wallace C. “Architectural Acoustics.” Engineering Record, 1900, Vol. 1, pp. 349, 376, 400, 426, 450, 477, 503. Published also in book form and in American Architect, Vol. 68, 1900, pp. 3, 19, 35, 43, 59, 75, 83. An important series of articles giving the relation between the time of reverberation in a room, the volume of the room, and absorbing materials present. Gives table of absorbing powers of substances, so that an architect can calculate in advance of construction what the time of reverberation will be.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics,” Proc. of the Amer. Acad. of Arts and Sciences, Vol. XLII, No. 2, June, 1906. A continuation of the previous work, showing the accuracy of musical taste in regard to architectural acoustics and also the variation in reverberation with variation in pitch.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics,” Engineering Record, Vol. 61, pp. 779–781, June 18, 1910. Discusses the case of flow of air in a room and its effect on the acoustics. Concludes that the usual ventilation system in a hall has very little effect.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics: The Correction of Acoustical Difficulties.” The Architectural Quarterly of Harvard University, March, 1912, pp. 3–23. An account of the cures of the acoustical difficulties of a number of audience rooms, also a description of further experiments on the absorbing power of different materials.

Sabine, W. C. “Theater Acoustics.” American Architect, Vol. CIV, pp. 257–279, December 31, 1913. Describes theater with model acoustics. Discusses behavior of sound in a room and shows photographs of sound waves in miniature rooms.

Sabine, W. C. “Architectural Acoustics. Building Material and Musical Pitch.” The Brickbuilder, Vol. 23, pp. 1–6, January, 1914. A continuation of previous work, describing absorbing powers of different materials.