MediaVerse Acoustic Study

What Are Room Modes?

Room modes are resonant frequencies determined by room dimensions. At these frequencies, sound waves reflect between parallel surfaces and create standing waves — areas of reinforcement (loud spots) and cancellation (dead spots).

The axial mode formula is: f = c / (2L) where c = 343 m/s (speed of sound) and L = room dimension in meters.

Below the Schroeder frequency, individual modes dominate the room’s response. Above it, modes overlap sufficiently that the sound field becomes statistically diffuse.

What Is RT60?

RT60 (Reverberation Time) is the time it takes for sound to decay by 60 dB after the source stops. It is the primary metric for characterizing a room’s acoustic “liveness” or “deadness.”

Calculated using the Sabine equation: T = 0.161V / A where V = room volume (m³) and A = total absorption (sabins).

For recording studios, shorter RT60 values (0.2–0.4s) are preferred to minimize coloration of recordings.

What Is NC?

Noise Criteria (NC) is a standard for rating background noise levels in occupied spaces. Each NC rating defines maximum allowable sound pressure levels across octave bands from 63 Hz to 8 kHz.

Lower NC numbers mean quieter rooms. NC-12 is extremely quiet (recording studio grade), while NC-18 is typical for private offices.

What Is STC?

Sound Transmission Class (STC) is a single-number rating of how well a wall, floor, or ceiling assembly blocks airborne sound. Higher STC = better isolation.

Lab vs Field: Lab STC is measured under ideal conditions. Field STC is typically 3–7 dB lower due to flanking paths, penetrations, and construction quality. Always design to field expectations.

Cooling Without Noise

The challenge in studio HVAC is delivering adequate cooling without introducing audible noise. Every component — compressor, fan, ductwork, diffuser — generates sound that must be attenuated below the room’s NC target.

Silencers (lined duct sections) absorb sound energy. Longer silencers with lower air velocities achieve greater attenuation. The system uses Daikin VRF (NOT Samsung) with 3 indoor units serving 3 rooms.

Stereo Monitoring Triangle

The monitoring position forms an equilateral triangle with the two speakers. The listener sits at one vertex, with speakers at ±30° from center. This geometry ensures accurate stereo imaging and phantom center.

The listening position at 68% of room depth (1.54m from front wall) places the listener behind the worst room mode peaks, which typically occur at 50% depth.