Acoustics 101 | What is Reverberation?

What is Sound?

Sound is our perception of a specific type of physical event. This event is a change in air pressure that is detected by our ears. A sound pressure wave (SPW) is essentially a cycle of compressed and de-compressed air. SPW's develop over time, therefore there must be time (and air) for there to be sound. The quantity of compression and de-compression cycles over time indicates frequency. i.e 100Hz = 100 cycles per second. 1000Hz = 1000 cycles per second. 'Hertz' (Hz) is the unit of measurement for frequency (cycles per second). Human beings can hear frequencies that range from 20Hz to 20,000Hz and our optimal hearing range is between 1000Hz and 4000Hz. The frequency of a sound will affect how it is sensed by the human ear. For example, a 20Hz sound at 70 decibels is perceived to be quieter than a 1000Hz sound at 40 decibels. This is due to the 1000Hz sound (though lower in decibel value) being in the optimal hearing range.

The Fletcher Munson Graph (FM Graph) above shows us that our ears hear differently at different levels. In general, our ears don't pick up extreme high or low frequencies as well as the mid-range frequencies, particularly the 1000Hz to 4000Hz range. The FM Graph links points of equal loudness i.e a 50Hz sound at 65dBSPL and a 1000Hz sound at 25dBSPL will be perceived to be of equal loudness.

Perception of Space

In addition to detecting the direction of a sound source, our ears are also capable of determining what type of physical space/room we are in without actually seeing it. When a sound is made in a room, sound pressure waves spread out from the source in all directions. A small percentage of the sound will reach your ears directly without bouncing off anything first. A greater percentage will hit one or more surfaces of the room before reaching your ears. These reflected sounds will be lower in volume than the non-reflected sounds and will also take longer to reach your ears. What we hear in an enclosed space can be broken down into four aspects.

Direct sound

Direct sound is the sound that travels directly from the sound source to your ears without any reflections or interference from the surrounding environment. This is in contrast to indirect sound, which is the sound that reaches your ears after bouncing off walls, ceilings, and other surfaces in the room. So, how does direct sound affect the way we perceive sound in our environment? One key factor is the concept of sound localisation, which is our ability to determine the location of a sound source in a space. Direct sound plays a crucial role in helping us pinpoint the direction and distance of a sound source, allowing us to accurately perceive the spatial dimensions of sound.

Early reflections

Early reflections refer to the first sound that reaches a listener’s ear after a direct sound, bouncing off walls, ceilings, and other surfaces before reaching the listener. These reflections can greatly impact the clarity, tonality, and overall listening experience in a space. Researchers and engineers have long studied the effects of early reflections on sound quality, leading to advancements in building design, soundproofing materials & acoustic treatments. By understanding how sound waves interact with different surfaces, experts can manipulate early reflections to create immersive listening experiences in concert halls, recording studios, theatres & home entertainment systems.

sound reverberation graphic

Pre-delay

The time gap between the direct sound and early reflections is known as the 'pre-delay'. The larger the room, the longer the pre-delay. In other words, the pre-delay time determines how quickly these first reflections reach the listener's ears. This influences the sense of distance and size of a sound source within a room. In architectural acoustics, the manipulation of pre-delay can be employed to enhance the quality of sound in auditoriums and other performance spaces. By adjusting the timing of reflections, acousticians can optimise the acoustics of a room to ensure clarity, intelligibility, and a rich listening experience for audiences.

Reverberation time

The exact frequency content and level of the early reflections will be determined by the types of material and surfaces in a room. The sound waves that reach our ears after the early reflections and bounce of several surfaces are known as 'reverberation'. Reverb will also be lower in volume and have fewer high frequencies. Reverberated sound reaches our ears in an almost constant stream (often making it difficult for us to clearly hear and understand what a person in a room is saying). This is due to the near constant reverb stream that has raised the noise floor. The time it takes for these reflected sounds to drop in level by 60dBSPL (to the point were you can't really hear the sound anymore) is known as the 'reverb time' or 'RT-60'. The larger the room, the longer the reverb time will be.