UC San Diego

The acoustic characteristics of a space can be defined through subjective terms and precise physical measurement. By correlating these subjective terms with the physical characteristics of a space, a sound designer is able to implement specific techniques in altering the acoustic response of a space to reach an artistic end result, such as a warm, inviting environment. For example, a space that is considered warm has increased reverberation of lower frequencies, and by altering the amount of reverberation at other frequencies a sound designer could change how warm a theatre feels.

In the production of The Gradient the design team imagined that the audience should enter into a welcoming space and that the space would feel less comfortable as the play progressed. To achieve this, the sound design included a series of area mics run through a tightly filtered reverb engine that artificially enhances the reverb at specific bands of frequencies. At the beginning of the show, lower frequency reverb was produced to create a warmer, more welcoming space. Over the course of the play, the frequency of the filter was increased to produce reverb at higher frequencies, ending the play in a space with a cold and clinical feel. By utilizing this technique of artificially adjusting the reverb response of the theater, the sound design successfully shifted the audiences emotional reaction to the space in sync with the dramatic arc of the play.