Auralex ELiTE Case Studies1
The Music Mill - Case Study of the Music Mill concert venue.
The Music Mill Concert Venue
Auralex Acoustics was brought in to design and implement an acoustical
treatment solution that will provide a new 650 capacity concert venue with a clean,
detailed listening environment when using the installed audio system. The primary
areas of treatment include:
A. Acoustical Treatment of the Main Venue
B. Implementation of an Acoustically Transparent Covering Over the Subwoofer Enclosure
C. Acoustical Treatment of the Backstage Area
The Music Mill, a recently opened live performance venue and restaurant
on the north side of Indianapolis, Indiana, renovated an existing unoccupied facility
with the goal of creating a contemporary space for concerts, corporate functions
and private events. This unique business model posed a challenge for Auralex
Acoustics, the contracting dealer, Mid–America Sound,
and the facility designer, Chapel Lane Productions.
The space not only had to sound good during the performance of a live band but also
for private functions when only speech, and no amplified sound, would be present.
Treatment of the Main Venue
 The
acoustical environment of the main venue was the primary area of concern due to
its irregular shape, reflective surfaces, 36’ wide stage positioned in a corner,
and the chosen audio system, an EV QRx monitoring rig and JBL line arrays and subwoofers.
Based on the off site analysis conducted as a part of Auralex’s free room
analysis service and the experienced issues discussed by the sound engineer, the
problems included Reverberation Times (RTs) that were too long, harsh reflections
off of the rear wall surfaces and inconsistent speech intelligibility throughout
the main listening area. These issues required the strategic placement of absorption
panels on various wall surfaces. While there were several types of products that
would have been effective against the specific problems of this facility, Auralex
Custom ProPanels were chosen because of their cost–effective nature, ability
to be fit aesthetically into the design of the space, and general ease of installation.
 Through
close work with the project’s designers, facility managers and contracting
dealer, Auralex engineers were able to create an overall panel design that fit perfectly
into the modern environment of the Music Mill and allowed the full performance of
the installed audio system to be realized.
Auralex and Mid–America Sound coordinated the installation using trained local
contractors and the full panel design was successfully implemented in two days.
While some on site modification was made to the original plan because of a previously
unspecified insulated ceiling and wall obstructions that would not allow a continuous
panel placement, the installation kept true to the original specification drawn
up by Auralex Engineers.
Covering the Sub–woofer Enclosure
 The
four JBL dual 15” subwoofers were installed in a custom metal cavity directly
under the main stage. In order to reduce the unwanted resonance of this cavity and
provide a finished look to the stage front, additional Auralex products were needed.
SonoFiber, an all–natural cotton–based absorber, was placed as a lining
in the enclosure.
The front was then framed and finished using the ELiTE Custom Fabric System (CFS)
and an acoustically transparent fabric.
Auralex certified ELiTE installers were contracted to implement the framing, ELiTE
Retention Channel and fabric covering from Guilford of Maine.
Treatment of the Backstage Area
 The final
challenge presented by the staff of the Music Mill was the acoustic control of the
backstage area. With reflective surfaces on all sides, the echo and resonance of
the space from both speech and music created an unacceptable environment for performers,
guests and personnel.
Once again, Auralex Custom ProPanels were suggested because of their superior broadband
frequency absorption and aesthetic finished appearence.
Using the same fabric covering and similar panel design, the experienced problems
were greatly diminished with only around 30% total coverage of wall surface area.
Conclusion
Once all of the acoustical treatments had been installed as designed, the finished
result was a live performance venue with a sonic environment rivaling or exceeding
that of any facility in the area.
Between the sound engineer, the Auralex consulting Engineer and the contracting
dealer, the consensus was that the treatments implemented in the Music Mill were
a complete success.
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