Louisiana natives love their live music. Cajun, zydeco, folk, jazz, and more filter throughout the streets of most Louisiana towns. Getting the most out of your live venue is more than making it look nice. It has to sound nice too. That means optimizing the acoustics in your venue to accommodate a wide variety of live music.
Whether your venue is large or small, has high ceilings or low, there are acoustic solutions to improve the sound. Knowing the problem at hand is also of great importance. Is your music making its way out of the venue and leading to upset neighbors? Or is the sound harsh in the room? There is a difference between room acoustics and sound insulation. In a venue with proper acoustical treatment, you will be able to hear the same quality and clarity of sound anywhere in the venue. This is more difficult to achieve in small venues, as parallel reflective surfaces cause the sound to bounce around the room. Putting absorptive acoustic panels along the wall opposite the venue’s speakers helps improve the quality and clarity of sound in the small space.
To prevent sound escaping your venue, soundproofing your building is essential. This can prevent neighborhood squabbles and eliminate noise complaints. First and foremost an airtight space will emit little sound. Ensuring your doors and windows are properly sealed is essential. For venues that share walls, soundproofing within the shared wall will be key. You can do this by staggering the studs within the wall, or building up mass within the wall itself to dampen the sound.