Rock and Pop Venues

Popular music plays a substantial role in most people's life. The demand and financial revenue of Rock and Pop concerts is large and still increasing with the decreased revenue on recorded music. Based on the first ever scientific investigations on recommendable acoustics for amplified music conducted by the author, this book sets forward precise guidelines for acoustical engineers to optimize the acoustics in existing or future halls for amplified music.

• Gives precise guidelines on how to design the acoustics in venues that present amplified music
• Debates essential construction details, including placement of sound system and use of possible building materials, in the architectural design of new venues or the renovation of old ones
• Portrays 75 well-known European Rock & Pop venues, their architecture and acoustic properties.
• 20 venues were rated for their acoustics by music professionals leading to an easy-to-use assessment methodology "Acoustics are important within pop and rock venues to ensure a great experience for audiences and performers. This book fills an important gap of knowledge on the acoustics of venues. It will be of value to sound engineers as well as building owners and operators and building design professionals".

Rob Harris, Arup Acoustics

"With this book, many future amplified music concerts will sound better, for the joy of audiences and musicians alike. This enormous work demonstrates a rare degree of passion and insight, from the hand of the key researcher in the field".

Dr. Per V. Brüel

Auteur

Niels W. Adelman-Larsen was in his early twenties educated a mechanical engineer in Denmark, and in music and sound engineering at Berklee College of Music in the USA. During the next 15 years, as a full-time jazz and rock drummer, he played about 1200 concerts some of wich with top jazz performers such as late Esbjörn Svensson and Doug Raney. Such experiences, as well as jam sessions with notabilities like Joshua Redman and Pat Metheny, has made Niels aware of, as he says what music actually can sound and feel like at its best.

While still playing about 80 concerts a year he completed a master's degree with a thesis on acoustics in Danish halls for amplified music. Since 2005 Niels has been a leading writer of scientific articles on the topic. He is well-known for his passionate oral presentations and lectures and has appeared on acoustics conferences world-wide. He invented and patented a new technology for variable and mobile acoustic treatment in favour of amplified music concerts cofinanced by investors such as the Danish Ministry of Technology and Innovation. The technology was launched in 2013.

Résumé

• Gives precise guidelines on how to design the acoustics in venues that present amplified music

• Debates essential construction details, including placement of sound system and use of possible building materials, in the architectural design of new venues or the renovation of old ones

• Presents 75 well-known European Rock & Pop venues, their architecture, beauty and properties.

• 20 venues are rated for their acoustics by music professionals employing an easy-to-use assessment methodology Popular music plays a substantial role in most people's life. The demand and financial revenue of Rock and Pop concerts is large and still increasing with the decreased revenue on recorded music.

Based on the first ever scientific investigations on recommendable acoustics for amplified music conducted by the author, this book sets forward precise guidelines for music professionals to optimize the acoustics in existing or future halls for amplified music.

The acoustic and architectural requirements for pop music venues are very different from those for classical music halls and opera houses. Though 80% of the music turnover is within Rock & Pop Music, books on acoustic design for music halls up until now have addressed only classical music concert halls and opera houses.

This book closes that gap and includes the following features:

In part one, the book

• Teaches basic acoustics in terms that interested readers with a high school degree can understand In part two, the book

• Presents 20 Danish music halls by photo, architectural drawing, geometrical and acoustic measurements as well as by ratings by musicians and sound engineers. Ratings are commented by author. In part three, the book

• From the ratings and measurements of the 20 venues, shows how a set of recommendations on acoustics for amplified music were developed.

• Sets forth the recommendations for acoustics in Rock & Pop venues

• Debates construction and planning issues in detail including placement of sound system In part four, the book

• High-lights another 55 well-known European venues that present Rock & Pop music. From the O2 arena in London to a tiny club in Barcelona. From Beatles, Michael Jackson and Jimmy Hendrix to grass-root level acts. Photos, architectural drawings, acoustic and geometrical measures.

• In appendices gives an overview and statistical processing of acoustical properties of the 55 venues

Contenu

History of Pop and Rock Sound.- Terms, Language.- The Gallery of Rock, Pop and Jazz Venues.- Acoustical Principles.- Assessment of Real Halls.- Design Principles.- The Acoustics during a Gig.