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Residential Acoustical Engineers

  • 1.  Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2017 19:44
    Hello all,

    Has anyone had experience with clients who have hired acoustical engineers as consultants when they are building their home?

    I have a client who has asked me for recommendations but I do not have any experience in this matter. Their house is currently being built, so large-scale design changes are out of the question, but tweaks are still an option. They already have a Yamaha C5 and they are wondering about the best way to design their piano room for the piano.

    Consultants in Canada would probably be ideal but suggestions from the States might be helpful too.

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    Peter Stevenson RPT
    P.S. Piano Service
    Prince George BC
    250-562-5358
    ps@pspianos.com
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  • 2.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2017 20:49
    Peter,

    I would say priority #1 is climate control. Hopefully they can make that happen.

    Acoustically, I suppose it depends on what they want for the piano. I know that glass and hardwood floors will amplify the piano. A high ceiling (and vaulted) usually creates a very desirable effect. However, if they intend to use the piano with other musicians they may not want awesome reverberation but rather a more muted arrangement for which carpet, rugs, and draperies (and other stuff to absorb sound) might be needed. If they intend to record they would want as much sound absorption as possible with foam and what not. Not exactly the nicest thing to look at.

    I have also seen adjustable baffles on walls and ceilings but I wonder if they would want to go that far.

    Beyond that I haven't got a clue.

    Pwg

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    Peter Grey
    Stratham NH
    603-686-2395
    pianodoctor57@gmail.com
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  • 3.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Posted 10-26-2017 21:39
    Chris Storch of the Boston Chapter is an acoustic designer for residences and larger entities..and nice guy to work with0. I can get his contact info if you would like.

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    Jim Ialeggio
    grandpianosolutions.com
    Shirley, MA
    978 425-9026
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  • 4.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2017 21:58
    Thanks, Chris Storch seems like a good lead. I see he is in the PTG directory and has his own web site for Unison Acoustics, so I think I can get in touch that way.

    ------------------------------
    Peter Stevenson RPT
    P.S. Piano Service
    Prince George BC
    250-562-5358
    ps@pspianos.com
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 00:10
    Thanks for the kind words, Jim.

    I'm here if you need advice, Peter.

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    Christopher Storch
    Belmont MA
    617-489-6436
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  • 6.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-26-2017 22:18
    Peter, 

    Without even getting into design changes, I'd like to suggest, and this applies to nearly any room,  that you consider positioning the piano so its straight side is not parallel to any wall, especially those nearest to it. Parallelism encourages resonant frequencies to resonate, especially with the lid up, while non-parallelism tends to avoid same, giving a more even coverage of the room. This has worked favorably for me every time I've applied it, and that is quite a few times. Also, it suggests non-boxy positioning of other furniture, which to me makes everything seem livelier in the room. For what it's worth. 

    Mark Schecter
     | |   | | |   | |   | | |   | |   | | |_






  • 7.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 10:58
    Peter,
    In no way am I stepping in to your customers design model, but as a long time audiophile it is well understood in this industry that square shaped rooms are detrimental to good acoustics.
    Roger

    Virus-free. www.avast.com





  • 8.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 11:38
    I had a client that did not like the sound of his 6'4" piano in his new room, so he built a false wall at an 8 degree angle!

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    Larry Messerly, RPT
    Bringing Harmony to Homes
    www.lacrossepianotuning.com
    ljmesserly@gmail.com
    928-899-7292
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 12:34
    Larry,
    On that same note, I had a customer with a new 7' Schimmel in an absolutely cubed room (approx. 12' x12' x 8' ceiling). She threatened to sell the piano because it sounded so bad. She moved it into her large living room, and now loves the piano.
    Roger

    Virus-free. www.avast.com





  • 10.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 12:56
    One obvious thing that has to be said: Keep the piano out of the sun! All the acoustic machinations in the world won't work if the piano is put in a south facing window. We all know that but customers, and maybe even engineers don't think of the damage, acoustically and physically, that direct exposure to sunlight can cause. 

    Richard West





  • 11.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-27-2017 13:41
    This is a very interesting thread. I have done superficial study of acoustics as they relate to pianos, but would like to learn more. Can anyone recommend a good source to learn more about piano acoustics, preferably in book form?

    Yes, one day I am planning to design my own piano room, and would really like to learn along that line. However, my church really needs some help with acoustic design when they get around to building a new building. Really, really needs help. So ... any suggestions would great.

     Thanks,

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    Benjamin Sanchez
    Professional Piano Services
    (805)315-8050
    www.professional-piano-services.com
    BenPianoPro@comcast.net
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  • 12.  RE: Residential Acoustical Engineers

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 10-30-2017 11:22
    Dear Folks,
    One of my clients is an audiophile and producer of ultra high-level microphone and system wiring. He has consulted on the building of two theaters in my area, one seating 300 and another seating 700. Simply, I would concur with non-parallel facings within the room. Wall to wall, floor to ceiling, nowhere should there be anywhere for the sound to simply bounce back and forth. 

    Bright, small, reflective rooms are a no-no. The studios I have tuned in all had/have carpeted or acoustical tile walls and the floors are carpeted, too. The idea, in the smaller venues is to capture the sound and kill the reverberations in whatever fashion possible. 

    I suppose it is possible to go too far, and create a 'dead room' with no life whatsoever, but the goal in my experience has always been to limit reflective surfaces and parallel surfaces to create the best acoustical 'climate' for recording...and I would apply that to small rooms with big pianos in a heartbeat.

    .02-----ching!

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    Jeffrey T. Hickey, RPT
    Oregon Coast Piano Services
    TunerJeff440@aol.com
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