WFH Acoustic Solutions

Covid-19 has forced many people to quickly create a "camera ready" space at home for virtual meetings and recording social media content. Commonly the only area in a home that offers privacy from others who share the space may not be professional looking or have the best acoustics, both diluting the impact of what is being broadcast. The Lancaster Project has adapted a collection of products originally developed for custom AV applications for this purpose, so a bedroom or kitchen can easily be converted into a proper studio. As with all products developed by The Lancaster Project, these are all affordable solutions that don't require the commitment of construction or complicated assembly.

What sets a professional from amateur recording apart is that often the highest quality microphones are only as good as the room where they are placed. Speech intelligibility is the measurement of how comprehensible speech is within a setting. If the acoustic conditions are poor during a presentation, it is difficult to understand the speaker, especially for those with hearing loss or a learning disability. Clarity of speech is also critical for retention of information, as the more compromised the intelligibility the lower the percentage of words will actually be understood. Reverberation time refers to how echoey a space is. If a room is too reverberant, due to reflective surfaces or architectural design, even an articulate speaker or high-quality microphone is overpowered by reverberant noise. 

The Lancaster Media Shade is a simple backdrop made with proprietary acoustic fabric that creates an optimal acoustic environment by absorbing sound and reducing reverberation time. The speech intelligibility during virtual meetings and the clarity of recorded audio is enhanced because the tinny echo caused by an overly reverberant room is eliminated. It is made with a breathable, fire rated fabric that can be custom printed with a logo or organization name.  

Vibramat is an acoustic carpet underlayment that pairs well with the Lancaster Media Shade to reduce reverberation time as well as the footfall if there is a room located above where audio is being recorded. 

PTAC Cover, Radiator Cover and Speaker Back  We have a number of products that address common architectural-based noise problems that are of even greater concern when recording audio. A PTAC unit is the large in-wall heating and cooling system commonly found in hotel rooms, apartments and hospitals. It makes it possible to set the temperature in a single room without having to adjust that of an entire building. They are often loud and can be disruptive during virtual meetings whenever the unit kicks in to maintain the desired temperature. The PTAC Cover goes over a unit, eliminating fan noise without affecting air flow. Our Speaker Backs are a great product for any AV setup. When placed behind a speaker that is installed in a wall or ceiling, it prevents undesirable noise transmission between rooms. The neighbor banging on the ceiling with a broom so you will turn the music down will thank you.

Eaves Muffler and Lars Shade Many of the early concepts that would inspire us to create The Lancaster Project were solutions for working at home in a less than ideal space. The Lars Shade and Eaves Muffler are both products that can easily be self-installed and will enhance your acoustic environment.

Please contact us if interested in learning more about these products or to request a full list of The Lancaster Projects AV solutions.

We made our patents available here to learn more about the science behind our work.