Best Acoustic Curtains Australia Can Trust
Have you ever been in a room and someone has looked around and said “the acoustics in here are great!’? Have you ever noticed how the same theatre will sound different whether you’re sitting at the front or the back? Have you ever noticed how sound seems to go “hollow” in some areas while becoming more “solid” in others?
This phenomenon is called “acoustics”, and it refers to the quality that noise and sound takes on when travelling in a particular space. Although sound is merely the displacement and distance travelled by air, the particulars of how sound is received is intrinsically shaped by the space the sound moves in.
It’s this ability to ‘shape’ sound that makes acoustic curtains so effective at controlling noise levels and a popular choice for so many of our customers who may be on the lookout for theatre curtains.
The Science of Sound
Sound is a truly fascinating science. It all begins with air. The molecular structure of air is quite loose, in that it isn’t very dense or tightly packed together, but it is still consistent. Each air molecule is a certain distance from the next, and they dangle in this very structured free fall.
So what should happen if those molecules become displaced? When air is forced out of this consistent pattern, the looseness of the molecular arrangement means that they are easily moved. The molecules are pushed into one another, creating this collision of sound.
Try thinking of it this way. You’re standing in line at the bank, with everyone equally distant from each other in the line. Someone behind you pushes you, and you fall into the person in front of you, and they, the person in front of them, etc. This is exactly how sound travels from its origin point, like a violent game of telephone.
The thing is, sound doesn’t always travel the same way. The way sound gets received is dependent on the molecular structure of whatever it passes through. For example, because solid material is very tightly packed together, sound passes through it easier as there’s less room between molecules. However, this same density means that sound also reaches its natural end quicker - resulting in the muffled, dampened quality that audio can take on when being heard through walls or windows covered by thick blockout curtains.
This is why open air is the perfect medium for clarity, volume, and a greater distance of sound. The consistently spaced, and relatively still structure of open air allows sound to travel further, maintain decent force and speed, and naturally ensures that no sound frequency is favoured over another.
So what does this have to do with acoustic curtains?
What Are Acoustic Curtains?
Have you ever looked inside a recording studio? You know those foam acoustic panels they have up on the walls? Well acoustic curtains are the wavy version of that, which is precisely why we stock them here alongside all our other curtains and blinds!
Music studios and recording booths generally want to control the way that sound travels in their space as much as possible. The panels you see on those walls are sections of foam designed to absorb certain frequencies in order to prevent them from bouncing back to the microphone.
Walls typically cause mid-high range frequencies to bounce, affecting the way a mic will record a performance. Low end, bassy frequencies can get overwhelming if corners aren’t fitted out with acoustic treatments. High end frequencies can become tinny if not dispersed properly.
Fitting out ceilings with dispersers (wooden checker-board like structures that break up the rate at which high frequencies bounce) prevents unpleasant tinny tones. Walls can be covered with acoustic foam panels, as well as dispersers designed for walls in order to control the wall’s reflective properties. Corners are also outfitted with bass traps, large foam panels designed to dampen the bassy frequencies and prevent a muddy recording.
But what about windows? That’s where acoustic curtains come into play. Like acoustic foam panelling, acoustic curtains can help keep sound nice and insulated in recording studio spaces. This makes acoustic curtains a superb curtain for studio spaces, and perhaps even theatre spaces that are prone to echoing!
Benefits Of Acoustic And Soundproof Curtains
Acoustic curtains can be a great addition to any music studio, helping to cover up windows and ensuring as much noise control in that room as possible. If you’re making a dedicated home theatre space then it’s more than likely that you’re looking at acoustically treating your room. Otherwise the reflective glass of your windows could play all kinds of havoc with the sounds coming from your speakers.
It’s also important to understand what acoustic or soundproofing curtains do so that proper expectations are set. Although often called “soundproofing” curtains the fact is, they don’t soundproof anything. Soundproofing is attempting to block all frequencies equally, whereas acoustic treating is controlling how sound interacts with its surroundings.
If you’re looking to achieve ultimate quiet or create a perfect ambience during your next movie night, then we highly recommend investing in some acoustic curtains.
Shop our entire range of acoustic curtains right here at QuickFit in order to complete your own music studio today!
