An Optical/Acoustic Response Standard for Theaters and its Correlation to Dubbing Rooms

Petro Vlahos

The final soundtrack master of a motion picture, when heard in the studios dubbing room, ideally represents the quality of sound that should be reproduced in the theater. Unfortunately there has been no standard of theater performance that could be objectively implemented. The methods that have been employed are subjective. Within the last few years an acoustic response technique has been developed employing a pink noise input and a measurement of the resultant sound pressure levels in the auditorium. This objective method permits the adjustment of a theater's reproducing system to match that of the dubbing room to within an acceptable tolerance. Measurements of Hollywood dubbing rooms and review rooms and of the Academy Award theater have established an acoustic response curve for dubbing rooms and for theaters. These curves have been submitted to the SMPTE for consideration as American standards. In view of similar work going on in other countries, the acoustic response of dubbing rooms and theaters is being considered by the International Standards Organization (ISO) for international standardization.

Print ISSN
Published
1975-01
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J13420