Course detail

Room Acoustics

FEKT-MPC-AKPAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course deals with analytical and numerical solution of the wave equation in an enclosed space, geometric and statistical acoustics, measurement of reverberation time and room impulse response, objective criteria for assessment of the quality of acoustic spaces. It also deals with the design of acoustic absorption and diffusion elements and the measurement of their properties, the basics of building acoustics and basic procedures of acoustics treatment of specific types of spaces. Lectures at the end of the semester are devoted to variable acoustics of spaces and modern methods of evaluating the acoustics of spaces, such as 3D room impulse response, SIRR method and acoustic studies with a virtual orchestra. The course also includes lectures by experts from practice. Laboratory exercises are focused on the design and simulation of the acoustics of listening spaces in the EASE software, on the practical measurement of reverberation time and room impulse response and the design and measurement of the properties of absorbing and diffuse elements.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

6

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Telecommunications (UTKO)

Entry knowledge

The knowledge of basic physical laws and quantities of the sound field is required as well as the knowledge of laws and quantities in electrical circuits, characteristics of electric circuit elements, circuit behaviour with inertia elements, fundamentals of electro-mechanic and electro-acoustics analogy, periodical and non-periodical signal spectra, random variables and basic terms from the area of statistics

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Evaluation of study results follow the BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations and Dean's Regulation complementing the BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations. Up to 40 points can be obtained for elaboration of projects in laboratory exercises. The minimal scope of the elaboration of projects are specified by a regulation issued by the guarantor of the course and updated for every academic year. Up to 60 points are given for the final examination, and it is necessary to get at least 20 points for its successful completion.
It is obligatory to undergo all laboratory exercises in regular or alternative terms to complete the course. Other forms of checked instruction are specified by a regulation issued by the guarantor of the course and updated for every academic year.

Aims

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with methods of analysis of sound propagation in an enclosed space, measurement of listening room parameters, design and measurement of acoustic elements and with modern technologies used for acoustic space adjustment and its analysis.
On completion of the course, students are able to:
- explain sound propagation in enclosed space,
- measure the reverberation time and the impulse characteristic of the space,
- calculate objective criteria for the quality assessment of listening spaces,
- design basic absorption and diffusion elements to adjust the reverberation time of listening spaces,
- create a simulation of the distribution of sound pressure using geometric and numerical methods,
- propose solutions for acoustic modifications of newly realized and existing listening spaces.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Cox, T., J., D‘Antonio, P., Acoustics Absorbers and Diffusers, Theory, design and application, 2nd ed. Taylor&Francis, 2009. ISBN 978-0-415-47174-5 (EN)
Everest, F. ,A. ,Master Handbook of Acoustics, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, 2001. ISBN 0-07-136097-2 (EN)
KOLMER, F., KYNCL, J. Prostorová akustika. 2, vyd. Praha: Státní nakladatelství technické literatury, 1982, 242 s., ISBN 0451480 (CS)
KUTTRUFF, H.. Room acoustics. 6th ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2017, 302 s. ISBN 978-1-4822-6043-4 (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPC-AUD Master's

    specialization AUDM-TECH , 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
    specialization AUDM-ZVUK , 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Wave acoustics: basic quantities and equations of the sound field, solution of the wave equation in a closed space, numerical methods of solution.
  2. Geometrical acoustics: propagation of sound waves through the environment, image method of simulating sound rays, ray-tracing.
  3. Statistical acoustics: reverberation time and its measurement, normative requirements and recommendations.
  4. Room impulse response: room impulse response and related characteristics, objective criteria of acoustic space quality, speech intelligibility measurement, time-space analysis of impulse response.
  5. Measurement of room impulse response: methods of measuring impulse response, compensation of the characteristics of the measuring system, measurement in a 3D model of the space.
  6. Sound insulation: protection against noise, assessment of background noise, air, building and footfall sound insulation and its measurement, sound insulation construction.
  7. Sound absorbers: mechanical and acoustic systems, porous materials, elements based on the resonance principle.
  8. Sound reflection and diffusers: types of reflection and diffusion elements, their properties and parameters, Schröder diffusers and their design.
  9. Measurement of parameters of acoustic absorbers and diffusers: measurement of sound absorbers in the interferometer and reverberation room, measurement of diffusors in the reverberation room and in the free field.
  10. Acoustic design of various spaces: case studies of the acoustic design of a studio, multi-purpose space, listening room, etc.
  11. Modern methods in room acoustics: active absorbers, passive and active systems of variable room acoustics.
  12. Professional lecture
  13. Excursion / professional lecture 

Laboratory exercise

39 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  • Wave acoustics, use of numerical solution methods
  • Geometric acoustics, implementation of the image source method
  • Measurement of reverberation time with the XL2 analyzer, measurement processing
  • Measurement of the speech transmission index using the STIPA method with the XL2 analyzer, measurement processing
  • Measurement of impulse response with EASERA software, calculation of objective space parameters
  • Measurement of sound transmission with the XL2 analyzer, measurement processing
  • Design of absorbers, measurement of absorption in an impedance tube
  • Design of Schröder diffusers, simulation in Reflex software
  • Simulating room acoustics in EASE software
  • Individual project in EASE software