Posts Tagged simulation
3 Years of the Aeolian® Sound Diffuser
Posted by Acoustics First in Press Release, Products, Uncategorized on July 23, 2020
3 Years of the Aeolian®
It may seem a lifetime ago, but we are celebrating the 3rd Anniversary of the release of the patented Aeolian® Sound diffuser. During development, our team ran numerous models and simulations, revising the design, and optimizing the performance to create the iteration we have today.
The development workflow of the design included computer optimized geometry, performance simulation, rapid prototyping, and full acoustic performance and validation testing. This was one of the first uses of this completed workflow, and while we are always refining our development processes, this was a huge leap forward.
We now look back at the release of the Aeolian® as a milestone in our history, where we developed something more than a product… we developed a better way to design a product.
Here was the original blog post about the Aeolian®.
Happy birthday.
Introducing the Aeolian™ Diffuser
Posted by Acoustics First in Diffusion, Products on July 11, 2017
Production Unit – Photo
Acoustics First® is pleased to announce our latest creation: The Aeolian™ Sound Diffuser. In some ways a simplified version of our popular Art Diffusor® Model D, the Aeolian™ is the latest in our line of ‘Organic Quadratics’. Part of the Aeolian’s™ unique design comes from its use of “implied symmetry”. Although the edges are all asymmetric, the height variations are just subtle enough to create an illusion of symmetry when installed in a standard 15/16” grid, or spaced appropriately on a wall. The lack of a uniform edge also has added acoustical benefits in the way of “randomness”.
3D Development Model
Simulations are compared to final test results before production. (Test result by NWAA Labs.)
The development process for the Aeolian™ was similar to that of our ‘Model D’. Various 3D models were created and refined, after which we ran acoustical simulations. Once we settled on what we considered the optimum design for what we were going for, a full scale 3D model was printed for lab testing. With the ‘real world’ test results in hand, confirming our predicted results, we set about making the final mold, and this new diffuser was born.
Pre-Production Prototype printing on the Gigabot
Aeolian Mold.
First batch of Aeolians!
The Aeolian™ Diffuser is class A thermoplastic, and 4 lbs. per unit.
Nominal size is 23-3/4” x 23-3/4” with a depth of 5.1”.
Simulations! Now in stereo – and with absorption!
Posted by Acoustics First in Absorption, Diffusion, Product Applications on December 22, 2016
You heard right – with both ears! (or Eyes?)
The Acoustics First® simulations took a huge leap forward toward more accurately modeling real world acoustic environments in two important areas.
- Ability to simulate Two sources (Now in Stereo!)
- Modeling Absorption to strategically remove energy from a space!
These two additions to the Acoustics First® simulations allow a vast improvement to the modeling of acoustic field development – and, while still in the early development stages, has already been instrumental in advancing the development of systems and products to improve acoustics in numerous ways.
See for yourself: In this most recent simulation, we compare the development of the acoustic field in two spaces with identical stereo sources – one room is basically a concrete box, while the other is a concrete box treated with absorbers and diffusers.
Untreated vs. Full Treatment Room Sim (Two Channel – With Absorption and Diffusion!) from Acoustics First®.
Important Observations:
- Absorbers at early reflection points (Note Early reflection in First room)
- Diffusers breaking up specular reflections
- Absorbers constantly removing energy from the space – greatly reducing the overall intensity over the span of the simulation.
- This simulation is only modeling .046 of a second!
We hope you find this informative and stimulating and we will continue future developments of these simulations and try to add more functionality and realism to help all those out there to better be able to visualize the different ways you can affect the acoustics of a space.
For some of our previous Simulations – Click Here!
For our Vimeo Channel – Click Here!
Contact Acoustics First® for a high bitrate, presentation quality version of the videos – as well as permission and terms of use.
Acoustics First® makes sound Visible!
Posted by Acoustics First in Diffusion, Product Applications, Products, Uncategorized, Video on November 18, 2016
As many of you know, Acoustics First® invests a great deal of energy in the development of the science of acoustics. Here are three ways that we are making advances that help people learn and actually Visualize acoustics!
Those interested in sound diffusers have certainly noticed that Acoustics First® has produced a Diffuser Data book, containing all kinds of test data about how our diffusers contribute to the sound in your space. This information is a great advancement and we have worked closely with the ASTM committee developing this test method. Some people wonder exactly how the test produces the data that we report, and we have developed a simulation to show exactly how the sound energy is sampled during this test.
If you download the Diffuser Data booklet, you can see a picture of the gigantic test arc at NWAA Labs which is used for the real world tests.
Acoustics First – Diffuser Data Test Demo from Acoustics First®.
We have also made leaps and bounds in using simulations to show the different ways that diffusion develops in a space. Depending on the type and placement of the diffusers you install, the diffuse field will develop at different speeds, at different frequencies. We can now show a couple of simulations of the development of a diffuse field to help you visualize how sound moves in room without treatment and with two different sets of diffuser treatments.
Acoustics First – Room Simulations from Acoustics First®.
Bonus video! Imagine being able to see the Untreated room and the Model D room from a different angle – To be able to move around the outside of the room and see how the sound field develops from a different perspective. Imagine no more! Here it is!
Acoustics First – Sound Field Development Simulation – 3D Panning from Acoustics First®.
If you prefer to use YouTube – you will find the videos uploaded at our YouTube channel here.
We hope these helped you to “look” at acoustics in a whole new way, and stay tuned – more advancements are coming soon!
Contact Acoustics First® for a high bitrate, presentation quality version of the videos – as well as permission and terms of use.
Bonus! Simulations! Now in stereo – and with absorption! Click Here!
Acoustics First BLOG 
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