| RPG DIFFUSOR SYSTEMS: News: DiffuseNews Archives: January 1999 |  |
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Happy New Year! 1998 was a banner year for RPG® in many respects. The sound diffusion market we pioneered in 1983 has blossomed into a major architectural industry. Sound diffusion is taking its rightful place beside absorption and reflection in the acoustical palette. More and more projects are including an appropriate mix of these acoustical ingredients. RESEARCH RPG®’s DISC project was initially conceived to discover methods to measure and quantify sound diffusion. This research has spawned two international working groups. Since developing a diffusion coefficient has been my personal quest for nearly 20 years, this is indeed gratifying. I will continue to Chair The Audio Engineering Society’s Working Group SC-04-02 on the Characterization of Acoustical Materials. I have appointed Dr. Trevor J. Cox of Salford University as Vice-Chair to handle the expanded research and organizational activities. A new European ISO/TC 43/SC 2 Building Acoustics Working Group (WG 25) has been formed by Jens Holger Rindel and Michael Vorlaender "to define the random-incidence scattering coefficient for a surface and describe a suitable measuring method on test samples." I have adopted measures to formalize a working relationship between AESSC SC-04-02 and ISO SC 43-2 WG25. The goal is to share research results and harmonize standards documents. The two groups will begin collaborating in March of 1999 at the joint meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the European Acoustical Society in Berlin. The AES has published our extensive two part review entitled Two Decades of Diffusor Design and Development. Part I deals with Application and Design and Part II covers Prediction, Measurement and Characterization. I was delighted to chair the Characteristics of Scattering session at the Acoustical Society of America in Norfolk, Virginia. This session was well attended and I want to thank Trevor Cox, James Angus, Tristan Hargreaves, and Peter Svensson for joining me and presenting excellent research papers. Much work has gone into an upcoming Applied Acoustics Special Edition on Diffusion to be published next year. RPG® has tried to raise awareness of Acoustical Distortion and Mix Magazine has published an article on this research. PRODUCTS RPG®’s product range has grown from a few number theory sound diffusors into an ever-expanding acoustical palette of design ingredients. Our sound diffusion products now include 1D, 2D, modulated, and optimized surfaces. The BAD™ Panel — the first flat sound diffsorbor — now represents an alternative to purely absorptive fabric wrapped panels. Our DiffusorBlox® are becoming the standard in acoustical concrete masonry for schools, noise control projects, and large venues where incorporating the acoustics into the structure makes economic sense. Our selection of absorption products is now keeping pace with our diffusive products. Continuing research on novel low frequency absorbors is setting yet another standard in the industry. Our passive variable acoustic products, especially the Triffusor®, have seen a significant growth in specification for projects in the coming year. Performance products are being specified more and more and several wonderful projects were completed last year with many planned for 1999. RPG®’s software product range continues to grow to include optimization, prediction, and auralization tools. When you include the Shape Optimizer™ — our in-house boundary element optimization and prediction tool — RPG® now offers the industry’s widest and most comprehensive selection of acoustical tools. PROJECTS One very encouraging sign of RPG®’s growth is that the scope and size of our projects has increased significantly. While RPG®’s leadership in the recording studio industry continues to grow, our penetration of all architectural acoustics markets has also expanded. Our CHAOS™ collaborative program with the acoustical consultants is being very well received and has resulted in many customized and optimized surfaces for performance venues all over the world. While RPG® was once considered by consultants only for diffusion products, it is now being asked to provide a wide spectrum of diffusion, absorption, variable acosutics, performance, and software products. Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky was one of our most comprehensive projects last year. Michael Garrison Associates specified optimized shapes for the choir shell and overhead reflectors, BAD™ Panels for a majority of the wall surfaces, and SIAP® for the electronic architecture variable acoustics enhancement system. The home theater market is booming for RPG®. We have been involved in many landmark projects and have formed strategic alliances with the industry’s leading specifiers. MANUFACTURING We are constantly improving our manufacturing to bring you the best products at the best price in the industry. This process involves new materials, new molding technology, new machinery and improved efficiency. We have moved and expanded our European manufacturing to better serve overseas markets. SERVICE We have made a committment to providing the most courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable phone support and manufacturer’s representatves. We are continually adding and updating information to our growing web site, including extensive, detailed product specifications. By providing fast and easy access to all of the products and services we offer, we hope to inform as well as save you time and money when dealing with RPG®. Thank you for a wonderful 1998 and we look forward to 1999. Dr. Peter D’Antonio |
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DiffuseNews January 1999
Current Projects Indiana Historical Society Indianapolis, IN Washington College Harrington, DE Millersville University Myers Hall Millersville, PA Oorong Studios New York, NY Match Frame San Antonio, TX Faith Lutheran Church Rochester, NY Interface Video Washington, DC Definitive Audio Bellvue, WA Southeast Christian Church Louisville, KY Ensemble Studios Dallas, TX Sterling Sound New York, NY NBC New York, NY Primestar, Inc. Englewood, CO Design Factory New Rochelle, NY Dale Electronics New York, NY Cello Music & Film Systems Hong Kong Son- Or Filtronic Jacques Champagne- Royer Ontario, Canada SPL Columbia, MD |
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