Digital Acoustics for the Digital Age

Digital technology has made an impact in almost every aspect of our lives. In 1983, RPG® pioneered the development of passive Digital Acoustics. Today, RPG® continues this tradition by providing a Complete Digital Acoustical Palette. This palette consists of:

1. Digital Acoustics
RPG® offers the widest acoustical palette of passive, digital acoustic, Arcousthetic™ AcousticTools® in the industry. These include optimized digital number theory reflection phase gratings, planar and curved optimized binary amplitude gratings with any surface reflectivity, and optimized curved, stepped or fractal surfaces. These surfaces compliment contemporary architecture the way columns, coffered ceilings and surface relief ornamentation complimented classic architecture.

2. Digital Optimization
RPG® offers a range of digital optimization software. This includes commercial Room Optimizer™ loudspeaker / listener placement software and Room Sizer™ room dimensioning software for rectangular rooms, proprietary Shape Optimizer™ BEM / Multidimensional Optimization customized shape software, and proprietary Binary Amplitude Optimizer software utilizing genetic algorithms.

3. Digital Simulation/Auralization
RPG® offers CATT Acoustics geometrical acoustics software to predict and auralize virtual rooms. Room surfaces are characterized by absorption and diffusion coefficients, any number of sources are characterized by a Dynamic Link Library Directivity Interface (DDI) for variable resolution, near / far field directivity balloons, and any number of receivers are characterized by Head Related Transfer Functions (HRTF) for binaural audition. Stereo, mono, 5.1 and Ambisonic auralization is also possible.

4. Digital Architecture
RPG® offers the Systems for Improved Acoustical Performance (SIAP) variable acoustics electronic architecture system, which electronically modifies a room to meet different acoustical requirements without any physical architectural changes. The SIAP processor distributes digitally processed sound from inconspicuous overhead stage microphones to a large number of concealed loudspeakers located at strategic positions in the venue, to provide a suitable sound reflection pattern.

RPG® Diffusor Systems, Inc. is unique in the architectural acoustics industry

This is due to the depth of its commitment to research and publications in peer review journals; the breath of its expertise; the broad range and quality of its active and passive products; the commitment to continuous innovation; the commitment to education and the respect from other manufacturers and industry professionals.

RPG® was founded by Dr. Peter D'Antonio (AKA Dr. Diffusor)

RPG® was founded in 1983 by Dr. Peter D'Antonio, a physicist and acoustician with an international reputation. Dr. D'Antonio has numerous publications in reviewed scientific journals, text books, and magazines, many registered trademarks and patents and has been an altruistic educator in seminars offered at the Audio Engineering Society (AES), Synergetic Audio Concepts, CEDIA, NSCA, Acoustical Society of America, National Council of Acoustical Consultants, etc. He is a Fellow of the AES, a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America, a professional affiliate of the American Institute of Architects, Chairman of the AES Characterization of Acoustical Materials committee, member of the ISO Random Incidence Scattering Coefficient working group and adjunct professor of acoustics at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. His research has also been extensively covered in several text books including, The Master Handbook of Acoustics, by F. Alton Everest and Sound System Engineering, by Don and Carolyn Davis.

Dr. D'Antonio has also been associated with the music industry since 1973 as a musician, recording engineer and audiophile. In 1973 he designed Underground Sound, the prototypical studio which set the stage for modern control room design. This studio defined the philosophy of combining a reflection-free zone, RFZ™ around the mix position and a diffuse zone using RPG® Diffusors in the rear, to provide passive surround sound.

The Acoustical Palette
RPG® Diffusor Systems has continually expanded the acoustical palette with new architectural acoustic products while building a reputation as the industry’s leading acoustical innovator.

Today, the RPG® Diffusor System consists of a broad range of diffusive, absorptive, variable acoustics, and performance products. These products offer aesthetic acoustical solutions for sound control as well as noise control projects.

1D Diffusion One-dimensional diffusors contain depth variation in one dimension, thus forming linear divided wells or steps of varying depth. For all angles of incidence, the scattering is uniformly diffused into many directions. This diffusion forms a hemi-disc, which is oriented at the specular angle and covers the plane containing the depth variation. The high frequency cutoff is determined by well or step width and the low frequency cutoff is determined by the maximum well depth. 1D diffusors are useful when the diffuse scattering must be directed into specific directions.

2D Diffusion Two-dimensional diffusors offer depth variation in two perpendicular directions, thus forming a lattice of divided cells or steps of varying depth. For all angles of incidence, the scattering is directed hemispherically. The cell or step width determines the high frequency cutoff and the maximum cell or step depth determines the low frequency cutoff. 2D diffusors are useful when the diffuse scattering is required in all possible directions.

Absorption Absorbing products attenuate incident sound. RPG® offers both broad-bandwidth products as well as dedicated bass absorbers (bass traps) using a proprietary membrane transducer.

Variable RPG® offers variable acoustics products to tailor the acoustics of a space to meet changing acoustic requirements.

Performance RPG® offers both passive acoustical shells and active variable acoustics performance products to satisfy the current and future needs of all performance and rehearsal facilities.

Software RPG®’s Collaborative Holistic Acoustical Optimization System (CHAOS) offers the industry the first multi-dimensional optimization software to create aesthetic architectural shapes that complement contemporary architecture in much the same way that relief ornamentation, columns, and statuary complemented classic architecture. Critical listening room optimization software as well as room prediction and auralization software is also available.