When designing room acoustics for audio production or reproduction, a key decision is the forms of treatment for the boundaries. They can be absorptive, diffusive or reflective. Diffusion has been shown to be useful in treating a wide variety of spaces, such as studios and concert halls. It is possible to design diffusers from rigid surfaces. Thus, any absorption in the room is provided by separate absorptive elements. Alternatively, it is possible in one hybrid surface, not only to partially absorb the sound, but also ensure that the reflected energy is diffused.

The Binary Amplitude Diffusor (BAD™) Panel was the first product to offer diffsorption, using a complex array of absorptive and reflective patches. The surface is formed by covering a bulk absorber with an optimized perforated reflective mask, in which the holes provide absorption and the other areas complete reflection. The impedance changes across the surface then provide diffusion. These new hybrid surfaces offer the designer an integrated diffsorptive element, lying between the extremes of completely absorbing or diffusing.

The BAD™ Panel offers significant diffusion for a flat surface. Since all flat areas scatter in phase, there is inevitably a small specular component. If a non-flat surface is a design option, then the amount of specular scattering can be significantly reduced to offer even more uniform diffusion. To accomplish this RPG® utilized its Boundary Element / Multi-dimensional Optimization Shape Optimizer™ to determine the optimal variable impedance surface shape. Thus, for a given surface depth, width and frequency bandwidth, the Shape Optimizer™ can predict the optimum shape. For custom installations, the Shape Optimizer™ can also be used to tailor the surface reflectivity. So that now it is possible to provide custom surfaces with specified reflectivity, which will uniformly scatter all sound that is not absorbed. Because these surfaces are binary (absorptive / reflective) and they are curved, they are called DigiWaves™. Because these surfaces are binary (absorptive / reflective) and curved, they are called DigiWaves™. The standard version of the DigiWave™ is fabricated from a hybrid absorptive / reflective optimal 2D binary template covering an absorptive core. The surface is upholstered with a decorative fabric.

Problem
Traditional fabric wrapped panels offer a cost-effective, low profile aesthetic approach to providing reflection and reverberation control. However, these panels offer little sound diffusion and large area application may lead to an acoustically "dead" space. Variable impedance arrays offer some help, but cannot provide diffusion at mid / high frequencies.

Solution
RPG® patented an innovative optimized, curved, variable impedance panel by applying a resorptive binary template, consisting of reflective areas and absorptive areas, over a semi-rigid fiberglass panel, followed by an attractive fabric covering. The resulting digital, optimized, Binary Amplitude Diffsorbor provides mid / high frequency diffusion and low frequency absorption. (Patents pending)

Absorption
The graph illustrates how the DigiWave™ panel offers an increase in bass absorption over a standard upholstered flat panel below 1000 Hz, and a decreased absorption above this frequency. The binary template allows the sound above 1000 Hz to be uniformly diffused providing reflection control without destroying the room's ambiance.

Angular Scattering Response
The graph illustrates how the angular scattering of the DigiWave™ at 1300 Hz compared to a flat reflective panel, a BAD™ panel and an optimized broad bandwidth OptiCurve™. Despite the shallow 7 cm depth (2 - 3/4'') of the DigiWave™, it compares favorably with a broad bandwidth optimized diffusor of 4 times the depth in this frequency range.

Diffusion
The performance of a scattering surface is characterized by the diffusion coefficient, which is the standard deviation of the 1/3-octave angular response, shown above at 1.3 kHz. The graph illustrates how uniformly the DigiWave™ panel scatters sound above 1000 Hz, compared to an OptiCurve™ of 4 times it depth. Given limited depth, optimized depth variation is a powerful way to provide diffusion.

Installation
Installation of the DigiWave™ is quick and easy. Simply use Z-clips for wall mounting and hanging wire / threaded rods or fixed attachment for ceiling application.

Home: Products: DigiWave™

The First Optimized Curved Diffsorbor From The Acoustical Industry's Leading Innovator