16 Important Questions Every Sound Contractor Should Ask

Whenever you are designing an audio system, there are some important questions you should ask'both of the client and yourself. Being prepared and having the right knowledge from the start can prevent many headaches down the line. That said, here are 16 questions every sound contractor should ask at the start of a new job:

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12 Questions for the Contractor to Ask the Client

1. What is the main use of the facility under development?
   • High energy house of worship or traditional?
   • Live performance or dance/playback club?
   • Restaurant with Sports bar?
2. Is the project new construction or renovation?
   • Will the existing equipment be used along with new equipment?
3. Are there CAD plans or paper blueprints available?
   • Can we borrow them to get scanned at Kinko's?
4. What is the estimated life expectancy of the room for its designed function?
   • Will the room designed as a main sanctuary/worship space become the youth room in four years?
   • Are you adding video to the Sports bar in a year?
   • Will the Dance area start adding live acts later on?
5. What are the SPL and/or performance goals for the system?
   • Does the client know what 105 dB sounds like?
   • Will there be extensive amounts of subwoofer energy required?
   • Will touring gospel/religious groups use the system? Will they demand technical equipment rider adherence?
6. Who will be operating the system?
   • Will operator training be included in the after sale support?
   • Is the required operator skill set of the system at 'Broadway Level' and the available in-house skill set at 'Community Theater?'
7. What is the actual audio budget as related to the A/V scope of work?
   • How much of the A/V system budget needs to be allocated for video and lighting?
8. What is the time line for the construction and installation phase?
   • Is there adequate available time for design and equipment procurement?
   • How long can you 'lock in' pricing for? Are raw material or equipment costs on the rise?
   • Are labor and installation personnel costs stable?
9. What are the rooms working configurations?
   • If a multi-purpose room, is there a set presentation area, or does the presentation focal area shift for different functions?
   • Does the sporting gym/ field house/ arena also function as a convocation center for graduations or assemblies?
10. Is the new system eliminating live production costs incurred by portable systems brought in for live performance events?
    • Does it make sense for the client to buy a system used three times a year, when live production companies regularly update and maintain their rental stock? Am I shooting myself in the foot asking this?
11. Is a new sound system being asked to address room acoustic problems?
    • Do the services of an acoustical specialist need to be used prior audio system design?
12. Is the structural design of the facility ample for a properly placed flown system?
    • Do funds exist for a structural/professional engineering analysis to evaluate the new rigging positions?

4 Questions for the Contractor to Ask Themselves

1. Is the scope of work beyond my skill set and prior job experience?
   • Can I sub-contract rigging, system tuning and adjustment, and shop drawing requirements and still make a profit? Is it time to set up a level as a contractor?
2. Can I access all required equipment lines necessary to fulfill the bid list?
   • Can I open up additional lines or two-step what I'll need to complete the consultants design? How will this affect my bottom line?
3. Will the scope of work require additional personnel to be hired?
   • Beyond the above mentioned subcontracted specialists, is the company infrastructure ready for the additional work load?
4. What are the additional associated risks involved in the project?
   • Will additional insurance and/or bonds be required for my companies overall protection?

What questions do you ask when starting a new AV installation? Let us know in the comments.

Jay Fullmer

As a key interface to the contracting and consultant markets for HARMAN Professional Solutions, Fullmer has extensive experience in audio system design for an enormous variety of designs and installations. As an experienced electro/acoustical system designer and problem solver, he supports the Installed Sound, Tour Sound and Cinema Markets and has been involved in product development as well. With more than 30 years in the audio industry he has held many positions, including system design and virtual modeling specialist, live audio production designer and engineer for theatrical, music and corporate events and system installer. Fullmer enjoys teaching training classes for HARMAN Professional Solutions, and is a past AES presenter. As a reformed semi-professional musician, he still finds time to play live music and thus retain a connection to what got him started in this field in the first place.

What is acoustic design and why is it important?

Acoustic design is the fine tuning of sound for a specific interior space. While architects respond to design challenges covering aesthetics and usability, an area often overlooked is the importance of acoustics and the impact it can have on indoor environments and their occupants. Noise has been shown to be a risk factor for both physiological and psychological health, so acoustic design needs to remain a key consideration when creating and adapting spaces.

In we conducted a survey asking specifiers and architects how important acoustic design had become in their building projects. We found that despite offering professional guidance, nearly one in two architects said that many of their clients' aren't interested in end user health'.

In our most recent survey, we polled office employees and employers across Great Britain on workplace noise. We discovered that a quarter of bosses said that 'not much' acoustic design consideration had been given to their office, despite the fact that more than half said it was important to their organisation. Shockingly, 60 per cent of employees confirmed they are unable to concentrate in the office and are delivering poor quality work due to loud workspaces.

When should you use an acoustics expert?

It won't surprise you that I believe you should always consult an acoustic expert when it comes to the design of buildings. Acoustics are an important aspect of the modern interior space. When you get the acoustics right, people will enjoy using it without a second thought. Get it wrong and the space will become a sonic battleground that users cannot wait to escape from.

What are the key architectural considerations for good acoustic design?

We understand that for architects it's vital that the acoustic solution they choose will not compromise the overall design and aesthetic of a space. Our acoustic spray finishes blend in seamlessly, following the lines of whatever is underneath. This enables designers to achieve perfect, sweeping curves and shapes without the acoustic treatment appearing as an afterthought.

How do you determine the appropriate level of acoustics for any given project?

Want more information on Acoustic Design Services? Feel free to contact us.

Many commercial projects now take on acoustic consultants who can specify the required acoustic treatment based upon their calculations of the space and what it will be used for. For those that don't have acoustic consultants, we offer free acoustic appraisals, and based on our experience we can often advise what specification will be appropriate. We are also able to a acoustically model a space.

How can you communicate and get client approval for particular levels of acoustic performance ' especially when it might entail additional cost?

The underlying financial opportunities should be a key motivator for clients as quality sound absorption will pay for itself through better productivity, reduced sickness leave of employees and return custom.

How should acoustics be incorporated into the design process to ensure these aims are successfully achieved?

From our point of view, deciding on the project design concept and which of our five products will suit it best. We offer the smoothest acoustic plaster available, deliberately industrial acoustic sprays and everything in between. Budget usually plays a part as well, so we pride ourselves on having a suitable product for all projects.

What are the most common mistakes people make when anticipating the acoustic impact of their designs?

Quite often the shape of the substrate itself is not taken into consideration. We get a lot of architects contacting us, saying that they have been told they need a Class A absorber and have therefore over specified the required depth of our product. When spraying onto a profile or rib deck metal sheet, our products dramatically increase in performance over the worst case published acoustic data onto concrete slab. Our technical data and expertise enable us to value engineer for our clients, saving on material depth, labour and overall programme duration.

What's the best way to test the acoustic performance of different design solutions?

Whilst you can carry out before and after testing on site with sound reading equipment, there really is no need with the advanced acoustic modelling software that acoustic consultants use nowadays. This software prevents the need for trial and error and provides very accurate results.

What are the issues involved in retrofitting existing buildings to improve environmental performance?

Areas heavily congested with services are usually the biggest issue. We normally spray our acoustic treatments before these go in for extremely fast install times. When there are existing services, we spend more time carefully wrapping and protecting them before installation. With our SonaSpray range we are able to renovate a space whilst acoustically treating it at the same time. SonaSpray is the only acoustic product assessed by the testing body UL to be compatible with applying directly onto untidy cementitious fire spray. It is also the only acoustic product to be allowed to butt up against intumescent steelwork, instead of a 50mm shadow gap with expensive and time-consuming stop beads.

For more Acoustic Dividersinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.