Most of us know the frustration of trying to conduct a conversation in a loud restaurant. The situation becomes frustrating, as everyone in the space steadily raises their voice to compete for attention within the swirl of escalating volume levels. As tech website
CNET.com reports, Berkeley CA restauranteur John Paluska decided to try something different with his new Mexican restaurant,
Comal. Rather than isolating guests in booths, or settling for the usual blunder of loud voices, he decided to get technical.
Starting with the basics, Paluska, with the help of John Meyer of Meyer Sound, set out to design a restaurant in which you could carry out a conversation without needing to shout. They began by installing wall panels wrapped in a sound absorbent material and stuffed with recycled denim, which serve to dampen the echo and resonance of the space. The panels were then covered with fabric and artwork to conceal their function and create the restaurant's décor. These acoustic treatments are just the beginning; at the heart of Paluska and Meyer's project are the advanced sound system utilized throughout restaurant. The space contains 120 strategically positioned speakers and microphones that pick up the sounds of the restaurant. Those inputs are then processed by a series of computer servers in the basement, and reproduced through the various speakers in way that allows you to clearly hear your own conversation, without disturbing those around you. Check out the video in the sources link for a more detailed explanation of the system.
Is your restaurant is too loud when crowded? Perhaps restaurants of the near future will all utilize systems such as Paluska's. A good starting point now is to put together some sound deadening fabric panels, well within the scope of any DIY restauranteur.
Source:
CNET,
Comal Sound System Explained
Tablebases.com
