Eastern Branch

The past 10 years in particular has seen a significant increase in the number of PA and sound systems being installed, particularly as fire alarm systems transition to Voice Alarm (VA) emergency announcement systems. But are they getting any better?

Peter Mapp has over 30 years experience working in the fields of acoustics and electroacoustics and is recognised as an international authority on sound system design and assessment. He has designed sound systems all over the world for a wide variety of buildings and spaces, ranging from Concert Halls and Theatres to, Cathedrals, Mosques, Airports, Underground Stations, Road Tunnels, Shopping Malls and Stadia. He is also a contributing author to several acoustics and audio reference books. The talk will give an overview of sound system design, history and technology and discuss the strong interaction that occurs between sound systems and their acoustic environment and why so many systems sound so poor. Peter will discuss the importance of computer modelling in the design process and the potential errors that can occur. The talk will be illustrated with a number of case histories and demonstrations and will conclude by Peter discussing some of his recent research which is currently focussed on improving the intelligibility of systems for the hard of hearing and hearing -aid users and speech intelligibility in large reverberant spaces.

CPD Certificates will be available.

For information contact:

Clive Pink [Tel. No. 01394 444349]       [E-mail: clive.pink@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk]

For more details of Regional Branch activities, please refer to IOA website: www.ioa.org.uk

Note: Eastern evening meetings are free; there is no need to book a place and we welcome both IOA members and non-IOA members.

Directions as follows:

                                                      Best Western Hotel, Marks Tey, Colchester

A12/A120 Marks Tey Junction, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1DU

Tel: 01206 210001 (08453731005)   www.marksteyhotel.co.uk

TRAVELLING BY CAR

From London:
From the M25 exit at Junction 28 (A12), signposted Chelmsford. You are now on the A12; continue for approx 34 miles and take the exit for the A120, signposted Bishops Stortford. At the roundabout take the 3rd turning signposted to Stanway follow the road over the A12, at the next roundabout take the 2nd turning, the entrance to the hotel is 200 yards on your left.

From Ipswich:
From the A14 and A12 interchange follow the A12 towards Colchester for about 19 miles, take the A120 junction signposted Marks Tey & Bishops Stortford, exit on to the slip road and take the 1st turning left at the roundabout, the entrance to the hotel is 200 yards on your left.

From Harwich:
Follow the signs for the (A12) A120, continue on the A120 until the Junction with A12, signposted Chelmsford/London and join the A12. Continue until you reach the A120 signposted Marks Tey & Bishops Stortford, exit on to the slip road and take the 1st turning left at the roundabout, the entrance to the hotel is 200 yards on your left.

From Stansted:
At the junction A120/M11, Birchanger Green Service Area, take the 1st turning signposted Colchester off of the roundabout. Continue on the A120 following all the signposts for Colchester. After about 22 miles you will enter Marks Tey, go over a railway bridge and approach a roundabout, take the 2nd turning and follow the road over the A12, at the next roundabout take the 2nd turning, the entrance to the hotel is 200 yards on your left.