Before we tell you how Sound Masking can work to your advantage, it is of course useful to know what it actually is. The Sound Masking system works by adding a uniform, barely perceptible background noise to the environment in the frequency range of human speech. This inconspicuous noise usually sounds like a kind of noise, similar to an air conditioning. This masks other sounds, so that the mutual speech intelligibility is reduced. The noise is spread evenly, without phase differences. This improves the overall acoustic environment. The Sound Masking system works with elegant, modern ceiling loudspeakers specially developed for Sound Masking. These compact active and passive loudspeakers are also called emitters. The loudspeakers are controlled by a controller.
Affordable complete solution
Nowadays many workplaces are located in open spaces, also called office gardens. In turn, they are often split into small (sitting) areas. These rooms often generate a sound stream that can have a negative impact on the productivity, stress level and privacy of employees. The Sound Masking system dampens ambient noises, thus resolving these problems. The system can, however, offer many more benefits.
- Improve privacy: restricting speech intelligibilityamong everyone improves mutual privacy and makes it possible to protect personal data. For example, at a counter it is often easy for bystanders to understand which personal data a patient, customer or visitor provides. The Sound Masking system ensures that it is no longer possible for the other attendees to listen. The result: privacy protection for customers and compliance with AVG regulations.
- Increase concentration: reducing overall speech intelligibility makes unconscious listening in to other conversations less easy. In busy spaces, this ensures that employees can concentrate better because they are less distracted by disturbing environmental noise. This allows them to focus better on their own work, which ensures more rest on the work floor. The result: a comfortable and productive working environment.
- Securing confidentiality: reducing overall speech intelligibility also makes deliberate listening to other conversations less easy. This is because the system can be used to prevent a conversation being understood outside a specific closed space. By creating a sound barrier, the audibility of a conversation outside the concerning space is reduced. This way, confidential meetings, bad news conversations or private talks can be conducted in complete privacy, without fear of exposure of the discussed, since what is discussed cannot be understood outside the space. This guarantees the confidentiality of the company and the privacy of employees. The result: a safe and trusted working environment.
- Provide distraction and entertainment: the active systems are not only ideal for Sound Masking, but can also be used to play background music. This makes it possible, for example, to provide distraction in a waiting room, and thereby make waiting more bearable. It can also provide entertainment in the workplace. The result: a pleasant working environment and making waiting less tedious.
- Provide clarity: the active systems also include broadcasting options. This way, advertising messages and other notifications can be heard. The result: clarity towards customers or employees.
Employment possible anywhere
Through the combination of controllers and emitters, it is possible to produce Sound Masking, play background music, or make announcements in small, medium and large open and closed spaces. The emitters can easily be installed in all kinds of thicknesses and types of material and can thus be concealed in any type of ceiling, unobtrusively. Not possible to install into the ceiling in a certain project? A solution is therefore possible for every situation. By taking measurements, the noise level in the relevant room is determined, on which the loudness of the noise is adjusted. After all, less noise is required in a completely quiet room than in a busy workplace. Once put into use, the sound level of the Sound Masking can easily be adjusted, for example to match the occupancy. This can also be adjusted automatically at set times. Sound Masking systems are ideal for use in, among others, pharmacies, banks, call centres, examination halls and rooms, general practitioners’ offices, office spaces such as bullpens, public spaces, courts, meeting rooms, waiting areas and hospitals.
Experience Sound Masking yourself
Tau Audio Solutions BV supplies everything needed to realize a Sound Masking system and has in past years helped create various installations to the complete satisfaction of the end users. Curious about the possibilities of Sound Masking? The employees of Tau are happy to advise you on the possibilities. It is also possible to experience Sound Masking yourself. Tau has two demo rooms where Sound Masking can be experienced, the showroom at the head office in Groningen and a Sound Masking Experience room in the WTC building in Almere. If desired, we can organize a demonstration together with you for end users or other relations. We also offer training courses in both areas to ensure that your employees have the right knowledge. In these courses we teach your engineers and sales staff how to apply and install Sound Masking systems. Want to provide a demo or training? Need advice while purchasing or installing the right audio setup? Or do you, as an end user, want an installation carried out by our dealers? Tau has an enthusiastic team of audio specialists, they are happy to help with questions, schedule an appointment or put you in contact with one of our installation partners. Ask us about the control panels and options for control as well! Contact us via contact form or +31 50 549 9090.
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