The Student Union Theater’s acoustical overhaul is almost finished, according to Union Theater officials.
In addition to major structural improvements, the theater had a state-of-the-art electro-acoustical system installed, according to Michael Derr, Union Theater associate director.
Derr expects the overhaul to be finished within the next week.
“Only a handful of colleges have this kind of acoustical technology in place,” Derr said.
About 70 small 4-inch speakers and several larger 9-inch speakers have been hung from the theater ceilings, Derr said. The new speakers will redistribute sound throughout the theater and give every audience member an ideal sound experience, Derr said.
“People seated under the balcony in the back will be able to hear as well as people in the front row,” Derr said.
While the system relies on microphones and complex computer programming, it doesn’t use amplification, which creates a completely natural sound, Derr said. Audience members will not notice the sound is being redistributed throughout the theater, Derr said.
The roughly $600,000 acoustical system will be controlled through a computer program. The system will be tuned this week and will feature four to five different settings to accommodate every type of performance from opera to orchestra, Derr said.
In addition, a large hardwood shell has been erected to improve theater acoustics, Derr said. The shell sits at the back of the stage and helps performers hear themselves as they play. The shell also keeps sound from escaping to undesirable locations offstage where it can’t be heard by audiences.
Musicians also have the option to perform without technology. The shell can be removed, and the acoustic system can be turned off, Derr said.
The structural work completed last fall was done with acoustics in mind, Derr said.
“Ideally, a music performance theater is long, narrow and tall,” Derr said. “Kind of like a shoe box.”
The theater’s construction has greatly improved its acoustics, Derr said. The ceilings were raised to make the theater taller, and the sides of the theater were brought in to make it narrower, which contributed to a significant increase in the theater’s acoustics, Derr said.
“This theater will sound the best it possibly can without completely tearing it down and starting over,” Derr said.
Sharron Smith, biology senior, attended a symphonic musical performance at the Union Theater in early February.
“They sounded great, and you could tell everyone in attendance enjoyed the performance,” Smith said.
Terry Serio, Union Theater assistant director for theater event development, said a host of exciting events has been scheduled to take advantage of the theater’s new technological advances.
The Allen Toussaint Band and the School of Music Wind Ensemble will play in March, Serio said.
 
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Contact Josh Naquin at [email protected]