Sound Engineering for Concert Halls: Free Open-Access Guide Now Available from Audiotek, Author: Chris Kmiec BEng MISCVE

Free E-book bridges acoustic theory & real-world AV design for concert halls, with practical insights for students, venue managers, professionals & enthusiasts.

READING, BERKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, May 27, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- In a sector where glossy visuals often win out over great audio, one sound designer is putting the spotlight back where it belongs—on what the audience actually hears.

Audiotek has launched a new, free e-book: Sound Engineering for Concert Halls, written by seasoned engineer Chris Kmiec BEng MISCVE. The guide is designed to help anyone—students, venue managers, professionals or enthusiasts—build sound systems that don’t just fill a room, but elevate the performance.

Unlike many technical manuals, the guide strikes a balance between foundational acoustic theory and real-world system strategy, making it both accessible and deeply practical. From emotional sound design and genre-specific tuning to accessibility and architectural collaboration, it covers the full journey from blank slate to opening night.

The guide is completely open-access, with no sign-up forms, paywalls or tracking. It's designed to be read in-browser or downloaded as a shareable PDF from the Audiotek website.

“Whether you’re designing a new performance space, or upgrading a legacy system, this book will help you make the right decisions,” said Chris Kmiec. “It’s the resource I wish I’d had earlier in my career. I wanted to create something that speaks to students and sound professionals alike. Whether you're commissioning your first venue, or working on your fiftieth, the fundamentals still matter—and they can always be refined.”

“We’ve worked on some of the world’s most iconic venues—and no two have ever had the same brief,” adds Frank Murray, Audiotek’s Founder. “This e-book shares the thinking and hands-on experience behind what makes great sound actually happen.”

What’s Inside the Guide?

This is not a lightweight overview. It’s a substantial guide that brings together theory, design practice, and lived experience across some of Europe’s most acoustically demanding spaces.

Each section focuses on a crucial aspect of concert hall sound design:

- Acoustic Fundamentals: Clear explanations of reverberation, diffusion, spatial intelligibility, and RT60—written accessibly, without dumbing it down.
- Designing for Performance Type: Classical music, amplified music, speech, and musical theatre all demand different acoustic strategies. The guide explains how to tailor systems to support emotional and technical goals for each.
- Emotional Sound Design: How to make an audience feel the performance—not just hear it. Includes tuning philosophy, reverb shaping, and psychoacoustic impact.
- Architectural Collaboration: How to avoid the “looks great, sounds awful” trap by integrating audio design with early-stage architectural planning.
- Accessibility and Inclusion: Practical strategies for ensuring equitable experiences for hearing aid users, neurodivergent audiences, and other often-overlooked groups.
- Tools and Simulation: A review of modern modelling platforms like EASE, d&