In modern office spaces, background noise levels are generally low. Windows are sealed, and completely unopened, air-conditioning systems are running ever more quietly, computers are also virtually silent. At first glance, such silence is a great environment to work in, however, deeper analysis and studies of employee satisfaction and productivity in open-space work show otherwise - in such silence, every little noise is audible, every click on the keyboard, every word of a telephone conversation, etc. Background music seems to be a good solution, but in large offices there is no chance to select the type of music in unison, which raises the irritation of at least some employees. Years of research into employee productivity and satisfaction show significant improvements when Sound Masking Systems are used.
A sound masking system restores the level of background noise to which we are naturally accustomed by emitting precisely matched noise through a network of loudspeakers. The signal level is at the limit of audibility and effectively masks quiet but annoying background noise.
A good system allows the noise characteristics to be freely shaped, while the best one is additionally responsive to ongoing changes in noise levels, scalable, easy to manage and integrates with building automation systems. This is what Soft dB Sound Masking Systems are all about.
The real challenge in any office sound masking project is to generate a masking sound that is perfectly suited to the specific conditions. The size of the room, type of ceiling, wall materials and furniture all have a direct impact on sound dispersion. If the sound masking system is not accurately calibrated taking into account the acoustic parameters of the room, it will be ineffective at best and annoying at worst.
The Soft dB sound masking system is unique in that it self-adapts to the characteristics of each working environment. Its unique, patented calibration process (US7460675 B2) uses ceiling sensors to measure the acoustic response of the room and background noise levels. Based on this data, the system automatically shapes the ideal frequency spectrum to generate the perfect background.
The patented volume control system (US 8116461 B2) detects changes in ambient noise levels in real time via acoustic sensors installed in the ceiling of the office. Thanks to the advanced signal processing technology integrated in all controllers, the sound masking level is automatically adjusted depending on what the acoustic conditions are in the office during the day.
Soft dB Sound Masking systems are used worldwide, with the most recognisable customers being Google, Fujitsu, National Bank of Canada, Ubisoft, Cargill, Ernst&Young, Microsoft, PepsiCo, IBM, Cisco Systems, T-mobile, 3M, Nestle.
You are welcome to contact us, we will be happy to provide technical details, advise, design a system for a specific location. It is also possible to test the system at the customer's location.
We also encourage you to use our ROI calculator. The calculator calculates the ROI of the Sound Masking System.
