Understand the art and science of listening - Cam Hough explains the maths of sound in a concert hall and in an office

Cameron Hough is an acoustic and theatre consultant with consulting firm Arup, and a freelance music critic. He has over 10 years experience in the acoustic design of a wide range of projects, but has a special interest in the acoustics of performing arts buildings, which combines his technical background as an engineer with his skills as a classically-trained orchestral musician.

He regularly attends performances and continues to play with orchestras and chamber music groups (including as the concertmaster of the Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra and first violinist of Point String Quartet), and brings an approach to listening from both an artistic and a technical background.

Today, he explains how engineering can improve the way you listen to sounds of instruments and voices, and how you can learn how to create an effective listening environment.

Today's Topics:

• Cameron talks about growing up and having to be the child who was seen and not heard.
• He started playing violin when he was five or six, and he has always been interested in sound.
• Cameron is the concertmaster or lead violin. He is the person who tunes the orchestra at the beginning. He is an intermediary between the conductor and the orchestra.
• What's involved when creating music and the maths behind the sound of a violin.
• Hearing beats when the strings are perfectly in tune.
• How sound interacts with our ears and ultimately our brains.
• The interaction of sounds in spaces like auditoriums, concert halls, and restaurants
• How great listening environments are created through their physical attributes.
• How to make an impactful office from a listener's perspective.
• Taking sound for granted because it is always there. It's not obvious if you can't listen deeply.
• Experiencing a place for the first time and thinking of it as tourism of sound.
• How it takes practice to train your ears to notice things when you walk into a room.
• Being filled with wonder when hearing things for the first time.
• A great conductor has an ability to hear what is happening with several musicians simultaneously.
• How good acoustics has an element of personal taste similar to wine tasting.
• Providing a sound experience for people through acoustics and a good environment for sound.
• Using white noise or introducing extra noise to an office can make things better.
• Hard surfaces reflect sound effectively. Foam and soft furnishings can absorb sound.
• The lost listener is not hearing you or engaging at all.
• Cameron feels he is the shrewd listener, because he likes solving problems.
• Understanding where a sound is coming from by noticing the time that it arrives at your ear.

Links and Resources:

• Cameron Hough on LinkedIn
• Arup
• Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra

Quotes:

"Once your ears are open, you realize how much more is out there" - Cameron

"I would really love if people had more awareness of sound." -Cameron 

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