Exterior Acoustics for Outdoor Music Venues

The acoustics at an outdoor live music venue are critical to the fan experience and the band’s performance.

MBI Products manufactures products that improve exterior acoustics at outdoor amphitheaters and pavilions. Here's why.

These concert locations have a roof, at least one back wall, and maybe even side walls or wing walls. These weather-proof surfaces are typically reflective of sound, creating excessive noise levels and reverberation times, making for a poor-quality sound performance. 

An ideal reverberation time (the time required for the sound to fade away) for a music venue is two seconds or less. Outdoor venues can have reverberation times of up to four seconds — excessive for any concert. So what is the solution? Treating the space with exterior acoustic panels that are also weather-resistant decreases the reverberation times, improving the venue’s sound quality. 

When you improve the sound quality, you can lower the volume coming out of the sound system, and the fans can hear and understand the music much better. MBI has improved the exterior acoustics of several outdoor concert venues.

DTE Energy Music Theatre, an amphitheater outside of Detroit, MI

The acoustical sound experts at MBI developed Weather Resistant Exterior Acoustical Panels in response to this venue’s noise problem. Made with durable Cypress exterior acoustic fabric, these panels withstand the elements and the effects of extreme temperature changes. 

The sound-absorbing materials were installed in the amphitheater’s metal ceiling and on the concrete walls. As a result, reverberation times decreased, and concert music quality increased. DTE Energy Music Theatre now ranks among the top amphitheaters in the world. 

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, home of the San Diego Symphony

This state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue was developed using many exterior acoustic solutions, including MBI's all-weather acoustic panels, which were installed between the two layers of the "shell." These acoustical products are designed to last for at least ten years, despite their exposure to the outdoors. 

The all-weather acoustic panels, along with the design and expertise of acoustic engineer Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc. and Criterion Acoustics, LLC help deliver an incredible sound experience to the audience of the San Diego Symphony. This world-class venue proudly boasts equally world-class acoustics. 

PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION, an indoor/outdoor venue in Newport, KY

This 38,000 square-foot amphitheater boasts sophisticated acoustics and an innovative, versatile design. Only the third of its kind, the Pavilion delivers a high-quality experience for fans and artists alike, and the acoustics are unsurpassed. 

Together with an acoustical engineer, MBI Products determined that a mix of blackout theater board installed on the roof deck and Colorsonix® Acoustical Wall Panels facing the stage would provide adequate absorption of sound reverberation during concerts. The result? Loud but clear music without an endless echo effect. This venue is an intimate setting with amazing sound quality for a wide variety of music genres.

With a movable stage that is both an indoor and outdoor setting depending on the season, the Pavilion is decked out with state-of-the-art acoustical systems. With a capacity of 2,700 (indoor) or 7,000 (outdoor) concertgoers, its design called for installing a unique blend of acoustical products to support the needs of an indoor music hall and an outdoor pavilion in equal measure.

Sweetwater Performance Pavilion, a covered outdoor music venue in Fort Wayne, IN

In its early stages, Sweetwater Performance Pavilion experienced some detrimental reverberation times and lacked the acoustical clarity required for a great live music experience. The fast-moving sound was reflecting off of its hard surfaces, producing excessive echo within the space. They called in the experts to rectify the echo.

MBI Products acoustically treated the whalebone-shaped, covered outdoor venue with Weather Resist Panels. This treatment transformed Sweetwater Pavilion into “one of the best-sounding whalebone structures they’ve ever heard,” they stated. Concerts at Sweetwater sound even sweeter now that the sound environment is optimized.

Omi Pavilion at Olney Theatre Center, the official State Summer Theatre of Maryland

The Root Family Stage has been revitalized as a permanent venue for outdoor programming with sophisticated sound systems and acoustic treatments. Weather Resist Panels were installed on the underside of the roof to reduce reverberation and withstand the elements and effects of excessive temperatures. MBI Products, Midlantic Sales Group, and Snap Wall Inc. Products and Services created an outdoor stage that holds up year-round and meets the acoustic needs of regional performance artists.

A lightweight, cost-efficient, and easy-to-install solution, MBI’s Weather-Resistant Exterior panels are effective in amphitheaters, amusement parks, noise enclosures, and as transportation noise barriers as well.

Questions about exterior acoustics? Contact the sound experts at MBI Products. We’re here to help!