Sound masking and acoustic treatments at your workplace can ensure privacy where needed, and help employees be more productive.
Here’s how they…
1. reduce distractions
- Sound masking introduces a consistent background noise that covers up conversations, keyboard clicks and phone rings.
- Acoustic treatments like wall panels, ceiling tiles or carpets absorb or diffuse sound, reducing echoes and noise levels.
Without distractions, employees can focus better, especially in open-office environments.
2. enhance privacy
- With sound masking, distant conversations are harder to make out. This can be crucial where confidentiality is important (e.g., HR, legal, healthcare).
- Acoustic panels can block or absorb sound between workstations.
Improved privacy fosters a more comfortable and secure environment.
3. improve comfort
- Constant, uncontrolled noise can lead to fatigue and irritability.
- Strategic acoustic design creates a calmer, more pleasant atmosphere, improving employee satisfaction and cutting stress.
A quiet ambiance leads to happier, more productive and more engaged employees less likely to burn out.
4. support different work styles
- Some of us need silence for deep work; others thrive in collaborative buzz.
- Thoughtful sound design helps create varied environments for different tasks (for example, focus areas and meeting zones).
The customizable sound environments we design at Midwest Audio Visual support different types of work and work styles.
5. enhance meetings and collaboration
- Acoustic treatments improve speech clarity in meeting rooms by reducing reverberation.
- Clear communication minimizes misunderstandings and improves both the collaboration process and its outcomes.
When people hear correctly the first time, team members interact better and meetings are more effective.
Sound masking options
By adding low-level background noise that blends into the environment, sound masking makes other sounds less noticeable.
Here are two types of sound masking systems we employ at Midwest Audio Visual:
- Networked sound masking systems for large offices, open-plan spaces, private offices, healthcare spaces and call centers. These systems feature zoned control and customizable volumes. They can be integrated with paging and music.
- Small-scale or standalone units for personal desks and private rooms. These components are compact and plug-and-play. They often combine white noise and fan sounds.
Acoustic treatment options
Below are some of the elements we employ to absorb, diffuse or block noise:
- Fabric-wrapped fiberglass, PET felt or foam acoustic wall panels in open offices, conference rooms and where walls are shared
- Drop ceiling tiles or hanging acoustic baffles in spaces with high ceilings, or where wall treatments aren’t practical
- Portable or desk-mounted acoustic dividers and desk screens between desks or workstations for visual and sound privacy
- Carpets and underlays that reduce impact noise like footsteps
- Soundproofing materials such as mass loaded vinyl (MLV), green glue and acoustic doors in meeting rooms, executive offices and medical spaces
Advanced approaches
Our most advanced audio designs combine special materials, smart technologies and innovative design. Where appropriate, we recommend the following:
- Adaptive sound masking that adjusts sound levels dynamically based on ambient noise in real time.
- Smart and IoT-connected technologies that integrate with building management systems to allow remote control, monitoring and data analyses of sound environments.
- Customizable noise profiles that simulate natural sounds like waterfalls and rain for wellness centers, spas and relaxation zones.
- Ultrasonic masking using ultrasonic waves to block specific frequencies where sensitive speech must be protected.
As one of the leading acoustic treatments companies in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, Midwest Audio Visual can tailor a sound environment to make your workplace more pleasant and productive. Give us a call or send us a message to learn more!