Investigation of acoustic attributes based on preference and perceptional acoustics of Korean traditional halls for optimal design solutions

Abstract

Immersed in the rich tapestry of traditional culture, Gugak, the traditional Korean music stands as a captivating embodiment of artistic expression. This study embarked on a comprehensive evaluation of a Gugak hall, employing acoustic measurements, computer simulations, and subjective perception surveys. The evaluation focused on the reverberance, clarity, spatial impression, and preference, unravelling the secrets that shape the immersive Gugak experience. Through intricate computer simulations and auralization, the experience of Gugak performances was meticulously brought to life, allowing exploration under diverse conditions by adjusting stage volume ratios from −20% to +20% and modifying the interior materials, including the walls, ceiling, and lateral reflectors. Although Gugak halls exhibited relatively low values of reverberation time (RT), early decay time (EDT), and binaural quality index (BQI) the dominant factor influencing the acoustic environment was the effect of sound strength (G). Musical clarity (C80) value did not show an inverse proportionality to the reverberation time. Furthermore, genre differences between traditional Korean and Western classical music did not significantly affect listeners’ perception and satisfaction with regards to reverberance, clarity, and spatial impression. As a result, Gugak halls can adhere to the same acoustic design criteria as Western orchestra halls, since this study found that people perceived them the same way. In this study, sound strength was found to be strongly correlated with perception indicators. It was possible to enhance listeners’ perception and preference regarding the acoustic environment through material and structural changes to the sidewalls and ceiling. These changes improved the reinforcement of low frequencies and simultaneously enhanced the relative effect of side reflections. Additionally, enhancing the reflection and spatial characteristics of the materials effectively improved listener preference. Based on these findings, an optimal design solution was proposed.