Sound Masking Simplified

Target Markets Finding Opportunities Selling Sound Masking Homework Target Markets Finding Opportunities

Target Markets Best Return on Time? Commercial Office Space: They have the money They have the floorspace They have the evolving workspace Do not neglect: Healthcare c/o HIPAA Higher Ed Legal Government (if you have the patience)

Finding Opportunities – Gumshoe Work Word of Mouth Networking Direct Mail Email Phone Calls In Person Appointments IFMA, IIDA, BOMA, AIA, CoreNet LinkedIn, Zoom Info Periodicals from those above, the local business newspapers, the “Interweb”

Selling Sound Masking Don't Lead with Product Establish yourself as a solutions provider and discuss "Office Acoustics" first

The Workplace is Evolving The U.S. workplace is becoming more effective, and more collaborative.

Decision Makers VP’s of Real Estate – Network via CoreNET They are part of today’s senior management business team Are tasked to Recruit and Retain the Best and Brightest Manage rapid change in business cycles Speed to Market is critical Tasked with effective capital utilization

Decision Makers Facility Management – Network via IFMA, BOMA They report to VP of Real Estate Must also Recruit and Retain the Best and Brightest Manage rapid change in business cycles Speed to Market is critical Tasked with effective capital utilization

Decision Makers Service Providers and Specifiers The Project Managers, i.e., JLL, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Aecom, Turner, CH2M Hill, etc. The Interiors Specifiers, i.e., Gensler, HOK, Perkins+ Will, etc. The Consultants, i.e., Cerami, Salter, Acentech, etc.

Ask Questions About Their Workplace Do they have: Flex-space Shared Space Free Space Co-Working Community Space Collaborative Space Are they concerned with distractions Is their enough privacy Do they have sufficient private meeting rooms, enclaves, conference rooms

Help Your Client… Make an Informed Decision Review: Workplace Needs The A-B-C’s Of Office Acoustics – The Ideal What is Sound Masking?

Workplace Needs With the advent of a more open and collaborative workplace, increased distractions reduce focused task work hampering productivity Add sound masking throughout the open office area as conversations will be less intelligible, and therefore less distracting

Workplace Needs Ensure Privacy Between Fixed Wall or Moveable Wall as conversations in adjacent offices must be kept confidential Add sound masking to both offices to provide Confidentiality

The A-B-C’s of Office Acoustics Think of this balanced approach as a three legged stool Absorb Sound: – Primarily with ceilings and carpeting Block Sound: – Achieved with furniture panels, moveable or demountable walls, fixed wall construction Cover Sound: – Add electronic masking sound

What is Sound Masking? Sound masking raises the background ambient noise level of a space, making private conversations more difficult to hear and reducing distractions in open areas Sound Masking works by utilizing a network of small speakers that generate a pleasant, airflow-like background sound to “mask” other sounds in a workplace Sound masking is placed where you don’t want conversations overheard, not where the conversations are taking place Sound masking is not “noise cancellation” nor is it a “magic wand” Adding sound to cover other sounds seems counterintuitive . . . but it works!

Help Your Client… Make an Informed Decision Review: Sound Masking . . . A Visual Analogy The Radius of Distraction (RofD) – The Reality Differences In Delivery Systems

Sound Masking…A Visual Analogy Sound is like light energy as a flashlight is very noticeable in a dark room (similarly, a voice is very noticeable in a quiet room) When the background light (or sound masking) is turned on, the flashlight (or voice) is no longer distracting

The Radius Distraction (RofD) It reduces by 2/3 the area of distraction The key element for the modern workplace that has no acoustical ceilings, reverberant hard surfaces, no carpeting, desking systems

Differences in Delivery Systems Plenum Based Sound Masking In the space between a “dropped” ceiling and upper deck for the floor Plenum-based speakers face upwards, towards the upper deck Employs a network of loud speakers located completely within the plenum Speakers Ceiling Tile Generator in IT room or Equipment closet

Differences in Delivery Systems Plenum Based Sound Masking Uniformity achieved by adjusting the acoustic output of individual or small groups of speakers Adjustments include changes in output volume and output spectra of individual speakers To provide this adjustment capability, system electronics for small groups of speakers are required

Differences in Delivery Systems Direct Field Sound Masking Sound from any specific masking speaker travels directly to the listener Installed in dropped ceilings mounted facing down No ceiling environment… they are mounted facing down on any available structure Roof deck Ceiling Central Generator

Differences in Delivery Systems Direct Field Sound Masking Eliminates issues of spatial uniformity due to plenum conditions and open air returns Individual speakers do not have to be adjusted to counteract plenum conditions Amount of energy required to produce a sound masked space is reduced as signal not driven through a ceiling

Differences in Delivery Systems Raised Floor Sound Masking Listener acceptance is very high with diffuse / uniform sound Easily accessible individual speaker adjustment Adds Flexibility in a non-ceiling environment

What Problems Does AtlasIED Solve? The issue of workplace acoustics so that the user can have focused taskwork without distractions A more productive work environment The issue of some privacy in an albeit open environment The issue of cross-talk between private offices Mass communication / paging and music potential

How Are We Unique? AtlasIED is a family owned business, we are easy to conduct business with AtlasIED can provide a complete solution from Racks to Speakers and everything in between AtlasIED provides free design service and will train dealers who to tune systems

The Advantages of AtlasIED The AtlasIED advantage: Size, scale and full portfolio of pro audio solutions for commercial offices, healthcare, education, government, along with mass communication