Preface

Meyer Sound has exerted a powerful influence upon the audio industry since its inception in 1979. Many of the reasons behind this influence are revealed in this book, which brings together Meyer Sound's products, history, and philosophy.

This book is designed to serve as a comprehensive reference document for current and potential Meyer Sound users, going far beyond the scope of data sheets and operating instructions. I have made every effort to minimize the mathematics in favor of practical examples. Wherever possible, points are illustrated by field data accumulated from my extensive library of SIM® System II measurements.

In my capacity as SIM Engineer, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to align sound reinforcement systems, of virtually every shape and size, for some of the world's finest sound engineers and designers. Each system and venue present unique challenges that make each day a learning experience. Over the years, my goal has been to find repeatable solutions for these challenges by developing a methodology that can clearly differentiate the complex mechanisms that affect a sound reinforcement system. The result is an approach to sound system design and alignment that transcends a particular musical genre or type of venue. This is the essence of Meyer Sound Design Reference.

This book is divided into five major sections that flow in logical order from system conception to final alignment. A Meyer product revision history and appendix follow.

Section 1: Building Blocks describes the components that, when taken together, create a complete sound system. Each component is detailed with key factors that must be considered for optimum performance.

Section 2: Acoustical Factors describes the acoustical mechanisms that affect the performance of your installed system. The interaction of speakers with each other and with the room are covered in detail.

Section 3: System Design describes how to bring together the components into a complete system for your application. Complete Meyer product reference data is included to aid speaker selection.

Section 4: Verification details how to ensure that your installed system is working as designed. Checkout procedures and field data are included.

Section 5: Alignment describes the alignment process from start to finish, including extensive field data.

Each section is divided into a series of short subjects to allow for quick reference. In the hard copy of the book, whenever possible, the left and right pages are grouped together when covering the same topic, particularly when one page describes figures on the other.

Table of Contents