Frequently Asked Questions about ASC's Products & Services

Since you are working with sound, don't you need to come to our church to listen and do tests?

 
Ideally, we would prefer to make physical visits to all projects we work on. However, this is cost prohibitive with many jobs. Since the science of acoustics deals with the laws of physics, wave propagation, and architectural geometry we are able to model and predict the behavior of your space with a fairly high degree of accuracy and certainty. There are situations which do require travel occasionally and we are happy to do so when feasible. However, of the hundreds of projects we work on each year, the vast majority are completed successfully without the added expense of physical travel.
 

Who installs the acoustic materials?

 
ASC provides a ready-to-install acoustic kit, customized for your particular space. Kits are designed to be fairly easy to install by either a local contractor or by volunteer members of the congregation. Product placement plans are included with each project.
 

How are the materials typically mounted?

 
Materials can be mounted in a variety of ways. Most typically they are affixed by screws or panel adhesive. We are able to accommodate a wide variety of applications and can custom design a mounting method that works best for your needs.
 

What does an acoustic package for a church normally cost?

 
Project sizes and scope vary widely. A small classroom or office may run in the neighborhood of $1000, while a mega-church can run into the $100,000 range. Typically however, the majority of projects we complete fall into the range of $5000 - $30,000 for a fellowship hall or sanctuary. As a quick 'rule-of-thumb' you can figure in the about 20 - 40 cents per cubic foot (L x W x H) of room volume.
 

Is there a way to know before hand, how the church will end up sounding?

 
There is no accurate way to replicate an acoustic treatment before hand at the church using electronics or an effects box. The problem is with the physical nature of the space, not the electronics. Not until the physics of the space are modified can the change be clearly noticed. Click HERE for a before & after demonstration of a recently completed project.
 

What is the fire rating on your products? Are they approved for commercial spaces and meet building codes?

 
All of our products are covered with Guilford 701 commercial grade fabric which has a Class 1 or A flammability rating. This means it will meet nearly all commercial building codes.
 

Do your products carry a warranty of any kind?

 
Yes. Our products are warrantied against defects and workmanship for 10 years.
 

I'm trying to independently gather information on acoustics to share with our committee, but I don't want to take advantage of your expertise without paying for your services. How much do you charge to consult on church acoustics?

 
We do not generally consult for a fee. What we do is to fix problems for people. Our "consulting costs" are covered in the cost of purchasing your solution from us. We need to be "hired" by the church to figure out the problem and provide the solution. If you are asking about consultation fees for helping explain church acoustics to you, then you are probably still at the stage of trying to determine whether or not there is a problem with the acoustics.
We suggest that you talk with other people in the church. Many people feel shy and timid about expressing their feelings, especially about the sound.
But if you talk to them, they do have opinions. Make a list and develop your questions. If you need help editing your questions, send them over to us and we can make some suggestions. Our church acoustics literature packet contains a questionnaire about the problems with the sound. It may be of help to you.
It's a good idea to get several people's answers to the questions. We always read everyone's comments when a completed questionnaire is submitted to us. Give this form a try and, if it looks like you have some consensus that there is a problem with the sound, send it in to us.