Interesting acoustics in the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the Latter Day Saints conference center

Abstract

The Salt Lake Tabernacle and LDS Conference Center have interesting acoustical properties. Due to the elongated domed ceiling of the Tabernacle, there are audible focusing effects throughout the hall. In order to characterize the Tabernacle’s unique acoustics prior to its seismic renovation, the acoustical properties of the hall were investigated through impulse response measurements and computer modeling. This paper will show how the measurements and model were used to see the focusing effects in the Tabernacle. The acoustics of the LDS Conference Center have also been extensively measured. This paper will show various methods that were used to investigate the sound focusing effects that were audible in the Conference Center.