Using their expertise in architectural drafting and applied acoustics, which is a subfield of physics that focuses on sound, acoustical consultants assist clients in the planning, design, or modification of physical spaces and, in some cases, sound systems to meet the acoustic requirements of their respective businesses. In general, the services that are provided by acoustical consultants may be divided up into the following three categories:
Design is the process of developing blueprints for an acoustically oriented environment either alone or in collaboration with specialized architects.
In the process of soundproofing, an existing interior space is made acoustically separated so that sound from the outside does not enter and sound from the inside does not escape.
The term "optimization" refers to the process of enhancing the way sound flows through an existing space in order to guarantee that the acoustics are clear, controlled, and adaptable.
As more and more people become aware of the importance of acoustically intelligent places as a result of studies confirming the harmful effect that unwanted noise has on health, welfare, attention, and learning, the demand for acoustical consulting services has expanded and become more diverse. Today, acoustical consultants deal with a diverse range of customers on projects involving a broad array of places, such as residential houses and developments, commercial offices, schools, hospitals, libraries, museums, retail shops and shopping malls, movie theaters, theme parks, and many more.
Additionally, the music and live performance sectors have always been a natural fit for acoustical consultants and have done so for a long time. They may work with studio designers or take on that role themselves and contribute to the design and modification of recording and performance environments. Those acoustical consultants who deal primarily with customers in the music business often have specialized understanding of amplification and recording equipment, comparable to that of engineers who work on live sound systems. This is in contrast to general-purpose acoustical consultants.