Manta acústica – Quilted Studio Blanket

Acoustic treatment of La Ruleta de la Suerte’s TV set

Project description of the acoustic treatment for Estudio 1

At Mas Acoustics, we are experts in acoustic treatment for TV studios and other audiovisual media.

We are pleased to present our project for the leading media group Atresmedia and their Estudio 1 for the iconic program “La Ruleta de la Suerte.”

Goals of the project

The global objective of this project was to do a technical makeover of this TV studio with state-of-the-art technology and improve its acoustics, adapting it to the current requirements in the same fashion as other Atresmedia studios that we have worked on in the past (La Voz, El Chiringuito, Pasapalabra, El Objetivo, etc.)

Importance of acoustics in an Atresmedia TV set

The acoustics within Atresmedia sets are of utmost importance. So much that for the last few years we have worked together with their infrastructure dept. on the design of acoustic isolation of their studios and have directly carried out their acoustic treatment.

Our mission englobes bringing sharp and clear sound to the viewers’ televisions regardless of what sort of program they are watching.

Acoustic challenges and implemented solutions

A TV set must be versatile in its sound and adapt to any kind of production carried out in it. Atresmedia’s Estudio 1 could not set itself apart from the rest in this regard, although its size, height and shape make it a very special set, because its almost 700 m2 are divided in two sections with ceilings at different heights.

The acoustic challenges of the “La Ruleta de la Suerte” TV set

Precisely, the ceiling was a major challenge given the large number of hanging lighting hoists (height-adjustable spotlights) and the extensive air conditioning ducts distributed throughout the set.

We had to design broadband acoustic treatment (full frequency range) that would allow us to reach the ceiling itself and cover the visible surfaces of the ducts to prevent sound reflections.

What acoustic solutions did we implement?

In the same fashion as the rest of the sets of Atresmedia, we installed the acoustic Insulquilt Quilted Studio Blanket on the walls.

Insulquilt is always a trustable guarantee of great sound, durability and fire resistance. That is why this product has been present practically every movie and TV set in Hollywood for over 60 years and many of the best sets around the world.

Since we like to offer valid acoustic solutions for any kind of TV program that is carried out in a determined studio, we assessed the ceiling (which is generally the area with the most square meters in any studio) and decided, once again, to use a framework based on tensioned steel wires from which black Stratocell Whisper acoustic baffles would hang, thus covering the visible sides of the air conducts, also with Insulquilt and, at the same time, creating a global aesthetic that looked irresistibly professional.

Technical details of La Ruleta de la Suerte’s acoustic treatment

Initial evaluation and diagnosis

Being knowledgeable of all of Atresmedia’s sets after over a decade of offering them our services, we evaluate the acoustics of Estudio 1 keeping in mind La Ruleta de la Suerte and any sort of TV show that might air in that space in the future.

For that reason, solutions came after studying common problems in reverberation time and theoretic intelligibility levels, given that an empty studio is only a reliable reference until the first TV Set is placed.

We measured the ambient noise keeping an eye on the Noise Criteria values and making sure they were within the adequate margins. After that, we evaluated the technical and esthetical demands that Atresmedia expected from us.

Planning and designing of solutions for the acoustic treatment

The design part might have been the easiest one considering that we have worked with almost identical systems for a plethora of studios already.

The most complex part is, on most occasions, the organization part and making sure that we make our efforts fit in with those of other workers and avoid overlaps, all that while respecting Atresmedia’s requirements and the logistics that an endeavor of such dimensions implies.

For the design, we like to show our clients tridimensional renders that allow them to visualize the details and refinements long before any work has begun.

Implementation of acoustic treatments

The implementation of the acoustic treatment took us about 4 weeks of work. In total, there were 5 installers at work (three of them being locally outsourced) with experience in the installation of Insulquilt and capable of working at heights.

Having to coordinate with other professionals (electricians, security, set carpenters, technicians, etc.) we had to make small tweaks to our timeline prediction. Firstly, we attached the steel wires, tensioning them to their respective structures in a perimetral walkway that elongates all around the studio about 8 meters high. Having completed that, we started nailing QSB Black Insulquilt on the walls and, finally, completed the refinements and finishings on doors, boxes, around the fire extinguishing box, etc. For this purpose, we used two 14 meter elevating machines (one of them being a scissor type and the other one, articulated) and an electric fork-lift.

Materials used in La Ruleta de la Suerte’s TV set

Walls: Insulquilts — Black QSB
Ceiling: Black Stratocell Whisper shaped as hanging acoustic baffles

We view this combination as a winning formula. The Quilted Studio Blanket of Insulquilt, with its NRC 1.00, has an excellent acoustic behavior in a wide range of frequencies, and the Stratocell Whisper baffles make said range even wider, offering an all-rounded response in any circumstance.

From 2005