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0 pointsabdullahkhalids2y ago0 comments

This [1] explains Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings.

> An STC label delineates how partitions and walls effectively block sound and reduce noise. Ratings are determined by broadcasting a specific auditory tone near the material, and measuring dB on both sides. The higher the STC value, the better its insulation.

From the table STC=25 means "Normal speech easily understood" and STC=50 means "Shouting not heard"

This [2] table has one datapoint comparison of "airspace" vs argon filled windows. Both have an STC of 35. So maybe it doesn't help.

[1] https://www.dillmeierglass.com/news/stc-ratings-of-glass

[2] https://www.general-glass.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Aco...

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mrob2y ago

I wonder if somebody vaguely remembered the effects of helium fill, which actually does reduce sound transmission, and vaguely remembered that argon-filled windows are a commercial product, and conflated the two because they're both noble gases.

the_sleaze92y ago

Nothing about the story of this project suggests they are top-tier sound engineers, and when you don't really know what you're doing (said very respectfully) the proposition "we need to fill windows and this is what other people normally do when they fill windows" is a very positive data point.

They didn't even start with museum-grade glass for optimal filming, which to a absolute layman like me seems like they just hadn't bumped most of these problems before.

abdullahkhalidsOP2y ago

When they started doing these tournaments over a decade ago, esports LAN tournaments was barely an industry, and crowds were small. Also, MOBAs are unlike many other esport genres [1], in that the two teams have partial information about the state of the game, and illegally getting information a few seconds early can change the entire outcome of the game [2].

Meaning there was no one in the world who really knew how to build such booths. Moreover, they discovered required features of the booths over the years. In such a scenario, the early mistakes are very understandable.

[1] Think Street Fighter, or FIFA

[2] I don't think games like Starcraft has such low time tolerances on information flow. Even cheers in Dota can be enough of a clue.

jaggederest2y ago

Starcraft has the same problem and also uses "soundproof" booths, fwiw. I believe the practice started under SC:BW

the_sleaze92y ago

Oh for sure, please don't read my comment in a demeaning tone - very much the opposite.

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mrob2y ago

the_sleaze92y ago

They didn't even start with museum-grade glass for optimal filming, which to a absolute layman like me seems like they just hadn't bumped most of these problems before.

abdullahkhalidsOP2y ago

[1] Think Street Fighter, or FIFA

[2] I don't think games like Starcraft has such low time tolerances on information flow. Even cheers in Dota can be enough of a clue.

jaggederest2y ago

Starcraft has the same problem and also uses "soundproof" booths, fwiw. I believe the practice started under SC:BW

the_sleaze92y ago

Oh for sure, please don't read my comment in a demeaning tone - very much the opposite.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse