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Calcimator

Orchestra Pit Acoustics Calculator

Design orchestra pit with musician spacing, sound projection, balance rating, and sight line analysis.

Inputs

Results

Sq ft per musician

20

Adequate space (0/1)1
Sound projection (%)60%
Balance rating (1-3)3
Sight lines OK (0/1)1
Estimated peak SPL (dB)90
Pit Volume6,000
Reflector Angle37
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter Number of musicians, Pit area (sq ft), and Pit depth below stage (ft).
  2. Set Stage overhang depth (ft) and Pit ceiling height (ft).
  3. Review the Sq ft per musician result.
  4. Use Adequate space (0/1) and Sound projection (%) (%) to inform your decision.

How the result changes with Number of musicians

Number of musiciansSq ft per musician
1540
3815.8
679
916.6

What each input means

Number of musicians
Players in the pit.
Pit area (sq ft)
Total floor area of orchestra pit.
Pit depth below stage (ft)
How far pit floor is below stage level.
Stage overhang depth (ft)
How far the stage extends over the pit.
Pit ceiling height (ft)
Height from pit floor to overhang/ceiling.

What each result means

Sq ft per musician
Space per player (minimum 20 sq ft).
Adequate space (0/1)
1 = meets minimum spacing.
Sound projection (%)
How well sound reaches audience.
Balance rating (1-3)
1 = Poor, 2 = Good, 3 = Excellent pit/stage balance.
Sight lines OK (0/1)
1 = conductor can see stage.
Estimated peak SPL (dB)
Peak sound level in pit during fortissimo.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Number of musicians = 30, Pit area (sq ft) = 600, Pit depth below stage (ft) = 6, Stage overhang depth (ft) = 8 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Sq ft per musician
    Sq ft per musician
    20 = 20
  3. Calculate Adequate space
    Adequate space
    1 = 1
  4. Calculate Sound projection
    Sound projection
    60 = 60%

Engine last updated . Checked against 1 independently-derived test — how we verify calculators.

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