One size fits all?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by 2manyrocks

This problem affects both the guy who has a small space and groups that have larger space, too, in the sense that if you don't personally know what you're doing, this sort of thing happens.

The rip off frequently happens to churches, not just in acoustics, but in what gets sold to them for sound equipment. When the $ is spent, they can't afford to go back and redo it all, either, it it is not right. Not knowing what to do or who to consult, I think many just continue to ignore obvious problems.

How do you find someone who is honest and competent to consult with a church about the typical bad acoustics in a gym or other similar multipurpose facility?

Just like anything else you need to research the person/company. I would go as far as talking to the last few jobs they did.

[SörenHjalmarsson]

Originally Posted by darkbuddha

But I know enough now to know that I don't know nearly enough to say I know enough. Know what I mean?

enough said!

[boggy]

Originally Posted by The Vulture

The more I learn about acoustics the more I start to grasp how complex it is.

I know the feeling

Originally Posted by The Vulture

I suspect that many believe that if they just buy some bass traps, treat first reflection points and build a cloud or two, the room just goes "flat".

Many people believe what they want (to believe), and some of them try often to find only confirmation of their beliefs when they start some forum discussion... and if they doesn't find what they expect, they are often disappointed.
Treating only first reflections may be "first aid" in some room where frequencies below 300Hz isn't loud or dominant (voice in general). Also building a "LEDE" room with (only) strong and stiff back wall is second wrong choice that I find often on forums, or it is second wrong expectation.... This way "LEDE" design isn't defined by author.... etc
So in most cases, low end, below 200Hz is usually forgotten (or ignored), but I never meet anyone who like room with wild low end response in my career.

Originally Posted by The Vulture

In recording the "rule" is crap in, crap out.
Are people expecting to much from small square rooms?

My experience with forum discussions (I'm a moderator of acoustics and monitoring sub-forums in local forum in my country from 2005.) is that people usually expect too much from not so big effort and investment. Small rooms aren't excellent choice, I agree with this. But if we talk about price of room alone and only room treatment to get decent results in this room, we can find that (only) bigger room is already more expensive than better treatment in smaller room.
Budget is small today, so we must treat rooms which people already have, and they can sound better, but this is not easy nor cheap