Primacoustic Stratus Broadband Ceiling Cloud Gray

The Primacoustic Stratus Ceiling Cloud is an acoustical device that suspends above the recording console to control early reflections, flutter echo and help eliminate standing waves that cause resonant peaks in the critical mix position. Once in place, you will immediately enjoy a more controlled and intimate acoustic environment, larger sweet spot, and reduced ear fatigue.

Attractive and very affordable, the Stratus acoustic cloud ships in kit-form and is easily put together in minutes using a simple screw driver. The kit includes a 2" thick, 24" x 48" acoustic panel made from high density 6lb per cubic foot fiberglass and suspension hardware. The fiberglass is encapsulated in a micromesh and the edges are resin treated to retain the minute fibers. For an attractive appearance, the panel is covered in an acoustically transparent fabric.

The suspension hardware consists of two, light-weight, aluminum rails and "L" brackets that form a rigid frame around the panel. To hang the Stratus, simply attach the included picture wire to the frame. Hardware and fasteners for sheet-rock ceilings are included in the kit. Typically, the Primacoustic Stratus would be suspended above the console and clustered in an array of three to span the width of your console.

The Stratus absorbs sound energy by converting it to heat. Sound energy traveling via air vibrations penetrates the panel causing the minute glass fibers to vibrate and generate heat. This thermo-dynamic energy transfer effectively absorbs directional sound energy and prevents it from reflecting into the mix position.

By itself, the 2" thick fiberglass panel is 100% effective for frequencies between 400Hz and 20kHz. To help control a broader frequency spectrum, the Stratus may be angled to vary the air space between the Stratus and the ceiling. This allows the backing surface to also absorb reflections off the ceiling.

For years, acoustic clouds and canopies have been used to control sound. They can be made of ridged material to reflect sound waves or soft material to absorb it depending on their purpose.

In theaters, reflective clouds are often visible in the form of hard, curved devices that are arrayed and suspended above the stage. Theaters use theses types of clouds to reflect sound back toward the stage so that the musician can get a sense of intimacy. These reflective type acoustic clouds provide the natural ambiance of a smaller room within a cavernous hall, thus allowing the performer to better interact within the acoustic environment.

Absorbing acoustic clouds, like the Primacoustic Stratus, perform the opposite function: instead of reflecting energy back into the space, the absorbing properties are used to remove unwanted reflections. Basic forms of these devices are known as acoustic baffles (or flags) and are often used in highly reflective environments such as swimming pools, bottling plants, printing presses and other commercial installations where controlling echo or reducing the reverberant time can make the workplace a more comfortable and safe place.

The Primacoustic Stratus is a more elegant solution and is the preferred choice in environments such as recording studios where acoustic performance is as important as esthetics. Acoustic clouds play an important role in studio design as they control the powerful primary reflections that originate from the monitors and bounce off the ceiling and console. These primary reflections combine with the direct sound of the loudspeaker and cause phase cancellation. Furthermore, parallel surfaces such as a floor and ceiling cause standing waves to exist which can introduce a resonant peak in the primary listening area.