This is a project with the chamber ensemble fivebyfive. As part of their next album we are making impulse responses of various halls and churches around Rochester, NY. Impulse responses are a way of capturing the audio characteristics of a space in a way that lets us simulate how a performance would sound in that space. This will allows us to try out different music in different spaces virtually before committing to recording a piece in a particular space. Below are some of the spaces we've checked out so far.
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Dry Recording
Here is a recording of a snare hit and a recording of fivebyfive's performance of Blue Jewel, both recorded completely dry. Below are these same recordings with the impulse response reverb of the various halls applied. |
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Kilbourne Hall, Rochester, New York
Considered to be on the finest chamber music halls in the world by aficionados, Kilbourn Hall serves as the primary location for students, faculty and guest artist recitals, chamber music, jazz performances and operas at the Eastman School of Music. The 455 seat hall is known for its remarkable beauty of the Venetian Renaissance style, pure acoustics and excellent sight lines. Because of the outstanding acoustics, the hall is a frequent choice for commercial recording sessions Reverb time: 3.0s 
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Hatch Recital Hall, Rochester, NY
Hatch Recital Hall is the latest jewel among Eastman’s concert venues. Opened in December 2010 in Eastman’s East Wing, it quickly became a popular concert stage for faculty and student musicians. With 222 seats, Hatch Hall is an ideal size for solo instrumental, chamber and vocal music – a modern complement to Eastman’s historic Kilbourn Hall. Reverb time: 2.8s
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First Presbyterian Church, Pittsford, NY
This church was built in 1863. It has a wooden chancel and lots of wood paneling which provide wonderful live but warm acoustics for small chamber groups. Reverb time: 3.3s
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Asbury First Methodist Church, Rochester, NY
This church was built in 1953 in the style of a traditional Episcopal church. It has a large traditional "stone cathedral" style of reverb. Reverb time 3.9s
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Hochstein Performance Hall, Rochester, NY
Built in 1890 as the sanctuary to the former Central Presbyterian Church, the Performance Hall at Hochstein was fully renovated in 1999 to include state-of-the-art acoustics, theatre seating, stage and house lighting. The hall features a sweeping balcony and 857 seats arranged “in the round” for an intimate atmosphere from every seat in the hall. Reverb time: 3.2s
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The Theatre at Innovation Square, Rochester, NY
The Theater At Innovation Square is a multi-disciplinary performing arts center Reverb time: 1.8s
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Rush Rheese Library Dome, University of Rochester, NY
Designed to serve as a centerpiece of the University of Rochester River Campus when it was dedicated in 1930, Rush Rhees Library is the home to the Hopeman Memorial Carillon bells. The dome interior is largely empty except for the carillon cabin which is suspended from dome's ceiling and contains the carillon keyboard. Reverb time: 7.0s
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Cobbs Hill Water Tank, Rochester, NY
On top of Cobbs Hill are two, open-topped, 25ft tall steel tanks built in 1904 and 1930 by the Rochester and Lake Ontario Water Company. The tanks are no longer operational, and have been unused for the last 25 years. These water authority storage tanks have become one of the few places around town where street artists and graffiti taggers like to gather and work. This space has an impulse response that is very unique as it is more of an echo than a reverb. Reverb time 13.7s
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