Sound Graphics Project: Student Guidelines for Sound Graphics

2008 Update to Sound Graphics Project

Project Description

It is the position of the USITT Sound Commission that it would be particularly beneficial for students (and teachers) of sound design and technology to have available a common library of symbols for components used in communicating sound system layout and interconnection.  This project is aimed at establishing this common library for use in educational institutions as a first step toward eventual industry wide standards.

While the sound install and electrical engineering community have evolved considerable standardization of graphics used in professional documents, there has not to date been a similar set of standard symbols for use in live performance sound design. Previous attempts to establish standards have not been successful as they have attempted to target the overall industry, which proved to be so diverse in practice as to defy efforts to standardize.

We have now produced a Version 2 incorporating the feedback which we received and are preparing the Standard for an additional round of review and presentation at the Houston Conference.

We have reviewed the USITT Standards Document and can provide the following information at this time regarding the submittal of a standard.

1) Title: Theatre Sound Graphics Standard
2) Type of Action: Approval of a New USITT Standard
3) Copies: The version 2 document is available in Adobe Acrobat format from the link at the bottom of this page. It is anticipated that the final proposed Standard will be submitted to the USITT Standards Committee following the Houston Conference.
4) Accredited Procedures: We are following the accredited procedures.
5) Scope: We believe that the proposed Standard is within the scope of the committee since it is pertaining only to graphic standards for theatre sound designers and engineers.
6) Conflicts: We do not believe that there are conflicts with other USITT Standards. For drawings involving pictorial information, the Sound Standard defers to the USITT Scenic Standard.
7) National Standards: We are making every effort to ensure that all opinions about this document from within and outside USITT are heard and considered. We have reviewed the applicable ANSI standards and we are currently engaged in cooperation with an
INFOCOMM committee which is looking at the same issue. We expect to have coordination with INFOCOMM but not uniformity because their needs are somewhat different. Some of the ANSI standard symbols are included in Theatre Sound Standard and none are contradicted by the proposed standard.
8) Appeals: There have been no appeals with regard to the proposed standard.
9) Voting: We intend that a vote regarding the proposed Theatre Sound Graphics Standard will be conducted at the Houston Conference during a scheduled session on Wednesday, March 18, 2008 at 4:30pm.
10) Unresolved Objections: There are no unresolved objections.
11) Committee Membership: The Sound Graphics have been developed by a subcommittee of the Sound Commission. The subcommittee members are:
Jonathan Darling, Chair    Kirkegaard Associates
Curtis Craig                    The Penn Stage University
Jason Romney                North Carolina School of the Arts

Due to the small size of the subcommittee there is not an assigned Vice-Chair. However, we expect a vote on the Standard by the Leadership Group of the Sound Commission at the Houston Conference. The Leadership Groups includes all Commissioners, Vice-Commissioners and Project Leaders of the Sound Commission.
12) Review and Revision: The Standard will be subject to periodic review and revision.

Click here for the USITT Sound Graphics Standards Submission (2) in pdf format.

Examples of sound system block diagrams prepared according to the proposed standards:

Medium Sized Musical Theater System

Very Small System

Contact Jonathan Darling if you would like to participate in the graphic standards project.