Sound Graphics Project: Student Guidelines for Sound Graphics
2008 Update to Sound Graphics Project
Open Session on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 4:30pm
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 towards 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 onWednesday, 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.
Draft document Version 2bSound Graphics Standards in pdf format.
Examples of sound system block diagrams prepared according to the proposed standards:
Medium Sized Musical Theater System Very Small System
Please contact Jonathan Darling if you would like to participate
in the graphic standards project.
