alchemy acoustic labs

Archive for January, 2011

PITTSBURGH, –  Alchemy acoustic Labs, LLC (AAL) has made optimizing acoustic instruments their top priority since 2007. In addition to having applied their proprietary AO1 process to a great number of pre-existing acoustic instruments with a 100% success rate  since launching the service, AAL has continually pursued new routes to acoustic instrument optimization. In 2010, AAL expanded their AO1 process to the mandolin and violin markets. In 2011 they will release more results of those efforts as well as a more thorough discussion of the process itself.

With information gained by their experience and research on the AO1 process, inventor Frank Sanns has now developed a physical device that will greatly enhance the tonal and response properties of acoustic instruments and give luthiers more design freedom when designing and building their instruments. The new device is patent-pending and will be available both as a standalone, aftermarket accessory and as an integral component on new instruments. AAL has begun collaborative work with key artists & manufacturers in the acoustic instrument market. Plans to unveil private and licensable prototypes will roll-out in the second quarter of 2011.

This month, in response growing interest in their efforts, AAL has released a new level of details about their proprietary, patent-applied-for AO1 acoustic optimization service via their website, http://www.alchemyacousticlabs.com.

After an instrument arrives at AAL, the AO1 Process begins by a thorough visual inspection followed by sonic and tactile impressions made by one or more guitar techs and/or players.

After the initial evaluation is completed, the instrument is placed in an anechoic chamber and a proprietary sensor system maps the input and output response of the primary sound forming surfaces of the instrument. The I/O response is then used to establish unique process parameters that will be implemented on each individual instrument.  Just as no two instruments are the same, the AO1 process is custom calibrated for every instrument.

Once the process parameters are mapped, various locations of the instrument are targeted and then are  non-thermally annealed by focusing high energy sonic waves of extremely specific energy levels at corresponding specific  locations on the instrument while response measurements are tracked simultaneously.

The AO1 process allows for symmetrical, properly located oscillations to occur in the sound-forming surfaces of the instrument and manifests itself in greater volume/dynamic range, richer, more full sound, and greater responsiveness to the player’s touch.  Over the course of the following 4-6 weeks, the instrument will continue to transform  to its full 100% potential assisted by frequent playing.

AAL  has processed instruments for multiple large-scale manufacturers and modified versions of the AO1 process are available for manufacturer’s licensing.