The science behind the sound at Acrisure Amphitheater

[00:00:01]Good evening, I'm Juliet Dragos. First at 6:00, you might have heard it last night in the Grand Rapids area, the sound spilling over from the Acrisure Amphitheater during the Machine Gun Kelly and Wiz Khalifa rap show. It's something we've heard from many viewers since the amphitheater opened last month, the sound heard from miles away.

[00:00:19]39 Northside's Peter Ellett spoke to an expert to understand the science behind the sound. He joins us now live to explain. Peter?

[00:00:27]>> Yeah, Juliet, it is a little complicated. There are a lot of factors that go into carrying the sound from this amphitheater all the way to your front door. From the wind to the weather, even the Grand River plays a role in carrying that sound.

[00:00:41]Aubrey Berille didn't have a ticket.

[00:00:43]>> Very loud.

[00:00:44]>> But the downtown resident and her famous feline, the S-Curve Kitty, could hear last night's concert from the Acrisure Amphitheater.

[00:00:51]>> A concert like that, like MGK, is definitely a lot louder than like a lot of the country ones we've had.

[00:00:56]>> Just like Machine Gun Kelly and Wiz Khalifa, she's got some rhymes.

[00:01:00]>> It's a little bit more bass, a little bit more in your face.

[00:01:03]>> [laughter] >> The increased bass from the rappers is one of the reasons why people across Grand Rapids could hear the show from miles away.

[00:01:10]>> Bass is a very long wavelength sound. It isn't obstructed by uh barriers and buildings and things like that as much.

[00:01:21]>> Rick Telase is a Michigan-based acoustics consultant who has worked on renowned venues like the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago. He says weather is also a big factor.

[00:01:31]>> A lot of that has to do with the prevailing weather conditions. In summertime, most of the winds are coming from the south, southwest. Those folks that are downwind of the amphitheater are more likely to be impacted versus other directions.

[00:01:50]>> Take a look at this sound and vibration analysis published by Grand Action 2.0.

[00:01:54]This map shows what the sound could be like during a show using a metric called DBA.

[00:01:59]>> That's not really a good metric for music level predictions. It deemphasizes low-pitched sound, and low-pitched sound is often the most disturbing for people.

[00:02:12]>> He says it would be more appropriate to use DBC, which accounts for low-pitched sound.

[00:02:18]>> In terms of disruption, that would be a significant difference. The sound levels could change 5 to 15 decibels >> higher.

[00:02:26]>> Burelli understands why there's a flood of complaints.

[00:02:29]>> There's pros and cons to everything. I could see where it definitely like gets frustrating for other people who are like, "I didn't sign up for this. I don't want this. I live 2 miles away from the city."

[00:02:39]>> But she says it's something she's just accepted as part of living in a city.

[00:02:42]>> I think it's really cool. I want to go to a concert. I think on a beautiful sunny day, this will be a really good time. So, I'm looking forward to that.

[00:02:52]>> The amphitheater is exempt from the city's noise ordinance. We reached out to the city for comment. You can see the full statement on your screen. A spokesperson says the city reviews complaints and is continuing to work with the venue's operators to monitor sound levels and evaluate future options. The Aperture Amphitheater is managed by Legends Global, which also runs some of the other major venues in town like the Van Andel Arena. The amphitheater is publicly owned by the Kent County Grand Rapids Convention Arena Authority. Live in downtown Grand Rapids, I'm Peter Elliot, 13 On Your Side.