Audio solutions like public address (PA) systems and intercoms have long played a key role in security. Yet for high-noise environments such as factories and sports stadiums, making sure audio can be clearly heard becomes a challenge. Having a smart audio solution that addresses this challenge, then, is critical.
In security, audio is as important as video. Especially in emergencies, audio solutions such as PA systems and intercoms play a key role in broadcasting important messages and guiding users to safety. Lives may be rescued and saved as a result.
This, however, may prove to be a bit challenging in certain environments, such as factories and stadiums, where audio communication can be easily compromised by the high noise level.
“Among our five senses, hearing is one of the most critical to human awareness and response. In high-stakes environments – whether industrial sites, transportation hubs or stadiums – the ability to hear, be heard, and be understood can determine how quickly and effectively people react to events. Yet, despite its importance, audio communication is often compromised by environmental noise that drowns out essential instructions, alerts, or conversations,” said Sri Sutharsan, VP of Marketing Onshore at Zenitel.
Sutharsan adds that noise is not a one-dimensional problem – it varies in intensity, distance, frequency, and duration, making its effect on audio systems both dynamic and complex.
“Louder noise, especially when it overlaps with speech frequencies, masks intelligible communication – one of the most common causes of miscommunication in noisy environments. Consider this: a screaming child can reach sound levels up to 110 dB, which is comparable to a chainsaw or a rock concert. That level of intensity doesn’t just interrupt – it overpowers,” he said. “The impact of noise is location-specific. In factory environments, noise comes from machinery, forklifts, generators, delivery vehicles, and even the chatter in communal spaces like cafeterias. In a football stadium, the noise landscape becomes even more layered – cheering crowds, pulsing music, live commentary, and spontaneous outbursts all create a challenging backdrop for any audio system.”
The necessity of quality audio in high-noise environments
These challenges notwithstanding, users in high-noise venues still need quality PA and intercom systems to perform various critical functions. According to Sutharsan, these include the following:
Safety and emergency communication: In a loud, crowded environment, visual alerts alone are insufficient – clear audio announcements ensure people receive critical information immediately;
Crowd management: PA systems are used to guide audience behavior by announcing entry/exit procedures, directing crowd flow, and preventing congestion; in high-attendance events, timely and well-placed audio messages reduce confusion and help maintain order;
Operational coordination: Intercoms allow staff-to-staff communication across large distances – between gates, control rooms, concession areas, and emergency zones;
Enhancing the fan experience: Clear announcements about match events, scores, substitutions, and entertainment help engage fans and ensure they don’t miss key moments.
Importance of intelligent audio design
This, then, underscores the importance of why high-noise venues should opt for an intelligent audio design, which entails not just louder systems, but smarter ones.
“A well-designed audio system must be capable of adapting its output volume in real time to match the dynamic acoustic environment. Public address and intercom systems must be equipped to adapt in real time, adjusting output levels, filtering interference, and ensuring that critical messages rise above the noise,” Sutharsan said.
The Lombard Effect
According to him, smart audio works by way of a phenomenon known as the Lombard Effect.
“Imagine a scenario at a football stadium during a match. The stadium is buzzing with shouting and cheering. As more spectators join in, you find yourself speaking louder and louder just to be heard. This well-documented communication phenomenon is known as the Lombard Effect … which plays a key role in helping speech remain intelligible in noisy settings,” Sutharsan said. “The same principle applies to audio systems. Ambient noise levels can be not only persistent (that is, continuous background noise), but also highly variable in intensity. For example, if you're standing on a busy railway platform, you’ll hear constant noise from passengers, other announcements, and station activity. But when a train arrives, the ambient noise level rises sharply and suddenly. A well-designed audio system must be continuously monitoring ambient noise and adjusting the volume accordingly to ensure that messages remain clear and intelligible.”