Acoustic separators for translators desks

Project Overview

DECIBEL was commissioned to improve the working conditions for a group of professional translators responsible for real-time, on-air language translation. These specialists required focused, quiet zones where multiple simultaneous translations could occur without interference or acoustic disruption. The solution came in the form of precisely engineered acoustic desk separators.

Challenge

The translation space was acoustically vulnerable: multiple desks placed in the same area, each potentially hosting a live translation session at the same time. Without adequate sound separation, the environment was prone to overlapping speech, reverberation, and noise spill—any of which could compromise the clarity of a live broadcast. The need for acoustic privacy, silence, and speech intelligibility was not just preferable—it was non-negotiable.

Scope of Work

DECIBEL supplied and installed acoustic desk separators designed specifically to reduce noise transfer between adjacent workstations. The focus was on creating contained, low-reflection environments that would isolate each translator’s voice while absorbing external sound energy within the shared space.

Solution

The acoustic separators were positioned to envelop each translator’s desk, effectively forming mini acoustic booths without the need for fully enclosed structures. These dividers blocked lateral sound transmission and absorbed ambient noise, allowing each translator to focus on their task without distraction or interference. The materials used were optimised for speech frequencies, ensuring clarity on both sides of the translation stream.

Result

The workspace was transformed into a quiet, acoustically controlled zone where translators could operate simultaneously with confidence and precision. Reverberation was minimised, cross-talk was eliminated, and the overall sound environment became significantly more stable—meeting the demands of live, multilingual broadcasting.

Real-time translation or real-time noise

In settings where real-time translation is critical—such as broadcasting studios, conference centres, or government institutions—acoustic control is not a luxury, but a necessity. Even slight disruptions can affect the accuracy and professionalism of a live translation. DECIBEL’s approach to targeted desk-level sound isolation offers a high-performance solution for these sensitive environments, proving that effective acoustic treatment can be both subtle and transformative.