Laboratory 1 Measurement of Sound

I. Introduction to Sound Level Meter (SLM) A. Functioning of SLM 1. Microphone 2. Pre-Amplifier 3. Weighting 4. Voltmeter B. Controls 1. Gain 2. Weighting 3. Meter Speed 4. Other
Measurements 1

Laboratory 1 Measurement of Sound

II. Exercises A. SLM 1. Controls 2. Steady Tone, Tone Burst 3. Wavelength Effect 4. Weighting Effect B. Shop Signals a. Effect of Source Doubling (3dB) b. Effect of Distance Doubling (6dB) c. Direct vs. Reverberant d. Near vs. Far
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The Sound Level Meter

Microphone Pre-Amp Weighting Network RMS Voltmeter

Measurements 3

Microphone

From B&K

Measurements 4

The Sound Level Meter

Microphone - Converts sound pressure fluctuations into proportional voltage fluctuations

Pre-Amplifier - Conditions the weak voltage signal Boosts so that ordinary voltmeter can measure it Reduces output impedance so that measurement does not alter the signal

Measurements 5

The Sound Level Meter

Weighting Network - Modifies signal to correspond with the appropriate human response to the signal
Excludes signals with frequency <20Hz or > 20kHz Boosts signals with frequency 500-3000Hz, since the corresponding pressure fluctuations are more audible Nature of modification depends on the response being evaluated

RMS Voltmeter - Provides a numerical readout of the weighted signal

Logarithmic scale, dB re. 20X10-6N/m2 Meter movement damped to reduce excessive fluctuation, or averaged to slow down response
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Frequency Response Characteristics of the A, B, C and D Weighting Networks

20 10

D A C D B and C

Gain (dB)

0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50

B A
10
2

-60 1 10

10

10

Frequency (Hz)
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dBA
Weighting of Acoustic Signals
1/3 Octave Band Center Frequency Hz 16 20 25 31.5 40 50 63 80 100 125 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000 1250 1600 2000 2500 3150 4000 5000 6300 8000 10000 12500 16000 20000 A weighting dB -56.7 -50.5 -44.7 -39.4 -34.6 -30.2 -26.2 -22.5 -19.1 -16.1 -13.4 -10.9 - 8.6 - 6.6 - 4.8 - 3.2 - 1.9 - 0.8 0 + 0.6 + 1.0 + 1.2 + 1.3 + 1.2 + 1.0 + 0.5 - 0.1 - 1.1 - 2.5 - 4.3 - 6.6 - 9.3 B weighting dB -28.5 -24.2 -20.4 -17.1 -14.2 -11.6 - 9.3 - 7.4 - 5.6 - 4.2 - 3.0 - 2.0 - 1.3 - 0.8 - 0.5 - 0.3 - 0.1 0 0 0 0 - 0.1 - 0.2 - 0.4 - 0.7 - 1.2 - 1.9 - 2.9 - 4.3 - 6.1 - 8.4 - 11.1 C weighting dB -8.5 -6.2 -4.4 -3.0 -2.0 -1.3 -0.8 -0.5 -0.3 -0.2 -0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.5 -0.8 -1.3 -2.0 -3.0 -4.4 -6.2 -8.5 -11.2 D weighting dB -22.5 -20.5 -18.5 -16.5 -14.5 -12.5 -11.0 - 9.0 - 7.5 - 6.0 - 4.5 - 3.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 - 0.5 - 0 0 0 0 + 2.0 + 5.5 + 8.0 +10.0 +11.0 +11.0 +10.0 + 8.5 + 6.0 + 3.0 0 - 4.0 - 7.5
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Meter Response Controls

FAST - Meter responds quickly to step changes in continuous sound level. Approximately 0.2 sec required SLOW - Meter responds slowly to step changes in continuous sound level. Approximately 1.0 sec required IMPULSE - Meter responds to maximum RMS value of repetitive impulsive sounds PEAK - Meter responds to maximum peak value of impulsive sound, even of single responses
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Controls
1. Gain Control - Sets amplifier. Usually tied to the meter display 2. Weighting Selector - A, C, Linear 3. Meter Speed Selector - Controls meter response Peak 50ms Impulse 35ms Fast 200ms Slow 1000ms
Actual Signal Fast Response Slow t

Measurements 10

Controls
4. Other Controls - added features SEL / LEQ / SPL / MAX / MIN Sound Incidence - Frontal / Random Peak - RMS AC Out / DC Out External Filter In / Out

Measurements 11

The Microphone in the Sound Field

dB

+5

Free - Field Response

Pressure Response
-5

Random Incidence Response

Hz

50

200

1000

5000
Measurements 12

Exercises
0. CALIBRATION 1. STEADY TONE : a. Compare dBA vs dBC b. Compare dBA(fast) vs dBA(slow) 2. FLUCTUATING TONE : a. Compare dBA vs dBC b. Compare dBA(fast) vs dBA(slow) 3. RANDOM SIGNAL : a. Compare dBA vs dBC
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Exercises
4. WAVELENGTH EFFECT :
a. With Position in Environment b. With Proximity of Obstacles c. With Microphone Orientation d. With Position of Operator

5. SHOP SIGNALS :
a. Effect of Doubling Numbers of Sources b. Effect of Doubling Distance From Source c. Direct vs. Reverberant Field d. Near vs. Far Field e. Noise Control Concepts

Reduce Major Source First Reduce Equivalent Sources Together Do Not Overkill the Major Source
Measurements 14