noise | Acoustical Engineer

Finding STC and all his friends – NR, NNR, NIC, & NNIC

STC tests start by setting up speakers in a room, called the source room. The speakers play pink noise, a noise that sounds like white noise TV static but contains equal energy across frequency bands. Microphones are used to measure the sound pressure level in the source room as well as the sound pressure level in the room on the other side of a wall or similar partition. This room is called the receiving room.

By comparing the sound pressure levels ...

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2
MAR
2020

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acoustics, NIC, NNIC, noise, NR, NRR, STC, testing

Guide to Soundproofing & Room Acoustics

Posted by: Acoustical Engineer

It can be difficult to compare the acoustics of one room against another room. Not only do the size and shape of a room change its acoustic feeling, but the materials of the ceiling, walls, and floor and their construction, as well as furniture, décor, and other objects in the room can change the way sound moves throughout a space. Couple that with the subjective opinions of individuals concerning what is annoying, too echo-y, too quiet, or too noisy, and ...

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17
FEB
2020

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acoustics, footsteps, impact, noise, standards, tap testing

Why Don’t My Noise-Canceling Headphones Block All Sounds?

Posted by: AcousticalEngineer

Calling headphones noise-cancelling can be deceptive. While it is true that noise-cancelling headphones are capable of counteracting some background noises, they are not perfect for all types of noise. In this article we will discuss the inner workings, limitations, and potential tradeoffs of noise-cancelling headphone technology.

All Headphones are Noise Cancelling

Technically all headphones are noise cancelling on some level. Just as putting your hands over your ears blocks incoming sound, any headphone you put on, in, or over your ear will ...

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19
AUG
2019

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about, acoustics, active noise control, airplanes, cancelling, decision, destructive interference, don't work, explain, headphones, help, how, impulse, noise, passive noise control, tradeoff, why, won't work

Preamplifiers: Do I Need One?

Posted by: AcousticalEngineer

What is a Preamp?

A preamplifier (preamp or just “pre” for short) is an electronic component used to condition signals from a microphone or pickup. The output signal from a microphone is generally weak and noisy. If you plugged a microphone directly into an audio interface, the sound would come out distorted and garbled. Not exactly the result you want from your audio system. That’s where preamps come in.

Preamplifiers boost the strength of a signal without significantly degrading its signal-to-noise ratio ...

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12
AUG
2019

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conditioning, do i need, gain, noise, pre, preamp, preamplification, preamplifier, signal, signal to noise ratio, what is, why

Only Hearing Trains at Night? No, You’re not Crazy

Posted by: AcousticalEngineer

Believe it or not, it is common for people who live far from railroad tracks to hear trains at night and only at night. While this may be due to trains only running in the evening or due to lower overall sound levels in the nighttime, there is a surprising physical explanation why a person might hear a train in the nighttime and not in the day.

Sound waves, like other types of waves, experience bending or refraction when ...

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15
JUL
2019

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environmental, Kelvin, night, noise, noise pollution, speed of sound, temperature inversion, train