INTRODUCTION

1. ABSTRACT
This experiment was performed to study about the time-varying noise in acoustics. In
this experiment, the weighting was set to A-weighting filter network giving result in
units of dB(A). The frequency content of a steady continuous noise can be obtained by
taking octave band measurements, each of which will be in dB (or dB(A) depending
on the usage of the A-weighting filter network. For a time-varying noise, such as
normal conversation, the time-averaged energy is more useful and so the equivalent A-
weighted noise level, LAeq, is measured over a time interval. It may also be useful to
note the A-weighted maximum level during this interval.

2. OBJECTIVES

3. THEORY

4. APPARATUS
Smartphone or device with the most appropriate free or low-cost sound measurement
app available.

5. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
i. Decibel Ultra app was used in this experiment as Sound Level Meter.
Downloaded it from App Store.

Figure 1: Decibel Ultra app on App Store

ii. The SLM was set to display Leq and the weighting to dB(A).

iii.
iv. The response of the SLM was set to F.
 v. The SLM was positioned approximately 1 meter in front of the person.
vi. Prepared the talker to talk continuously and evenly for 90 seconds by reading
the Vacation poen given below.

VACATION
Exam exam go away,
Come again another year,
Vacation vacation come fast
You are the dream of exam time

But when you come we get bored

And when you go we get worried
For the year that is waiting ahead
With all the troubles new and old!

vii. The measurement has started once talking has begun.

viii. Measured the LAeq continuously with time.
ix. Maximum and minimum SPL was taken note and also the dynamic range of
the speech.

RESULTS

Locate a reasonably quiet area where one person can talk steadily without external sound
disturbance(s).

Answer: One person can talk steadily without external sound disturbances if he/she is in
soundproofing room. Recording studio is an example where one person can talk steadily
without external sound disturbance. Other examples are Music hall and hospital.
Soundproofing is aims to stop sound transmitting through a separating structure from a sound
source into another room so it can’t be heard by the receiver.
Figure 2: A-weighting and Fast response reading.
Figure 3: A-weighting and Slow response reading.
DISCUSSION

1. CALCULATIONS
A-weighting and Fast response A-weighting and Slow response
LAeq [dB(A)] 61.2 60.4
Max. SPL [dB] 69.2 66.1
Min. SPL [dB] 30.3 33.1
Dynamic Range
3.01 3.01
[db]

2. EXPLANATIONS OF THE RESULTS

LAeq indicates equivalent continuous sound pressure level, depending on the frequency
rating is the average during the measurement period (t) measured values,
corresponding to the sound energy occurred.

For minimum and maximum Sound Pressure Level, the reading for Fast response each
has a value of 30.3dB and 69.2dB while Slow response has a value of 33.1dB and
66.1dB.

The dynamic range value is actually closer to the “crest factor” of the music – the
difference between the peak and RMS levels. The closer the RMS level gets to the
peak level (usually close to 0 dBFS) the more compressed and limited the music is
likely to be, and the smaller the dynamic range measurement gets. Crest factor is the
peak amplitude of the waveform divided by the RMS value of the waveform:

|𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘 |
𝑐𝑑𝐵 = 20 log10
𝑥𝑟𝑚𝑠

Where;

1
𝑥𝑟𝑚𝑠 = × 𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘
√2
 In acoustics and audio engineering, crest factor is usually expressed in decibels, so it's
defined as the level difference between the RMS and the peak value of the waveform.
For example, for a sine wave the 1.414 ratio is 20 log (1.414) or 3dB.

Figure 4: A diagram of a sine wave which would be the typical output signal of a
single tone noise level

Fast Time Weighting

Fast corresponds to 125 milliseconds up and down. The needle would be moving
much faster, showing you the varying noise levels quickly. The Fast Time Weighting
is usually used for measuring all the sound in your environment, which may vary
widely over time. Therefore, you would need to report the range of noise fluctuations
e.g. 58 to 64 dB (A). Fast is generally the chosen Time Weighting for noise
measurements.

Slow Time Weighting

Slow corresponds to 1000 milliseconds up and down. By slowing down the needle, the
noise measurements are easier to read as the data is smoothed out. By using the Slow
Time Weighting, you are recording sound levels at 1 second intervals. This smoother
level history can give you a better indication of the average noise level in an
environment where it is constantly changing.

3. ERROR ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION
REFERENCES