It's a quick method to calculate axial modes out to the sixth. In a "normal" rectangular room this will get all modes out to where they are statistically spread out with insignificant energy even in a poorly dimensioned closed acoustical space.
It's a quick method to calculate axial modes out to the sixth. In a "normal" rectangular room this will get all modes out to where they are statistically spread out with insignificant energy even in a poorly dimensioned closed acoustical space.
If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.
That's an interesting formula. I suppose that the smallest measure is the ceiling's height, and that circa 400Hz is the usual upper range affected by the room, unless one has cathedral ceilings.
So, to lower that frequency value, I suppose that room treatment shall begin on the ceiling. Either raise it, or dampen it...
Yup.
The region where the acoustical performance of the space is mode dominated is bounded by the first mode of the space where f=.5C/RLD up to highest where f=3C/RSD. This is where RTA will lie to you, EQ can't help you, absorption is really your only weapon and your ears are your best tool.
Above and below this region RTA is an effective and efficient tool for individual driver and channel level setting and more. Knowing it's limitations is the key to getting good results, same with EQ, especially an auto EQ system.
If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.
Hi
Where did you get your formulas from?
This is what is explained in "Master Handbook of Acoustics"
A 10x16x23,3 ft room has a volume of 3,728 cu ft and the reverberation time is 0,5 sec.
F1=565/23,3=24,2 Hz
F2=11,250 x sqrt(0,5/3,728)=130 Hz
F3=4 x 130=520Hz
Between 24,2 and 130 Hz the wave acoustical approach of modal resonances is essantial.
Between 130 and 520 Hz is the transition region. It is a diffucult region dominated by wave lenghts often too long for rays acoustics and too short for wave acoustics.
Above about 520 Hz the modal density is very high, statistical conditions genarally prevail, and the simpler geometrical acoustics can be used.
This is the problems in small rooms witch we all have.
Thanks
Oh right,, make me go back to the books!
I found in my fourth edition of the Master Handbook of Acoustics the equation you correctly quoted in the Modal Resonances in Enclosed Spaces chapter.
One thing to look out for is when formula for statistical spaces finds it's way into small room acoustics. Few of the intelectual tools of the trade for large rooms can be applied to small rooms. I am not arguing that the math is not correct, just the validity of some of it as it applies to small spaces. The 0.5 second reverb time is an indicator that this has happened.
If you look back a couple of paragraphs it is stated;What is often overlooked in the attempted measurement of RT60 in small rooms is that the definition of RT60 has two parts, the first of which is often overlooked or ignored;Region B is that region we have studied in detail in which the dimensions of the room are comparable to the wavelength of the sound being considered. It is bounded on the low frequency end by the lowest axial mode, 565/L. The upper boundry is not definite but an approximation is given by what has been called the cutoff or crossover frequency given by the equation;
F2 = 11.250 (RT60/V) 1/2
Where F2 = cutoff or crossover frequencyin Hz
Where RT60 = reverberation time of the room in seconds
Where V = volume of the room in cubic feet
1 RT60 is the measurement of the decay time of a well mixed reverberant sound field well beyond the Dc', or the critical distance.
2 RT60 is the time in seconds for the reverberant sound field to decay 60 dB after the sound source is shut off.
Since in small rooms there is no Dc', no well mixed sound field, hence no reverberation but mearly a series of early reflected energy, the measurement of RT60 becomes meaningless in these environments.
What becomes meaningfull is the control of the early reflections because there is no reverberation to mask them.
Finally, the formula I used comes from the Handbook for Sound Engineers, 4th edition, Small Room Acoustics chapter by Doug Jones. I have also had the good fortune to have received some formal training from him and could use a great deal more!
All the best,
Barry.
If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.
Hi
Thats why I really don't get to mutch anal about theoretichal aspect when talking about small rooms. You are absolutely right when talking about RT60, thats why RT30 is more usefull.
It is more easier to do measurement over a particular room. You see more data how your room is rather then trying to calculate it by hand.
That's why I have abandonded the use of full range absorption in small rooms and use broadband diffusion integrated in helmholtz principle. The decrease in reverberation is as good as in full absorption and will not over dampend the room at the same time.
The stuff we read in varoius books is mainly for big auditorium and churches and so on and not for small rooms.
I can read therory just to get me more understanding about acoustics but it dosen't say how to approach it in a practical solutions, construction and so on.
If you have a good acoustical room as I have, the auto EQ will be easier to perform, but in my case I don't need it.
Thanks
Hi;
I remember the magnitude and decay charts you showed for your room and when you say it sounds good in there, I beieve it!
You obviously read and understand the acoustics stuff, and since you are interested in it, for accuracy I would just like to share a fundamental point;
Modal decay rates are not reverberation. Reverberation is the "time in seconds that it takes a diffuse sound field, well beyond a real critical distance, to lower in level by 60 dB when the sound source is turned off."
Modal decay rates are dB-per second (dB/s) rate of decay for a specific frequency.
By definition, reverberation does not exist in small rooms. RT nothing.
Not to be picky, really, it's just a very common mistake and some of my instructors are / were quite militant about it. I guess it rubbed off. OK last on that from me.
All the best and enjoy!
Barry.
If we knew what the hell we were doing, we wouldn't call it research would we.
Jonas_h
What video source components are you running in your home cinema?
Betmax
VHS
S/VHS
Laserdisc
DVD
HD-DVD
Bluray
Amp Gain & Volume Control
Professional amplifiers do not have gain or volume knobs. They have attenuators. The amp will deliver full output no matter where the attenuators are set. Back in the analog days, broadcast level was @+8dB, pro was +4dB and consumer was -10dB. In the 70s & 80s doing rock concerts and discos, the amps were typically set all the way up, as the biggest amps were in the 200- 250 watt range. They weighed around 50 lbs a piece and were expensive. So you ended up being under- amped and trying to squeeze every last watt out it. Of course, then, you could walk by the pa before the show and tell if it's on- lots of hiss.
When you have the input attenuators at full on, the amp is amplifying the noise floor. Most amps do about 36dB of gain, which means at idle, your noise floor is 36dB louder.
In my world, we deal with mostly pro (+4) level. I set the amps around 11 o'clock and might have to knock them down to 10 o'clock. That's because our gain structure along the way is very good. Any kind of hiss is unacceptable to our clients. The other side of this coin is, of course, headroom. We want gobs and gobs of headroom. I want to see -8dB, -10dB on the processor input at a maximum. Any kind of dynamic range will kick the system way above that and we don't want to clip the amps. Clipping the processor gets real ugly, real quick.
I've seen some equipment manuals instructing the user to set levels at 0db. That is so wrong. Leave some headroom at every step along the way. Most cd players don't have VU or dB meters (Tascams do). It's interesting to watch the meters on different cd's to see the dynamic range.
How about DBX 480 VS 4800? I can get a DBX 480 for a reasonable price. F.N i have beringer ultradrive and ultracurve.
Edit: On what I have found it has only smaller changes and mostly cosmetical. Mabye I`ll have to buy it
Regards Karl
There are currently 4 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 4 guests)