tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186317602023-11-16T07:22:04.135-06:0010 * bLog (p²)Where Savant will pontificate on acoustics, audio, music, noise, sound, and whatever else tickles his fancy.
<br/>"In audio and acoustics the fundamentals are not difficult; the physics are." - Don DavisSavanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-71966279504919673592010-03-26T10:21:00.004-05:002010-03-26T10:24:32.584-05:00Great plug-in...but don't forget the room acoustics!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">Came across </span><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/sweetspotter-keeps-your-music-coming-at-the-right-angle-regardl/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">an announcement about a new plug-in</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> that's supposed to "shift" the "sweet spot" (if you believe in such a thing) relative to listener position. Seems like a great idea...until users realize it doesn't work </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';">quite right</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'courier new';"> in a bare-wall / -ceiling room. ;)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-13094153514674851122010-02-17T16:57:00.002-06:002010-02-17T17:09:18.201-06:00Inconvenient Coincidences in Utah<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Totally off-topic today: I came across two news items, both courtesy of <a href="http://slashdot.org/">slashdot</a>. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">First, I read that <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/16/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry6213596.shtml">a Utah legislator wants to make the 12th grade optional</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:courier new;">Then, I read that <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/12/utah-climate-alarmists">the Utah assembly has passed a resolution that officially denies global climate change</a>. </span><span style="font-family:courier new;">I cannot help but speculate that the two issues might have a lot in common with each other...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">BTW, in case you're wondering (doubtful, I know) where Savant stands on climate change, I suggest David Brin's blog to get a good idea. Particularly, <a href="http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2010/02/real-struggle-behind-climate-change-war.html">this entry</a> and <a href="http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2010/02/distinguishing-climate-deniers-from.html">its follow-up</a>.</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-56613870142513096642009-11-19T10:24:00.003-06:002009-11-19T10:43:13.881-06:00Where are the Noise Police?<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/316663"><span style="font-family:courier new;">This</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> from Tucson, AZ, about "hump honkers." You have got to be kidding me. Well, Tucson residents (and police) might need to review their </span><a href="http://library.municode.com/HTML/11294/level3/PII_C16_AIV.html#PII_C16_AIV_s16-31"><span style="font-family:courier new;">noise ordinance</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">; Section 16.31(f) states: "No person may use any automobile, motorcycle or other vehicle, engine or motor of whatever size, stationary or moving, instrument, device or thing, in such a manner as to create loud and unnecessary grating, grinding, rattling or other noise." Surely this nonsense qualifies as "unnecessary...noise." If so, the risk of a $100 to $2,500 fine should be deterrant enough for these "hump honkers." <<<rolls>>></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-md.watchdog15nov15,0,4223432.story"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Back east in Baltimore</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">... Um, the </span><a href="http://www.baltimorehealth.org/info/HealthCode.pdf"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Baltimore Health Code (PDF)</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> covers this (see Section 9-206), folks. It's probably not unreasonable to speculate that the sound level from the generator is over the 50 dBA nighttime limit at the property boundary, i.e., at the edge of the right-of-way. Of course, since the noise is arguably within the public interest (maintaining cell phone coverage), it's probably exempt...<em>but</em> the exemption must be granted by the Commissioner of Health. (Which, giving the benefit of the doubt, Sprint may have done...) Regardless, the proposal to use "bales of hay" as noise mitigation is another matter entirely!!! <<<rolls>>></span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-52558962249221567032009-08-31T14:13:00.001-05:002009-08-31T14:15:28.614-05:00When More Noise is Better<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Came across </span><a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=check-please-can-the-din-of-a-resta-2009-08-26"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this little piece</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> at the Scientific American blog site (via <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_logo">LinkedIn</a>).</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Go BOILERS!!!</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-52452551261154913542009-08-06T13:38:00.002-05:002009-08-06T13:44:25.929-05:00ProAV Jul/Aug 2009<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">In case you haven't gotten your copy yet, <em><a href="http://www.proavmagazine.com/">ProAV Magazine</a></em> has a good, short piece on acoustics entitled "</span><a href="http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1618&articleID=1026948"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Collective Wisdom</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">," which provides acoustical perspectives on four types of commercial venues <a href="http://www.brcacoustics.com/">from</a> <a href="http://www.akustx.com/">four</a> <a href="http://www.technitect.com/">industry</a> <a href="http://www.siaacoustics.com/">experts</a>. For the online version, it seems you'll have to tolerate some annoying Sony pop-ups. Worth it, tho'. :)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-76433617489614011922009-06-10T18:16:00.004-05:002009-06-10T18:25:05.483-05:00Careful Where You Put That Probe, Officer...<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20090531/NEWS01/905310312"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Dateline, Mansfield, OH</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>"(Sgt. Todd) Newberry probed 20 inches into the idling Ford's tailpipe, and took a reading of 103 decibels -- 13 past the legal limit of 90."</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">With my curiosity sufficiently piqued by this measurement procedure, I looked up the </span><a href="http://www.conwaygreene.com/Mansfield/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&2.0"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Mansfield (OH) city code</span></a>, <span style="font-family:courier new;">which states the following regarding vehicular noise emissions:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>"Ninety db(A) when measured twenty inches from the rear of the exhaust pipe at a forty-five degree angle to the center of the pipe at a minimum height of eight inches from a hard surface."</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Hmmm... Assuming this was reported accurately, it would seem that Sgt. Newberry went 40 inches the wrong way with his, er, probe. Advice: Avoid body cavity searches in Mansfield, OH!</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-2120972057677144072009-04-24T09:29:00.002-05:002009-04-24T09:50:18.152-05:00Acoustical Miscellany<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Some bits and bobs for this week / month:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Those amongst you with a penchant for sci-fi may be familiar with the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk"><span style="font-family:courier new;">steampunk</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> subgenre. I'm not a huge fan of steampunk, but I have to admit that I hold a special place in my heart for </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wild_Wild_West"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>The Wild Wild West</em> TV show</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> from the '60s. How does this relate to acoustics? Well, a new online steampunk publication, <em><a href="http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/">Steampunk Magazine</a></em>, provides issues for free download. The </span><a href="http://www.steampunkmagazine.com/pdfs/SPM1-printing.pdf"><span style="font-family:courier new;">first issue (PDF)</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> had a couple of articles that will be interesting to the musical acoustics enthusiasts among you; check out "The Pyrophone" on page 9 and "Glass Armonica" on page 10.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">*~*~*~*~*</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Colleague Jeffrey Fullerton, of <em><a href="http://www.acentech.com/">Acentech</a></em>, writes for <em>The Journal of New England Technology</em> about </span><a href="http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2009/02/23/focus1-Meeting-planning-should-include-acoustics-check.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">considering acoustics during the meeting planning process</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. Excellent advice.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">*~*~*~*~*</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/mar/21/arts-amp-science-intersect/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">This is an interesting article on some work being undertaken at Youngstown State University on using laser scanning of large performance venues to help analyze acoustics.</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> The article doesn't go into much detail on the <em>how</em>, but I think it shows promise: I can envision a future where a consultant can perform a few scans if an existing space that import the results directly into a acoustical modeling program (such as </span><a href="http://www.renkus-heinz.com/ease/index.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">one</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> </span><a href="http://www.catt.se/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">of</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> </span><a href="http://www.odeon.dk/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">these</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">). This would save considerable time poring over drawings and inputting data points by hand.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">*~*~*~*~*</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Finally, don't forget next Wednesday (29 April 2009) is <em><a href="http://www.lhh.org/noise/">International Noise Awareness Day</a></em>. Do your part to help spread the quiet! 8^)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-47799249557919448632009-04-13T20:39:00.001-05:002009-04-13T20:40:44.715-05:00Best Public Service Announcements...Ever.<div align="justify"><a href="http://www.turnitdown.ca/"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">http://www.turnitdown.ca/</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">HIL.AR.I.OUS.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Today, I love the Canadians. :)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-21558851334936435182009-02-23T09:51:00.003-06:002009-02-23T10:29:03.551-06:00Today's Forecast: Partly Sunny, Calm, 48°F...and 53 dBA???<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I couldn't help but moan when I came across </span><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=271414"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this column</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> in the (Chicago) Daily Herald. All in all, pretty decent advice. But what is particularly irksome is this statement:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><blockquote><p align="justify"><em><span style="font-family:courier new;">Acoustics certainly qualifies as a science, as does meteorology. Both are often accurate in their projected outcomes - but not always. Some concert halls, for example, have spent millions of dollars to enhance sound quality a few years after the buildings opened with supposedly superb acoustics.<br /></span></p></em></blockquote><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">So, acoustic physics "qualifies" as a science??? I don't think I'd be off-base by observing that Ms. St. Clair's comparison of acoustics to meteorology gives readers exactly the <em>wrong</em> image that we acoustics professionals wish to convey. Like many other scientists, acousticians can predict outcomes quite accurately. Certainly more accurately than meteorologists. Put simply, the more information an acoustician has about a situation, the more accurate the prediction. Contrast that with meteorology where, despite the accuracy and thoroughness of the input data, the slightest change in one of many, many variables can mean the difference between a beautiful day at the beach and blowing gales with driving rains.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Of course, when a concert hall is designed, there are many variables at play that can have an effect on the acoustics. However, they are all <em>controllable</em> variables; budget, mechanical design, interior finish details, seating design, stage design, et al. The predictive tools we use have been proven to be provide accurate results and desirable outcomes. A meteorologist with millions of dollar's worth of state-of-the-art prediction tools, reams of good input data, and decades of experience can go over a forecast dozens of times and still get it "wrong"; it's just the nature of that particular science. The slightest shift in wind direction can mean the predicted 4-8 inches of snow is actually only a light rain. A calm forecast with a high of 80°F can be replaced with the reality of gusty winds and 57°F. Missing the mark by such orders of magnitude is simply not something that happens in acoustics, unless there are extenuating circumstances beyond the acoustician's control or, indeed, completely beyond their awareness. If we're given all the information about a noise source, its path, and the receiver, we can typically predict the outcome with a high degree of accuracy. Certainly within industry-accepted tolerances. If we were subjected to the chaotic situations meteorologists face on a daily basis, we could hardly (for example) convince government agencies to spend millions of dollars on highway noise barriers.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">As usual, I'm probably overreacting. But I find that these kinds of statements keep our science entrenched in the "voodoo" category, which is both unfortunate and unnecessary. IMHO. :)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-62506314557107955002009-01-29T12:48:00.002-06:002009-01-29T12:58:14.281-06:00President Jack Hammer<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">A colleague forwarded </span><a href="http://www.theonion.com/content/news/obama_inauguration_speech_ruined"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this piece to me courtesy of <em>The Onion</em></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. Very creative. Exaggerated claims aside, the possibility of something like this actually happening is all too real these days. Perhaps the BHO administration will bring some <em>change</em> to </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/history/topics/nca/index.htm"><span style="font-family:courier new;">noise control regulations in the U.S.</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> You never know...</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-71499911490119887352009-01-27T09:33:00.004-06:002009-01-27T09:57:48.801-06:00Forensic AUDIO<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Shows of the <em><a href="http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/">CSI:</a></em> variety often feature </span><a href="http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/10/audio_forensics?currentPage=all"><span style="font-family:courier new;">forensic audio</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> as one item in their bag of crime-solving tricks. More often than not (and not surprisingly), Creative License is invoked and "better-than-reality" results are often achieved. Audio recordings completely inundated with noise are made into crystal-clear confessions of a perp's guilt at the click of the "Remove the Noise" button. Impressive. (And </span><a href="http://10xtheblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/noise-in-hollywood.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I've blogged about it before</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">, albeit indirectly.)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The most recent portrayal was a modicum better than some (and was on a show I enjoy quite a bit). In case you missed it, the </span><a href="http://www.tv.com/numb3rs/trouble-in-chinatown/episode/1248220/summary.html?tag=ep_list;title;13"><span style="font-family:courier new;">"Trouble in Chinatown" episode of CBS' <em>Numb3rs</em></span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> that aired on Friday (1/23/09) found the FBI's resident math whizzes creating their own audio filters to remove noise from a garbled recording of an abduction. At least this gave the viewer some idea of the method behind the magic of the ubiquitous "Remove the Noise" button. A little disappointingly, the final result was (again) a crystal-clear recording of the victim describing the abductor's vehicle, complete with license plate number. Nice.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">While this portrayal was, as I mentioned, better than some, it was referred to in the dialog (several times) as "forensic audiology." Ack! Where in the consultant-producer-writer chain is the communication breaking down? Audiology is the science of hearing. The only image that is conjured up with the phrase "forensic audiology" is perhaps the verification of an ear-witness' hearing acuity. The practice in question is forensic <u>audio</u>. (I realize this probably seems petty. But still.)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I cannot knock the show in general; as I mentioned, I do enjoy it quite a bit. It's a small, rookie mistake in an otherwise consistently entertaining show. 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-86152356739777100282009-01-17T09:57:00.002-06:002009-01-17T10:11:05.434-06:00An Interesting Contrast<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I've been trying out </span><a href="http://www.google.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Google</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">'s "Alerts" features to help keep myself abreast of acoustics- and noise-related news. A couple of articles that I thought made for an interesting comparison:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.havasunews.com/articles/2008/12/21/news/doc494ef8fc3c2ac454844958.txt"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Lake Havasu City is considering a new noise ordinance that would limit nighttime noise in residential areas to 55 dBA.</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Perhaps the Lake Havasu City folks should consider talking to residents in the Dongjak District of Seoul, South Korea. Apparently, </span><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/12/117_36468.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">they claim they cannot open their windows at night because of 55 dBA sound levels outside.</span></a></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">:^?</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-35768101503396677932008-11-26T09:51:00.004-06:002008-11-26T10:11:20.786-06:00Barry & Napalm | Sheldon & the Sweet Spot<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Two nuggets today:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/nov/22/noise-violators-fort-lupton-sentened-listen-barry-/?partner=RSS"><span style="font-family:courier new;">A creative judge in Colorado sentences noise ordinance violators to listen to "The Copacabana" and other smash hits</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. This cracks me up. If Judge Sacco is taking requests, I think he'd have good results exposing certain violators to some <em><a href="http://www.napalmdeath.org/">Napalm Death</a></em>. I know I'd learn my lesson! Of course, if I were ever sentenced, I could plead "time already served" since I had a roommate in college that listened to nothing but </span><a href="http://www.samfox.com/main/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Samantha Fox</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. (Watch out for the volume on that link. Apparently Samantha is <span style="font-size:180%;">LOOKING FOR A MIDNIGHT LOVER</span> and, of course, there is no mute button.)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">************</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">One of my favorite TV shows, <em><a href="http://www.cbs.com/primetime/big_bang_theory/">The Big Bang Theory</a></em>, provided some great acoustical geek humor on Monday night. The </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1256040/synopsis"><span style="font-family:courier new;">"White Asparagus Triangulation" episode</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> had a scene with Sheldon in a movie theater moving from seat to seat making obnoxious vocal noises in an attempt to find the "acoustics sweet spot." Hilarious. Of course, Mrs. Savant turned to me and said, "If you ever do that, I will leave." I'm assuming she means the movie theater and not my life, but I don't think I'll try to find out. 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-60800381043123189122008-11-13T16:44:00.003-06:002008-11-13T16:47:25.586-06:00Sonar, Musical Instruments, and Color Schemes (oh my?)<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Some stuff for (almost) the end of the week:</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">• <a href="http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/multimedia/2008/10/gallery_futuristic_music"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>Wired</em> magazine blog about futuristic musical instruments.</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> Didn't </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Michel_Jarre"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Jean Michel Jarre</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> play lasers - or columns of light, at least - back in the '80s?</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">• <a href="http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202425966824&rss=newswire"><span style="font-family:courier new;">U.S. Supreme Court rules for Navy</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> re sonar use. This is one of those issues that I can't help but be on the fence about...</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">• Finally, </span><a href="http://www.sandv.com/home.htm"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>Sound and Vibration</em> magazine</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> is, IMO, one of the better periodicals in my world. The thing I got to thinking about today was the color schemes for their covers. For each issue, <em>S&V</em> uses a different two-color scheme for the title and background. This got me to wondering if they've ever repeated a color scheme. (I know; don't I have better things to do?) Math quickly told me that they would never have to for a very long time. Assuming they are picking from a 256-color palette:</span></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">256² give you the number of possible schemes.<br />Less 256 to remove the schemes that would result in the same color for the title and background.<br />Answer: 65,280 possible color schemes.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">At 12 issues per year, we are guaranteed a unique color scheme on every new issue of <em>S&V</em> until the year 7407 A.D. (They've been publishing since 1967.) I can't wait until the 5,000th anniversary issue comes out!!! 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-7352872342943749902008-09-30T08:27:00.003-05:002008-09-30T08:38:54.642-05:00Common Denominator<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Got forwarded </span><a href="http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/819619.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this article</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> today. It seemed to me that I'd read </span><a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/10/entertainment/ca-62746"><span style="font-family:courier new;">a similar article</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> before somewhere. So, </span><a href="http://www.brucespringsteen.net/news/index.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The Boss</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> seems to leave a wake of complaints about arena acoustics behind every tour. Yikes. Let's hope he gets a new crew of "sound engineers" before the </span><a href="http://www.tampabaysuperbowl.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Super Bowl</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">!</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-56691667762658034482008-09-19T13:47:00.007-05:002008-09-19T16:18:20.982-05:00How do you like your entertainment?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><a href="http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/metallica-s-new-album-sounds-better-in-guitar-hero/124798">Loud</a>, <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-23691678;_ylc=X3oDMTF2NGZobDJ1BF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA3F1aWV0cGxhY2VzLTIwMDgtOS0xOA--">quiet</a>, <a href="http://www.thedaytheearthstoodstillmovie.com/">still</a>, or <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/2008/pdf0810.htm">subliminal</a> / <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/04/24/the_marketers_have_your_ear/">creepy</a> / <a href="http://www.holosonics.com/">in-your-ears/head</a>?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Whatever your preference, did you know that you can now <a href="http://www.faberacoustical.com/products/iphone/">measure it</a> with your <a href="http://www.apple.com/iphone/">iPhone</a>?</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">:)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-79784114475830271202008-09-08T09:08:00.004-05:002008-09-08T09:15:53.194-05:00Amorous Aural Arousal<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">One of my favorite bloggers is Scott Adams, the <em><a href="http://dilbert.com/">Dilbert</a></em> cartoonist. His blog today crosses over into the world of audio, tongue planted firmly in cheek. </span><a href="http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/start_your_engines/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Check it out</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">; I have no doubt that this presents a potentially lucrative business opportunity for some savvy studio / foley guru! 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-40271527661197985172008-08-13T17:18:00.002-05:002008-08-13T17:29:21.174-05:00ThinkGeek Plug<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I just reviewed my blog posts from the last few months and I realized that I have been extremely remiss in not passing along a link to my new favorite e-store, </span><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">ThinkGeek.com</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. The miniSavants were oh-so-very good to DaddySavant this year for Father's Day: </span><a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/59e0/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The binary clock</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> has earned a feature spot on one of my cubicle shelves, squarely between my </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Uecker"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Bob Uecker</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> bobblehead and my rack of </span><a href="http://www.i-ince.org/publications.htm"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Noise News International</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> back issues.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I would strongly encourage those among you who have zeroes and ones in your blood and every episode of <em><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/">Dr. Who</a></em> on your DVR to pass along the link to ThinkGeek.com to friends and family right around holiday shopping season. My email to Savant family members will read something like, "If you're thinking about buying anything for me this year, everything for sale at ThinkGeek.com is on my wish list." (Except the binary clock...but I could always use another one for my home office!!! 8^D )</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-2473670326954264902008-08-07T15:56:00.002-05:002008-08-07T15:57:32.432-05:00Sad but Probably True<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Got </span><a href="http://dbaplan.browsbox.be/index/be-nl/1141/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this link</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> today from a colleague. A bit morbid and over-the-top (I hope), but the message (sadly) rings true.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Enjoy. :)</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-39478137180256735352008-08-01T16:57:00.003-05:002008-08-01T17:17:02.463-05:00Conference Cost Blues<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">So, I attended a conference earlier this week. I go to these sorts of things about once a year. (Used to be even more often, but I've been cutting back. :) Usually, these things involve a coming-together of colleagues, lengthy discussions about the goings-on in the industry, the making of new friends, and the catching up with old ones. Unfortunately, they also involve ridiculous wastes of money.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">To their credit, the conference organizers will arrange to hold their annual (or semi-annual) events in a large hotel with ample conference meeting space and amenities so as to miminize the attendees' headaches when it comes to travel. There are often one or more restaurants right there in the hotel, a gift shop to purchase the shaving cream you forgot to bring, and even (but not always) a shuttle from the airport. (At the very least, a relatively inexpensive cab ride.) But all of this costs money. Bottled water in the gift shop will cost just a hair less than the $5.00 per half-liter that's "conveniently" in your room. Meals in the restaurant will not exactly be "affordable." But, people are often traveling on business and these are necessary (but not always welcomed or justified) expenditures to keep the business wheels a-turning.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">But where is the line drawn? I attended a conference once at a hotel that was walking distance from several low- to medium-budget chain hotels. I stayed in one of these and paid roughly 50-60% of what I would have paid per night at the high-dollar conference hotel next door. My breakfast was free. Parking, should I have had a rental, would have been free. Internet access? Free. Next door, where room costs are markedly higher, Internet access was an additional $10 per day. Breakfast was only available in the restaurants - not free. Parking was valet for $20 per day or u-park-it for $15.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Is the added cost of parking due to real estate prices? Not likely since the medium-budget place I stayed in seemed to be managing just fine.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Is the added Internet access charge because they have lightning-fast connections? Not likely. (If you've ever paid for this "luxury" you know what I'm talking about.)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Most importantly, the rooms were not any better or worse at my medium-budget hotel than they were next door.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Of course, I guess the high-dollar place couldn't exactly be high-dollar if it weren't for all the extra nickel-and-diming...</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-3502171854552962672008-07-08T17:36:00.002-05:002008-07-08T17:42:44.307-05:00The Alchemist<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">If you're an <em>iTunes</em> junkie -- closet or otherwise -- it may interest you to know that the audio version of one of my favorite books, <em>The Alchemist</em> by Paulo Coelho, is available for </span><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAudiobook?id=284308333&s=143441"><span style="font-family:courier new;">free download</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. Coelho is one of those "love him or hate him" type of authors. I am the former and I would recommend him to anyone. It think it's way cool that <em>iTunes</em> and Coelho are offering this as a freebie. Unabridged. And read by Jeremy Irons.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Sometimes the Internet is a happy place... 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-22385358527547115692008-06-06T12:59:00.002-05:002008-06-06T13:15:34.064-05:00The Big Moan<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">As you may or may not be aware, I am an avid sci-fi fan. I have been reading sci-fi since grade school, where I first discovered Verne's <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty_Thousand_Leagues_Under_the_Sea">20,000 Leagues</a></em>. A double-feature on TV one Saturday afternoon in those same formative years - <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046534/">War of the Worlds</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043456/">The Day the Earth Stood Still</a></em> - introduced me to the wonder of sci-fi on the big screen. Television also has steadily improved its sci-fi offerings with the likes of <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29">Firefly</a></em> and <em><a href="http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/home.html">BSG</a></em>.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">It is thanks to my passion for good sci-fi that I came across a couple of interesting - some might say dichotomous - articles on sound and space. At first glance, you might think - not incorrectly - that sound and space have little in common. This is indeed the gist of </span><a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/2001/ben0105.htm"><span style="font-family:courier new;">the Benford article I came across</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">. However, having recently read (skeptically, at first) about the importance of speed of sound measurements in the study of inflation and the Big Bang, I thought I'd do some googling. Not surprisingly, a man by the name of John Cramer has provided </span><a href="http://staff.washington.edu/seymour/altvw104.html"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this article</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">, complete with a link to a WAV file of what the Big Bang - or perhaps the "Big Moan" may now be more apropos - might sound like if you were able to listen to it over the course of, say, a few hundred thousand years.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Enjoy! 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-56027865299946147692008-05-23T09:36:00.008-05:002008-05-23T10:45:59.185-05:00WHAT?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I came across <u><a href="http://www.arcataeye.com/index.php?module=Pagesetter&tid=2&topic=6&func=viewpub&pid=936&format=full">this article</a></u> today - don't ask me how - that opines on rock / pop / etc. concerts and hearing damage. As an individual that relies on good hearing to feed my family, it goes without saying that I go to great lengths to protect my hearing. And, certainly, concerts can be one of the most dangerous places for a guy like me to visit. If I can help it, I am never without my custom-molded earplugs, especially when attending concerts. (Which, admittedly, is something I do not do very often these days.)</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Nonetheless, I found one of the opinions in the article interesting:</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>"Here is an interesting anomaly: How can musicians put earplugs in their own ears to protect themselves from the decibel damage, yet don’t give a crap about the audience they are assaulting. Perhaps, if they turned down the volume, they wouldn’t need the ear plugs. Or, why not buy up a couple gross of them and hand them out to the audience at the door. Free of charge."</em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">How, indeed? I think it's because "l</span><span style="font-family:courier new;">ouder" is, still, "better" in the ears of many a musician. They believe that louder is what their fans want. And they are not necessarily wrong. The reason the average teen / young adult won't turn it down has been shown to be directly related to the adrenaline rush one gets from listening to loud music. Turn the amps down and there's no more adrenaline rush and most youths will think it just doesn't sound as good. Ridiculous? Perhaps. But that's reality.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">A story I like to tell folks along these lines is about to two drastically different concert-going experiences of mine. On the eve of the almost-millennium (12/31/99 - don't get me started on that whole business), I attended the <a href="http://www2.mellencamp.com/">John Mellencamp</a> concert at <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conseco_Fieldhouse">Conseco Fieldhouse</a></em> in Indy. Loud does not even begin to describe it. The concert itself was very enjoyable. I grew up on Mellencamp and he managed to pack in all his hits (= my favs) into about 2 hours - right through midnight, in fact. But, my word, I have experienced very few concerts that were that loud in my life. Were it not for my earplugs, I would have departed before the end of the first song.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Contrastingly, I got to see <a href="http://www.toriamos.com/">Tori Amos</a> play at <em><a href="http://www.louisvillepalace.com/gallery/">The Palace</a></em> down in Louisville, KY. When the lights went down, I donned my plugs in anticipation of the aural assault. Much to my delight, Tori started singing and <em>I couldn't hear the vocals</em>. Removing my plugs, I estimated the sound level of the concert to be about 75 dBA or so. (And I was sitting in the 11th or 12th row, slightly stage-left.) Needless to say, it was one of the most enjoyable concerts I have ever attended.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Getting back to the point, I wonder, what are the musicians' or venue's responsibilities when it comes to protecting the hearing of fans / concert-goers? Most rock concerts are going to be around 100 dBA on average. Most fans are going to be there for, say, 2-3 hours. From an <em><a href="http://www.osha.gov/">OSHA</a></em> perspective, that's marginal in terms of potential hearing damage. (<em>OSHA</em> suggests 2 hours or less at 100 dBA.) But <em>OSHA</em>'s role is to protect <em>workers</em> for hearing damage. By <em>OSHA</em> standards, the musician <em>must</em> wear hearing protection because he/she is <em>working</em>. Same for roadies, FOH staff, ushers, security, vending personnel, etc.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">But fans make a conscious decision to be there. They pay for tickets and attend at their own volition. Thus, I would argue that it is neither the responsibility of the musicians, nor of the concert venue to supply hearing protection. If they did, that would certainly be a considerate thing to do. But they are not <em>obligated</em>.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Earplugs are cheap. If the concert-goer is truly concerned about their hearing, <strong>BYOE</strong> should be their standard M.O. It is for me. If musicians and / or concert venues wish to go the extra mile to protect their patrons, all the better.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">But going to the concert in the first place is a personal choice. I think it would be far better to focus on educating the public on how they can inadvertently damage their hearing. In reality, if earplugs were handed out at the entrance to a concert, an overwhelming majority of the polyurethane nuggets would wind up in the nearest trash can. People just don't understand. Earplugs have a stigma attached to them. A couple, in fact:</span></div><ol><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">If I wear earplugs I won't be hearing the show, so I won't be getting my money's worth.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Earplugs are for wussies who can't handle a little loud music.</span></div></li></ol><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Neither of these are true. But most people are simply ignorant about it. If we can help people understand that:</span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Just because it doesn't hurt doesn't mean there isn't damage - <u>quite probably permanent and irreversible damage</u> - being done,</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">The ringing in your ears that is still there at lunchtime the next day is <em>not</em> a good thing (certainly not a badge of pride, by any stretch),</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Wearing earplugs when you're 22 is a whole lot cooler than wearing hearing aids when you're 40,</span></div></li></ul><p align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">and, perhaps most importantly to some,</span></p><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">You can actually hear the concert <em>better</em> when you're wearing earplugs,</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">then I think handing earplugs out at the door would make a lot more sense.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Of course, another approach would be for musicians to embrace the entire concept of handing out free earplugs...and printing their logo and website address on each one. It would certainly give some artists the necessary incentive.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">Now, <em>there's</em> a million-dollar idea... 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-73380840330717609502008-05-14T15:25:00.009-05:002008-05-14T15:32:33.227-05:00Architects and Sound - Part the Third<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Continuing on a previous theme, <a href="http://www.proavmagazine.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1618&articleID=699207">here's another little piece from ProAV</a> that is delving into the "us vs. them" of acousticians and architects.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Courier New;">We've been seeing <a href="http://10xtheblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/architects-and-sound.html">quite</a> a <a href="http://10xtheblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/architects-and-sound-part-deux.html">bit</a> of this recently. Perhaps we'll all start to get along with each other in the near future? 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18631760.post-71924595453996703072008-04-16T11:43:00.004-05:002008-04-16T12:00:25.005-05:00Obsolescence in Acoustics<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Read about </span><a href="http://obsoleteskills.com/"><span style="font-family:courier new;">this site</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;"> in today's paper. Got me to thinking about skills in my profession that are now becoming, or have become, obsolete. Among them:</span></div><ul><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Using sound level meters with analog (needle) displays (though </span><a href="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103668&cp=&sr=1&origkw=analog+sound+level+meter&kw=analog+sound+level+meter&parentPage=search"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><em>Radio Shack</em> still sells one</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">).</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Using special protractors and level recorder chart strips to determine reverberation time from impulse response recordings.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Using a starter's pistol, a large balloon, or two 2x4s to generate the aforementioned impulse responses.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Printing drawings on vellum to create bona fide <strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">blue</span></strong> blueprints. (I do miss the smell of ammonia around the office...)</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Changing pens in a pen plotter.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Editing reel-to-reel tapes with a razor blade and some Scotch tape.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Attaching filter sets to sound level meters to measure octave-band sound levels.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Writing acoustical "modeling" and analysis programs in BASIC or Fortran.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Amassing hard copies of <em><a href="http://scitation.aip.org/journals/doc/ASALIB-home/jrnls/top.jsp?key=JASMAN">JASA</a></em>.</span></div></li><li><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">Measuring relative humidity with a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Sling_psychrometer.JPG"><span style="font-family:courier new;">sling psychrometer</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">.</span></div></li></ul><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:courier new;">I'm sure I'll think of more! 8^D</span></div>Savanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13535396200050340965noreply@blogger.com0