10 * bLog (p²)

Careful Where You Put That Probe, Officer...

2009-06-10T18:16:00.004-05:00

"(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."

With my curiosity sufficiently piqued by this measurement procedure, I looked up the Mansfield (OH) city code, which states the following regarding vehicular noise emissions:

"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."

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!

Acoustical Miscellany

2009-04-24T09:29:00.002-05:00

Some bits and bobs for this week / month:

Those amongst you with a penchant for sci-fi may be familiar with the steampunk subgenre. I'm not a huge fan of steampunk, but I have to admit that I hold a special place in my heart for The Wild Wild West TV show from the '60s. How does this relate to acoustics? Well, a new online steampunk publication, Steampunk Magazine, provides issues for free download. The first issue (PDF) 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.

*~*~*~*~*

Colleague Jeffrey Fullerton, of Acentech, writes for The Journal of New England Technology about considering acoustics during the meeting planning process. Excellent advice.

*~*~*~*~*

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. The article doesn't go into much detail on the how, 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 one of these). This would save considerable time poring over drawings and inputting data points by hand.

*~*~*~*~*

Finally, don't forget next Wednesday (29 April 2009) is International Noise Awareness Day. Do your part to help spread the quiet! 8^)

Best Public Service Announcements...Ever.

2009-04-13T20:39:00.001-05:00

http://www.turnitdown.ca/

HIL.AR.I.OUS.

Today, I love the Canadians. :)

Today's Forecast: Partly Sunny, Calm, 48°F...and 53 dBA???

2009-02-23T09:51:00.003-06:00

I couldn't help but moan when I came across this column in the (Chicago) Daily Herald. All in all, pretty decent advice. But what is particularly irksome is this statement:

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.

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 wrong 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.

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 controllable 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.

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. :)

President Jack Hammer

2009-01-29T12:48:00.002-06:00

A colleague forwarded this piece to me courtesy of The Onion. 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 change to noise control regulations in the U.S. You never know...

Forensic AUDIO

2009-01-27T09:33:00.004-06:00

Shows of the CSI: variety often feature forensic audio 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 I've blogged about it before, albeit indirectly.)

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 "Trouble in Chinatown" episode of CBS' Numb3rs 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.

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 audio. (I realize this probably seems petty. But still.)

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

An Interesting Contrast

2009-01-17T09:57:00.002-06:00

I've been trying out Google'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:

Lake Havasu City is considering a new noise ordinance that would limit nighttime noise in residential areas to 55 dBA.

Perhaps the Lake Havasu City folks should consider talking to residents in the Dongjak District of Seoul, South Korea. Apparently, they claim they cannot open their windows at night because of 55 dBA sound levels outside.

I'm not sayin'...I'm just sayin'...

:^?

Barry & Napalm | Sheldon & the Sweet Spot

2008-11-26T09:51:00.004-06:00

Two nuggets today:

A creative judge in Colorado sentences noise ordinance violators to listen to "The Copacabana" and other smash hits. This cracks me up. If Judge Sacco is taking requests, I think he'd have good results exposing certain violators to some Napalm Death. 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 Samantha Fox. (Watch out for the volume on that link. Apparently Samantha is LOOKING FOR A MIDNIGHT LOVER and, of course, there is no mute button.)

************

One of my favorite TV shows, The Big Bang Theory, provided some great acoustical geek humor on Monday night. The "White Asparagus Triangulation" episode 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

Sonar, Musical Instruments, and Color Schemes (oh my?)

2008-11-13T16:44:00.003-06:00

Some stuff for (almost) the end of the week:

• Wired magazine blog about futuristic musical instruments. Didn't Jean Michel Jarre play lasers - or columns of light, at least - back in the '80s?

• U.S. Supreme Court rules for Navy re sonar use. This is one of those issues that I can't help but be on the fence about...

• Finally, Sound and Vibration magazine 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, S&V 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:

256² give you the number of possible schemes.
Less 256 to remove the schemes that would result in the same color for the title and background.
Answer: 65,280 possible color schemes.

At 12 issues per year, we are guaranteed a unique color scheme on every new issue of S&V 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

Common Denominator

2008-09-30T08:27:00.003-05:00

Got forwarded this article today. It seemed to me that I'd read a similar article before somewhere. So, The Boss 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 Super Bowl!

How do you like your entertainment?

2008-09-19T13:47:00.007-05:00

Loud, quiet, still, or subliminal / creepy / in-your-ears/head?

Whatever your preference, did you know that you can now measure it with your iPhone?

Amorous Aural Arousal

2008-09-08T09:08:00.004-05:00

One of my favorite bloggers is Scott Adams, the Dilbert cartoonist. His blog today crosses over into the world of audio, tongue planted firmly in cheek. Check it out; I have no doubt that this presents a potentially lucrative business opportunity for some savvy studio / foley guru! 8^D

ThinkGeek Plug

2008-08-13T17:18:00.002-05:00

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, ThinkGeek.com. The miniSavants were oh-so-very good to DaddySavant this year for Father's Day: The binary clock has earned a feature spot on one of my cubicle shelves, squarely between my Bob Uecker bobblehead and my rack of Noise News International back issues.

I would strongly encourage those among you who have zeroes and ones in your blood and every episode of Dr. Who 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 )

Sad but Probably True

2008-08-07T15:56:00.002-05:00

Got this link today from a colleague. A bit morbid and over-the-top (I hope), but the message (sadly) rings true.

Enjoy. :)

Conference Cost Blues

2008-08-01T16:57:00.003-05:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

Most importantly, the rooms were not any better or worse at my medium-budget hotel than they were next door.

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...

The Alchemist

2008-07-08T17:36:00.002-05:00

If you're an iTunes junkie -- closet or otherwise -- it may interest you to know that the audio version of one of my favorite books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, is available for free download. 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 iTunes and Coelho are offering this as a freebie. Unabridged. And read by Jeremy Irons.

Sometimes the Internet is a happy place... 8^D

The Big Moan

2008-06-06T12:59:00.002-05:00

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 20,000 Leagues. A double-feature on TV one Saturday afternoon in those same formative years - War of the Worlds and The Day the Earth Stood Still - 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 Firefly and BSG.

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 the Benford article I came across. 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 this article, 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.

Enjoy! 8^D

WHAT?

2008-05-23T09:36:00.008-05:00

I came across this article 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.)

Nonetheless, I found one of the opinions in the article interesting:

"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."

How, indeed? I think it's because "louder" 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.

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 John Mellencamp concert at Conseco Fieldhouse 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.

Contrastingly, I got to see Tori Amos play at The Palace 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 I couldn't hear the vocals. 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.

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 OSHA perspective, that's marginal in terms of potential hearing damage. (OSHA suggests 2 hours or less at 100 dBA.) But OSHA's role is to protect workers for hearing damage. By OSHA standards, the musician must wear hearing protection because he/she is working. Same for roadies, FOH staff, ushers, security, vending personnel, etc.

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 obligated.

Earplugs are cheap. If the concert-goer is truly concerned about their hearing, BYOE 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.

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:

If I wear earplugs I won't be hearing the show, so I won't be getting my money's worth.
Earplugs are for wussies who can't handle a little loud music.

Neither of these are true. But most people are simply ignorant about it. If we can help people understand that:

Just because it doesn't hurt doesn't mean there isn't damage - quite probably permanent and irreversible damage - being done,
The ringing in your ears that is still there at lunchtime the next day is not a good thing (certainly not a badge of pride, by any stretch),
Wearing earplugs when you're 22 is a whole lot cooler than wearing hearing aids when you're 40,

and, perhaps most importantly to some,

You can actually hear the concert better when you're wearing earplugs,

then I think handing earplugs out at the door would make a lot more sense.

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.

Now, there's a million-dollar idea... 8^D

Architects and Sound - Part the Third

2008-05-14T15:25:00.009-05:00

Continuing on a previous theme, here's another little piece from ProAV that is delving into the "us vs. them" of acousticians and architects.

We've been seeing quite a bit of this recently. Perhaps we'll all start to get along with each other in the near future? 8^D

Obsolescence in Acoustics

2008-04-16T11:43:00.004-05:00

Read about this site in today's paper. Got me to thinking about skills in my profession that are now becoming, or have become, obsolete. Among them:

Using sound level meters with analog (needle) displays (though Radio Shack still sells one).
Using special protractors and level recorder chart strips to determine reverberation time from impulse response recordings.
Using a starter's pistol, a large balloon, or two 2x4s to generate the aforementioned impulse responses.
Printing drawings on vellum to create bona fide blue blueprints. (I do miss the smell of ammonia around the office...)
Changing pens in a pen plotter.
Editing reel-to-reel tapes with a razor blade and some Scotch tape.
Attaching filter sets to sound level meters to measure octave-band sound levels.
Writing acoustical "modeling" and analysis programs in BASIC or Fortran.
Amassing hard copies of JASA.
Measuring relative humidity with a sling psychrometer.

I'm sure I'll think of more! 8^D

Local Bookstore Plug - The Book Bank

2008-04-11T11:45:00.007-05:00

When I travel - for business or pleasure - I try to find "the local bookstore." I'm not talking about the Borders or B&Ns. Not even the "half price" chains. I'm talking about the little hole-in-the-wall places that have books stacked to the ceiling; boxes of books that in any other store would be tripping hazards; books stacked two or three deep on a shelf.

I'm talking about the bookstores where the proprietors are behind the counter reading Faulkner or Joyce while their 17-year-old tabby sits on a stool in the Biography section.

I'm talking about the bookstores where, when you approach the counter with a rare (but not valuable) paperback copy of Asimov's The Gods Themselves priced at $1.50, the same proprietor compliments you on a fantastic find.

These bookstores have a personality. The smell of old paper. The coziness of 14-inch wide aisles. The low hum of traffic outside the only reminder that you haven't died and gone to book nerd heaven.

My latest find was on a recent trip out east. If you're ever in Alexandria, Virginia, I recommend you look up the Book Bank on King Street (just down the street from the national headquarters of the NSPE). Great selection of titles and wonderful prices. Not to mention the "local bookstore" atmosphere that is becoming increasingly difficult to track down in the Information Age.

Happy reading... 8^D

Happy April 1

2008-04-01T17:38:00.002-05:00

My favorite has to be #7.

If anyone has any good audio or acoustics related April Fool's Day pranks, let me know!!!

Just in time for Easter, Studiotips rises...

2008-03-20T18:32:00.003-05:00

Fortunately - this time - a misunderstanding. Disaster averted. Savant is glad to have his e-home back. And very relieved... 8^D

Happy Birthday, Pa Bell!

2008-03-03T12:48:00.002-06:00

Alexander Graham Bell, b. March 3, 1847.

From one of my favorite Family Guy episodes:

Alexander Graham Bell: Well, we did it Watson. What an afternoon. We finally perfected the first telephone.

Thomas Watson: Yeah, uh, hey listen, somebody called me today. Uh, whoever it was, said some very sexual things, very angry, sexual things.

Alexander Graham Bell: Oh, really? Probably just some teenagers somewhere... damn them.

Thomas Watson: Well, well that's, that's the thing. I mean, there's, there's only two phones, in the, well, in the world and one of them is in my office and the other one is in your office and those two didn't even exist until a few hours ago.

Alexander Graham Bell: Yikes, I could use a distraction right now.

Maybe a less-than-tasteful tribute, but humurous nonetheless (IMO)... :D

Douglas Coupland

2008-02-23T08:00:00.002-06:00

I believe Douglas Coupland is probably the greatest author of my generation - certainly my favorite born in the last 50 years. My wife and I just got through reading his latest book, The Gum Thief, and it's absolutely brilliant. His two best books, in my estimation, are All Families are Psychotic and jPod. The latter is now a TV series in Canada. If you're lucky enough to be a Canadian resident, you can watch the first few episodes here.

Noteworthy aside: When my wife and I figured out that only Canadians can watch Canadian TV shows on the Internet - duh! - we soon figured out that we're closer (driving distance) to Winnipeg than we are to New Orleans. Who says Kansas is in the middle of nowhere? Thus, it looks like we'll be doing a road trip when jPod comes out on DVD!!! 8^D

Anyway, if you are a bonafide Gen-Xer, I am willing to bet you will thoroughly enjoy Coupland's work. Happy reading!