sound intensity measurement -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:sound intensity measurement Posted by: zmender Date:11/10/2002 8:15:06 PM Hello, For a school project, I have to measure the sound intesnty of our environment. Deciblemeters are expensive; but our computer lab happens to be equiped with Sound Forge. I have never used SoundForge before, thus i wonder is it possible, and how to measure sound intensity with Sound Forge? Any help would be greatly appricated.
Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement Reply by: Chienworks Date:11/11/2002 6:30:52 AM I would think not. All Sound Forge can show you is the relative level of the signal it receives against an arbitrary "zero decibel" level. This signal strenth is dependant upon many uncalibrated items: the sensitivity of the microphone you use, the gain of the preamp, the sensitivity of the sound card, Window's mixer volume control settings, etc. You can get a semi-decent analog sound meter at RadioShack for about $30. We use one of these for checking sound levels around our plant and both OSHA and our insurance company technicians aproved it for that use. It's not spot-on accurate, but testing indicates it's usually within a dB or two.
Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement Reply by: zmender Date:11/11/2002 5:26:59 PM but if I were to compare the the result of Sound Forge to a decible meter, I guess i can "calibrate" the sound forge
Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement Reply by: Chienworks Date:11/11/2002 8:06:23 PM Only if in the future you use the same mic, the same preamp gain, the same mixer volume control settings, etc. so you'd better write all that down too. And if you use a directional mic, you'll have to be very careful to point it in exactly the same direction each time.

Subject:sound intensity measurement

Posted by: zmender

Date:11/10/2002 8:15:06 PM

Hello,

For a school project, I have to measure the sound intesnty of our environment.

Deciblemeters are expensive; but our computer lab happens to be equiped with Sound Forge.

I have never used SoundForge before, thus i wonder is it possible, and how to measure sound intensity with Sound Forge?

Any help would be greatly appricated.

Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:11/11/2002 6:30:52 AM

I would think not. All Sound Forge can show you is the relative level of the signal it receives against an arbitrary "zero decibel" level. This signal strenth is dependant upon many uncalibrated items: the sensitivity of the microphone you use, the gain of the preamp, the sensitivity of the sound card, Window's mixer volume control settings, etc.

You can get a semi-decent analog sound meter at RadioShack for about $30. We use one of these for checking sound levels around our plant and both OSHA and our insurance company technicians aproved it for that use. It's not spot-on accurate, but testing indicates it's usually within a dB or two.

Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement

Reply by: zmender

Date:11/11/2002 5:26:59 PM

but if I were to compare the the result of Sound Forge to a decible meter, I guess i can "calibrate" the sound forge

Subject:RE: sound intensity measurement

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:11/11/2002 8:06:23 PM

Only if in the future you use the same mic, the same preamp gain, the same mixer volume control settings, etc. so you'd better write all that down too. And if you use a directional mic, you'll have to be very careful to point it in exactly the same direction each time.