Lab Write Ups For Group 1

Ethan Fonarev, Mateo Eusebio, Diego Gutierrez,

and Daniel Bazikian

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Table of Contents

Abstract 3

Experiment 1: Transactional Coding

Experiment 2: Download Tests 7

Experiment 3: Sound Quality 10

Discussion Section 12

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Abstract
The purpose of the experiments we have conducted is to test the general functionality of
our website and our product. We conducted 3 experiments in total; 2 having to do with our
website and software engineering, and 1 being more geared towards sound engineering and
our actual product. The first experiment was testing the transaction function/code of our website.
This helps us to know how efficient our transactional system is, and to allow users to buy
products from us. The second experiment tested our websites downloads. This ensures that
conversion and downloading from our website will not reduce the actual quality of our product.
The final experiment was sound related, and had us test different levels of volume, gain, and
other aspects of the mixing process. This helps us determine the settings necessary to make
our product sound good.

Transactional coding

Analysis:

In order to actually yield profit from our product, we must first figure out
how monetary transactions would occur, involving an exchange of money for
digital information. This aspect is crucial to our project because this is not only
how we make a profit, but also how we distribute our product safely.

Hypothesis

All methods of payment will be successful.

Once again, we are not testing for a calculable quantity. We are testing
for a condition. This condition will be the confirmation of payment through VISA
and Paypal, our two principal forms of transactional functions on the website.

Independent Variable: The transaction service used.

Dependent Variable: The success of the transaction.

Control: This experiment will not have a control because we are trying to confirm
a condition. Without an ideal example in our own code, we have to create and
test for this condition on our own.

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 Materials Required:

-Computer
-Stable Internet Connection
-Standard Python Console
-Paypal Account
-VISA Account
-$25.00

Procedure:

1. Create a mock product on the shop page.

2. Encode a link to the button on the product that transfers information to the
shopping cart page
3. Encode a link to the checkout page on the checkout button
4. Add item to cart
5. Analyze checkout page and see if:
a. Price is listed
b. Price is calculated
c. Checkout is available
6. Checkout the item
7. Check checkout page for VISA and Paypal options
8. Checkout the product through either method
9. Repeat steps 1-8 for alternative method

Detailed Drawings:

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Results:

Below are the table results for our tests on specific functions that we wanted to have on our
website.

Add-To Cart Function Remove From Cart Function

$1.00 Mock (Sound_1) Success Success

$5.00 Mock (Sound_2) Success Success

$20.00 Mock (Sound_3) Success Success

Below are the results for the transactions of varying amounts through use of VISA and Paypal in
our store.

Account Purchase VISA Paypal

$1.00 (Sound_1) Success Success

$5.00 (Sound_2) Success Success

$20.00 (Sound_3) Success Success

Code:

class Item:
def __init__(self, name, price):
self.name = name
self.price = price

def getPrice(self):
return self.price

def getName(self):
return self.name

class Cart:
def __init__(self, list):
self.list = []

def addItem(self, item):

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 self.list.append(self.list)

def getTotal(self):
total = 0
for item in self.list:
name, price = item # or price = item[1]
total = total + price

def getNumItems(self):
count = 0 for c in range(self.list): count = self.list + 1 return count

def removeItem(self, item) #removes the item from the cart's item list

def main():
item1 = Item("Sound1", .69)
item2 = Item("Sound2", 2.39)
item3 = Item("Sound3", .99)
c = Cart() c.addItem(item1)
c.addItem(item2)
c.addItem(item3)
print "You have %i items in your cart for a total of $%.02f" %(c.getNumItems(),
c.getTotal())
c.removeItem(item3)
print "You have %i items in your cart for a total of $%.02f" % (c.getNumItems(), c.getTotal())
main()

-Courtesy of Pymbook.com

Conclusion:

If we use the redux platform on Python to facilitate our transactions, then we will be able
to receive payments from customers. During our experiment, we created substitute products
with which to complete various transactions. We used the above code to add these items to the
cart and relied on preset VISA and Paypal transactional systems to complete these purchases.
Across the board, we saw successful transactions and cart functionality procedures. In the case
of a customer, they will be able to take advantage of the system we have set up to complete
purchases. Therefore, the redux platform on Python that we have used will allow us to receive
monetary payments for our product from customers.

Download tests

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Analysis:

We will download sounds in different versions of file formats such as MP3, WAV, and AIFF
Audio with both compressed and uncompressed data consisting of sounds we are selling. This
aspect is necessary to reach as large of an audience as possible.

The above graph shows the total shipment of computers throughout the world based on
operating systems. As shown, Windows operating systems dominate the market with
Apple (OS X) far behind in its second place spot.
However, despite Windows’ sale supremacy, many people have said that they actually
prefer OS X to Windows. In a study by jamf.com, researchers asked thousands of
students across five countries which kind of computer they preferred. 71% of students
said that they’d rather use a Mac. This is significant because our target demographic is
primarily students who want to make music.
Despite the overwhelming majority of Windows shipments, a statistical error must be
understood. The above graph shows a total shipment of computers across the world.
The above statistics don’t take into account the reasons for shipment which might
involve miscellaneous reasons such as military, federal, business, IT, or other kinds of
uses. This means that our current demographic may very well be much more various in
the operating systems that customers have (OS X and Windows being the two leaders).

In conclusion, it means that making sure that our product is compatible with all kinds of
operating systems is crucial to extend ourselves to as large an audience as possible,
aligning with our 33% weighted goal of accessibility in our product.

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Hypothesis:

All audio files will retain the same file size (bytes) after file conversion.

We will calculate and document the file size because we want all files across every
system to be a similar size to one another while retaining the quality. The same kind of
file size and quality reflects a proper conversion.

Independent Variable: The file’s format.

Dependent Variable: The size of the file.

Control: The starting file that we will convert.

Materials Required:

-Mac Computer
-Windows Computer
-Chromebook
-Stable Internet Connection
-Audio Recording Device
-Audio File Format Converter: This will allow us to convert audio files into different
formats that are compatible with different operating systems such as Mac/Windows/Linux.

Procedure:

1. Record a set of basic audio clips

2. Upload the Django redux program to the website (function explained in experiment 1)
3. Upload the audio clips to the website
4. From a Mac Computer, download the audio file and see if the file is compatible with the
system
5. Repeat steps 1-4 with the Chromebook and Windows computers
6. For the incompatible computers, convert the downloaded files to a compatible format
and upload them to the website.
7. Clear all systems of those files and download them again
8. Integrate each file into each OS’s respective music production program and document
the quality of the sound.
9. Document the file sizes of each sound.

Results

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Byte Size MP3 WAV AIFF

Sound Clip 1 715 KB 5.11 MB 5.11 MB

(https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?
v=ApjngIHXPFI)

Sound Clip 2 162 KB 1.14 MB 588.05 KB

(https://www.yout
ube.com/watch?
v=k3Sc0XKJUpw)

Conclusion:
MP3s are smaller than WAV and AIF files because they are compressed using
lossy compression. Lossy compression means that some information is lost when the
files are made smaller. High-quality MP3s are less compressed; therefore, they discard
less data, but they are usually larger in size than lower-quality MP3s. We converted our
youtube audio clip to a lossless MP3(meaning it didn’t decrease in quality), and then
converted the MP3’s to the WAV and AIFF which among MP3 are the most popular file
formats for audio in the music production industry. Our website will allow access for one
to convert the audio to the format of their choice but we will indicate the one that takes
the least data while still being lossless. Our MP3 conversion will be of higher quality
than most but if audio quality is the biggest priority users can go with other forms of file
formats which take up more bytes.

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Volume and Tone Management Test

Analysis - In this test we will study the effects of volume and gain increase on audio tracks. To
do this we will take multiple sounds (guitar,keyboards,FX,etc.) and manipulate track and amp
volume/gain. Using the data collected from this test, we will best determine standard volume
output and mixing necessary for our final product.
Hypothesis - When audio undergoes gain and volume increase, sound quality will diminish.
Independent Variables
● Gain increase/decrease
● Volume increase/decrease
● Headspace change under single track volume increase/decrease
● Headspace change under master/stereo-out volume increase/decrease
Dependent Variables
● Audio overloading
● Sound purity diminishing
● Audio corruption
Control
● Microphone used
● Distance between mic and instrument
● Input selection
Materials Required
● Microphone
● Various instruments
● DAW
Procedure
1. We start by creating multiple tracks (about 6-8) which will house the audio that will be
tested later
2. Run pre-test analysis of workstation to make sure there aren’t any discrepancies in
baseline volume+EQ
a. Once volume+EQ equality is confirmed between all tracks, testing can begin
3. Start by increasing the gain to about “5” on the amplifiers of each track
4. Play the length of all audio in tracks and analyze peak levels (document any overloading
of headspace or volume neutrality)
5. Bring gain to “10” and repeat step 4
6. Finally, open Master EQ and play the length of audio in tracks. Note peaking and
placement of sound waves to determine tonal purity.
Results
● Upon completion of Step 3 peak level went to -3.7
○ No notable overloading - volume neutrality undisturbed
● After completing Step 5 there was a noticeable difference when gain was put to max.
Peak level reached 1.3, surpassing the level 5 gain test. After analysis in the Master EQ,
large peaks were seen from 75 - 100Hz.
●

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Conclusion
When audio undergoes gain and volume increase, sound will diminish. For this
experiment, we created tracks to house audio to conduct the experiment. We then adjusted to
gain to 5 and 10 in multiple trials to see if this hypothesis proved true. After conducting the 5
gain experiment, the results showed there to be no notable overloading and the volume
neutrality was undisturbed. The peak level went to -3.7. When the gain was turned up to 10, the
peak level increased noticeably, to 1.3. This means that our hypothesis proved to be true. From
these results, we gathered that gain should probably remain around 5 or lower, as to not lower
the sound quality more than it needs to be.

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Discussion Section:

Overall, we can confidently conclude that our product is viable and fits the necessary
specifications that we demand from it. After an arduous series of tests and test plan setups, we
have achieved the results necessary to consider this product viable. Before we began the
evaluation of our ideas, we have deduced that the two core aspects of interest for us are the
accessibility of the product and its marketability.

Accessibility pertains primarily to the ability for an inexperienced consumer to properly and
reliably engage with our product without trouble or fail. It also pertains to the customer’s ability
to acquire this product monetarily without much financial risk or strain. Overall, accessibility
relates to the product’s ease of use and a reasonable price.

Marketability pertains primarily to the uniqueness, interest, and direct catering to our market.
Without it, we cannot sell our product and turn a profit. Marketability involves aspects such as
how unique the product is. If it isn’t unique, we can’t set ourselves apart from our competitors. If
it isn’t interesting, no one will look into it. If it doesn’t cater to our market, no one will buy it. In
reviewing much of what we have already completed with our tests, it is clear that our product
can hit these two pillars of interest.

Overall, our final product will be a digital service that sells sound online through our website.
The website will contain an online store page through which customers can purchase the
sounds they want. They can purchase these sounds either in complete packs or in individual
files. The sounds will be quite cheap and involve a VISA or PayPal method of transaction with
which our customers can make the final purchase.

This aspect pertains directly to the first experiment that we performed; that experiment of
interest being the Transactional Coding experiment. The Transactional Coding Experiment was
completed and tested above, and it details our process of coding using the Django Python redux
coding program that has allowed us to create a tangible connection between our website and
transactional service providers such as VISA and PayPal. The success of this experiment
indicates that transactions can be made, therefore, enabling us to set a reasonable and
accessible price for our product. This fits into our pillar of accessibility.

The next experiment had to do with Download Tests experiments. This experiment of focus
involved the downloading of different audio formatted files on different operating systems. The
success of our downloads and the maintaining of similar-sized audio files in bytes, kilobytes,
and megabytes allowed us to prove that we are able to easily and reliably provide our service
through a digital medium with no cost or drawback in product quality. This also fits into our pillar
of accessibility.

The final experiment affirmed the reliability of our product and its marketability because the final
experiment involved testing sound quality. The sound quality of our sounds produced is strong
and of high quality, making it comparable to other competitors on the market that we are

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against. This is important because this allows us to provide a high quality product that is
comparable to our competitors, meaning that many people will go ahead and buy it.

Furthermore, taking into consideration the other experiments, we have a product that is
accessible because it is sold on a digital market space (95% of our sample size from the survey
said they own computers meaning that a majority of people can buy our product) and also our
product is of high quality and good price. This is also affirmed by our ability to set prices and sell
our product via PayPal and VISA and also by the easy downloads from our other test.

In conclusion, our product is more than viable and a strong competitor in the market.

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