Broadcast Engineering and Acoustics Sound engineers work with composers and

produce sound recordings for film, TV etc.

ECET6-M
What is Acoustics?
 Came from the Greek word AKOUEIN which
means "to hear"
 Branch of Physics that study sound or sound
waves in gases, liquids, and solids.
 A general term used for the science of sound
that includes the study of its generation,
production, transmission/propagation, and
effects
 Defined as the generation, transmission,
reception, of energy in the form of vibrational
waves in matter.
Difference of Acoustician & Acoustical Engineer
Acoustician is a scientist that works in the fields of
acoustics
Acoustical Engineer person with Acoustical
Engineering degree and is practicing in that field
Note: The distinction between Audio Engineer and
Sound Engineer are subtle. The skills, knowledge
and many of the job duties and responsibilities
overlap. Both are involved in the production of
good music.
Divisions of Acoustics
I. Aero acoustics — the study of aerodynamic
sound. It has particular application to aeronautics.
Study of sound made by flying jets and the physics
of shock waves
2. Bioacoustics — study of use of sound by animals
such as whales, dolphins, and bats
3. Biomedical Acoustics — study of the use of
sound in medicine (ultrasound for diagnostic and
therapeutic purposes)
4. Environmental Noise — study of the sound
propagation in the human environment, noise
health effect, and noise mitigation analysis

Acoustical Engineering application of acoustics in 5. Psychological acoustics — study of how people

technology react to sound, hearing, perception, and
localization
Note: in the Philippines, there is NO such degree
offered by schools and universities, but acoustics is
iust one of the subjects in BSECE curriculum. There
are often much overlapping and interaction
between the interests of acousticians and
acoustical engineers.

Difference of Audio Engineer with Sound Engineer

Audio Engineer covers all aspects of audio

application
Sound Engineer also known as Sound Designer.
Covers a specific job of designing — sounds for
films, games, television, etc.
6. Physiological Acoustics —the study of the
mechanical, electrical and biochemical function of
hearing in living organisms
7. Physical Acoustics — the study of the detailed
interaction of sound with materials and fluids son
luminescence (light from sound) thermo acoustics
(interaction of sound and heat)
8. Speech Communication — study of how speech
is produced, the analysis of speech signals, and
properties of speech transmission, storage,
recognition, and enhancement (Ventriloquist)
9. Structural acoustics & Vibration — study of how
sound and mechanical structure interacts sample:
transmission of sound through walls and the
radiation of sound through vehicle panels
10. Transduction — study of how sound is
generated and measured by loudspeakers,
microphones, sonar projectors, hydrophones, and
sensors
11. Ultrasonic — study of high frequency sound
beyond the range of human hearing
12. Musical Acoustics — study of physics of
musical instruments
13. Underwater Acoustics — study of the
propagation of sound in the oceans (SONAR)
14. Architectural Acoustics — study of how sound
and buildings interact including the behavior of
sound in concert halls, auditoriums, office building,
factories, and homes.
Architectural Acoustics
Definition:
A special branch of science that deals with the
construction of enclosed areas so as to enhance
the hearing of wanted sounds: SPEECH or MUSIC
Wallace Clement Sabine — father of Architectural
Acoustics
Significant Events
1868 in June 13 Wallace Clement Sabine was born.
He was an American Acoustical Physicist
1895 He was asked to improve the acoustics of the
lecture hall in the new Fogg Museum in Harvard
Immediately thereafter, he was asked to inspect
Boston Music Hall
1900 Completion of Boston Music Hall
1919 Sabine's death
1922 Various papers written by Sabine were
published entitled Collected Paper on Acoustics
Fundamentals of Acoustics
Definition of Sound
 A sensation of acoustical waves.
 A physical phenomenon that stimulates the
sense of hearing.
 It is an aural sensation caused by pressure
fluctuations.
 A pressure wave that propagates through air
with a speed of approximately 300m/s.
 An elemental that provides all sorts of
COGNITIVE & AFFECTIVE information.
Note:
Cognitive Information — related to mental
processes of knowledge, reasoning, memory &
judgment.
Affective Information — related to emotion,
feelings, and mood.
How does SOUND produce? Sound Propagation

1. Through series of pressure variation in an elastic  The molecular transfer of motional energy.
medium.  Sound travels by vibrating the particles in the
medium so that they bump into each other.
2. When a slight variation in air pressure which  Hence, sound cannot pass through vacuum
propagates within the surroundings of its source
Attributes of SOUND
Examples of sound:
a.) Pitch
1. Harmonious tones b.) Timbre
2. Bangs c.) Loudness
3. Noise d.) Duration
4. Crackings
5. Speech PITCH

Types of Sound  Highness of lowness of musical tone as

determine by the rapidity of the vibrations
a.) Wanted Sound (speech, music) producing it
 MEL is the unit of pitch
b.) Unwanted Sound (NOISE)
 Human hearing range is from 20Hz up to 20KHz
Speech is the most conveyor of information
Audio Spectrum
whether cognitive or affective.
Frequency Range Frequency Values
Music also delivers information but limited only. Sub- bass 20 to 60 Hz
Bass 60 to 250 Hz
Noise contains NO information at all making it
Low Midrange 250 to 500 Hz
unwanted or undesired, and should be minimized
Midrange 500 Hz to 2 kHz
to avoid its interfering effect. Upper Midrange 2 to 4kHz
Presence 4 to 6 kHz
Classes of SPEECH
Brilliance 6 to 20 kHz
1) Voiced Speech
2) Unvoiced Speech TIMBRE
3) Plosive Speech The texture or color of a sound - a quality of a
sound that distinguishes it from others of the same
Voiced Speech — produced when our vocal cord pitch or volume
vibrate as a result of our lungs generating sufficient
pressure to open our vocal folds. LOUDNESS
The human impression of the strength of a sound
Unvoiced Speech — refers to the period of time Loudness Level is measured by the sound pressure
when our vocal folds are normally open, a owing level (SPL) Of a pure tone (1000 Hz) Of specified
frequency which is assessed by normal observers
air to pass from our lungs freely into the rest of our
as being equally loud PHON and SONE are the unit
vocal tract. of loudness level
Plosive Speech — results from the com lete closure
Relationship of Phon and Sone
of our vocal tract, resulting in air pressure coming Phone = 40 = 10 log2 (Sone)
extremely high behind the closure (p, b, t, d, k, g).
Duration 8 = [log 2 ( ]-1
The time interval between its beginning end points Phon = 70 phons
Summary:
Seatwork No. 1
Pitch Frequency
(Phon – Sone Conversion) Convert.
Timbre Tonal quality
Loudness Amplitude
1. 90 phon  sone
Duration Time interval
Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1
Sone= [log 2 ( ]-1
Other Attributes of SOUND Sone = 32 sones
Tempo - speed of a sound (fast or slow tempo)
2. 90 sone phon
Rhythm -relates to the sonic time pattern (simple,
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (Sone)
constant, changing, complex)
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (90)
Attack - the way a sound begins (hard, soft, crisp,
Phon= 104.918531 phons
gradual)
Decay-refers to how fast a sound fades from a
3. 3.14 phon sone
certain loudness (quick, gradual, slow)
Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1
Additional: Sone= [log 2 ( ]-1
2 Types of waves Sone = 0.077696854 sones
 Transverse wave
 Longitudinal 4. 5 sone phon
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (Sone)
Standard Pure Tone Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (5)
 1000 Hz Phon= 63.21928095 phons

COMPUTATION 5. 5 phon sone

Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1
Relationship of Phon and Sone
Phone = 40 = 10 log2 (Sone) Sone= [log 2 ( ]-1
Sone = 0.088388348 sones
Phon= 40+10
6. 3.14 sone phon
Conversion: Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (Sone)
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (3.14)
4 Sone  Phon Phon= 56.50764559 phons
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (4)
Phon= 60 phons 7. 75 phon sone
Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1
Phon= 40+10 Sone= [log 2 ( ]-1
Phon = 60 phons Sone = 11.3137085 sones

8. 7.5 sone phon

8 Sone  Phon Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (Sone)
Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1 Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (7.5)
Phon= 69.06890596 phons
9. 10.01 phon sone
Sone = [log 2 ( ]-1 Uses for RF anechoic chambers include testing
antennas, radars, and is typically used to house the
Sone= [log 2 ( ]-1 antennas for performing measurements
Sone = 0.125086673 sones of antenna radiation patterns, electromagnetic
interference.
10. 10.01 sone phon
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (Sone) Levels of Sound
Phon = 40+ 10 log2 (10.01) Sound Power (W) and Sound Power Level (PWL)
Phon= 73.23370069 phons Sound Intensity (l) and Sound Intensity Level (SIL)
Sound pressure (P) and Sound pressure Level (SPL)
Assignment:
Sound Power (W) and Sound Power Level (PWL)
Anechoic Chamber
General Solution:
An anechoic chamber (an-echoic meaning "non-
reflective, non-echoing, echo-free") is a room designed PWLdB= 10 log
to completely absorb reflections of W = Acoustic Power, Watts
either sound or electromagnetic waves. They are also Wo =Reference Acoustics Power, 10-12 W
often isolated from waves entering from their
surroundings. In dB
PWLdB= 10 log W+ 120
This combination means that a person or detector
exclusively hears direct sounds (no reverberant sounds), For Multiple Source but different PWL
in effect simulating being inside an infinitely large room.
PWLdB (total)= 10 log ; Wt = W1 + W2 + W3 +…+ Wn
Anechoic chambers, a term coined by American
acoustics expert Leo Beranek, were initially exclusively For Multiple Source having the same PWL
used to refer to acoustic anechoic chambers. Recently, PWLdB (total= PWL + 10 log n n= Number of sources
the term has been extended to RF anechoic chambers,
which eliminate reflection and external noise caused by Sound Intensity (l) and Sound Intensity Level (SIL)
electromagnetic waves.
General Solution:
Anechoic chambers range from small compartments the SILdB= 10 log
size of household microwave ovens to ones as large
I = Acoustic Power, Watts
as aircraft hangars. The size of the chamber depends on
Io =Reference Acoustics Intensity ,10-12 W/m2
the size of the objects and frequency ranges being
tested
In dB
SILdB= 10 log I + 120
Acoustic anechoic chambers
The requirement for what was subsequently called an For Multiple Source but different SIL
anechoic chamber originated to allow testing of
loudspeakers that generated such intense sound levels SILdB (total)= 10 log ; It = I1 + I2 + I3 +…+ In
that they could not be tested outdoors in inhabited
areas. For Multiple Source having the same SIL
SILdB (total= SIL+ 10 log n n= Number of sources
Radio-frequency anechoic chambers
The internal appearance of the radio frequency (RF) Sound pressure (P) and Sound pressure Level (SPL)
anechoic chamber is sometimes similar to that of an General Solution:
acoustic anechoic chamber; however, the interior SPLdB= 20 log
surfaces of the RF anechoic chamber are covered
with radiation absorbent material (RAM) instead of
P = Acoustic Power, Watts
Po =Reference Acoustics Intensity , .20uPascal
acoustically absorbent material.
In dB I=?
SPLdB= 20 log P + 120
SIL=10log
For Multiple Source but different SIL
SPLdB (total)= 20 log ; Pt = P12 + P22 + P32 +…+ Pn2
log - ( = )

For Multiple Source having the same SIL

SPLdB (total= SPL+ 20 log n n= Number of sources log - ( )=

Reference Acoustic Pressure (PO) I= 10-12 ( (log –- ( ))

• .20uPascal
• 0.0002pBar I= 2.499 x10-6 W/m2
• 2 lb/ft2
c.) If two additional people joined the conversation with
Sample Problem: an individual level ot 68 dB each, compute tor the new
combined intensity level.
1. Determine the total PWL of 3 motors with a radiated
acoustics power of 25 mW, 40 mW, and 85 mW SIL(total)= SIL + 10 log n
respectively. SIL(total)= 68dB+ 10 log 2
SIL(total)= 71.0102 dB
Given:
PWL(total)=? SILdB (total)= 10 log ; It = I1 + I2 + I3 +…+ In
M1= 25 mW
M1= 40 mW
I4= 4 people ; SIL4 = 70 dB
M1= 85 mW
SIL=10log
PWL(total)= 10 log
Wt= 25 mW + 40 mW + 85 mW log - ( = )

PWL(total)= 10 log log - ( )=

PWL(total) = 111.7609dB
I= 10-12 ( (log –- ( ))
2. You are at a party and talking with a group Of people.
They all produce sound intensity levels of the same I= 10 x10-6 W/m2
magnitude at your position. The combined level when
I2 = 2 people ; SIL4 = 71.01 dB
all four talks at once is 70 dB.
SIL=10log
a.) What is the sound intensity level from one person?

Given: log - ( = )
SIL(total)= 70dB ; n=4
log - ( )=

Multiple Source w/same SIL

I= 10-12 ( (log –- ( ))
SIL(total)= SIL + 10 log n

70 dB = SIL + 10 log 4 I= 12.61 x10-6 W/m2

SIL = 70 dB - 10 log 4
SIL = 63.9794
It = I1 + I2 + I3 +…+ In

b.) What is the sound intensity from one person? It= 10 x10-6 W/m2 + 12.61 x10-6 W/m2
It= 22.61 x10-6 W/m2 SPLdB= 20 log = 20 log

SIL (grand total)= SPLdB= 84.74333165

SIL (grand total)= 73.543 dB Seatwork No.2

3) Calculate the effective SPL for a telephone ring, an
operating vacuum cleaner, and an air conditioner with
an individual SPL of 82 dB, 76 dB, and 80 dB
respectively.

SPLdB= 20 log

Po= 20u Pascal

SPL 1 = 82 dB
SPL 2 = 76 dB
SPL 3 = 80dB

SPL 1 = 82 dB

Derive to get P:

SPLdB= 20 log [General Formula]

SPLdB= 20 log -> SPL= 20 log

= -> =

Inverse log to eliminate the fraction in ;

P1= 𝑥 𝑃

P1= 0.2517850824 Pascal

P2 = 𝑥 𝑃 = 0 .1261914689 Pascal

P3 = 𝑥 𝑃 = 0.2 Pascal

Pt = P12 + P22 + P32 +…+ Pn2

= 0.25172 + 0 .1261 2 + 0.2 2

Pt = 0.3453