When measuring sound with a meter or an app, the position of the microphone will also influence the sound level reading. Measuring it closer to the sound source will determine a higher reading that is more relevant to the sound level of that noise, not to the sound level affecting you. This will help better determine if the sound level that you are being exposed to is potentially harmful or not. If you are trying to determine the sound level of a loud noise that you are being exposed to because you are worried that constant exposure may negatively affect your hearing, it is common practice to measure that noise from your position rather than the source of the sound. How close to the sound source you make your measurement will depend on what the measurement is for. And, the closer it is to the sound, the higher the reading will be. Each reading will be correct for the position of the sound level meter at that time. Although the readings will be different depending on where the sound level meter microphone is compared to the source of the sound, there is no wrong or right reading. When you measure the sound level of a noise, where the mic is compared to the source of the sound is what will determine your sound level meter reading. To get a better picture, here are some common dB readings you would get outside:Ĭonstruction site: 80 dB How Sound Level Meter Readings Work To determine the sound level of only the ambulance siren, you would have to record it in an environment with nothing else around. Therefore, it will deliver a reading of the overall sound level of all these sounds. The sound level meter will record the people talking around you, the sound of cars passing, construction noises, ambient sounds like birds or the wind. If you are trying read the sound level of an ambulance on the road and you are on the sidewalk, the ambient noises around you and closer to the microphone are more likely to influence the sound level reading than the sound of the ambulance that is further away. If you are trying to determine the sound level of a noise that is mixed in with other noises, your reading will reflect the overall sound level, not just the sound level of one noise. How Ambient Noises Affect Sound Level Meter ReadingsĪnother aspect to take into account is what other ambient noises the sound level meter microphone may capture. The further away you are, the lower your reading will be. The closer you are to the source of the sound and the clearer the path to it (nothing deflecting the sound in any way), the higher your sound level meter reading will be. With sound level meters or sound level meter apps, the reading you will get will depend on your distance from the sound’s source. To put it in math terms, the sound level drops by 6 dB each time you double the distance from the source. It spreads out as it moves away from the source. You’ve probably noticed that the intensity of any sound will decrease as you move away from it. Understanding the Intensity of Sound Depending on Distance So, how close the meter is to the source of the sound will be the most important aspect that will determine the pressure of the sound waves recorded by the sound level meter. The closer the mic is to the source, the louder it will perceive the sound. If the mic is close to the source of the sound, the reading will be higher than if the mic is further away from the noise you are measuring. And, even though a professional sound level meter has an external microphone and a sound meter app uses the smartphone’s built-in microphone, both of these noise measuring devices will give you different readings depending on how close their microphones are to the source of the sound. No matter what type of device you are using, sound is measured by calculating the pressure of the sound waves running from a source of noise through the air. Traditional sound level meters are hand-held devices with an external microphone, while sound level apps are downloadable on your smartphone and use the phone’s integrated microphone for measuring sound levels. When Measuring Distant Sounds Does It Matter What Sound Level Meter I Use? In this article, we are going to talk about how the intensity of sound changes depending on distance and how sound level meter readings will depend on the type of sound you are measuring and how close you are to the source of that sound. The distance from the sound source will determine the reading on the sound level meter. It doesn’t matter if you use a hand-held professional sound level meter or a sound level meter app. When you try to measure the sound level of a noise that is further away, how far you are from the source will have a major impact on your sound level readings. Sound level meter readings depending on distance from noise source
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |