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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:DYPSS1::SCHAFER
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2852
Total number of notes:33157

2690.0. "Sound meter weighting question" by WECROW::FACCENDA () Wed Jul 24 1991 15:31

I recently acquired an old (Unisync??) sound meter which appears to work fine.
However, it has a switch that allows switching between "A" and "C" weighting.

Can anyone describe the differences between the two? Is either better suited
to identifying levels that may cause hearing damage? What are the intended uses of 
each weighting?

Thanks in advance,
Ron
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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2690.1ROBOT::RYENRick Ryen 247-2552 TWOWed Jul 24 1991 16:1515
If I recall correctly, one is apropriate for noise (jack-hammers, jet-airplanes
 etc), and the other is appropriate for 'music'. I don't recall the exact
differntiation.

There is a scientific explaination, but I don't recall it off hand.
I may have a pamphlet at home that came with my radio shack model. There
was an explaination there. I just recall that I read the pamphlet, set
the switch for the setting most approproate for loud music, and promply
forgot the details of the reason why (to conserve limited memory resources).

I'll see if I can find that little book tonight. Undoubtedly someone with
more storage capacity than I will know it off the top of their heads.

Rick
2690.2RGB::ROSTIf you don't C#, you might BbWed Jul 24 1991 16:404
    C-weighting is used in the telephone biz, so it's pretty narrow band,
    like 300-3000 Hz.  I forget what A-weighting is.
    
    					Brian