The Role of the Microphone in Parameterizing the Acoustics of Three Rectangular Concert Spaces.
Abstract
The Scientific Method is a principle that states that no theory or model of nature is tenable, unless the results it predicts are in accord with experiment. The concert hall is a physical system that has long been misunderstood in terms of the effects it has on acoustics. The theory of reverberation developed by Sabine, has traditionally been understood as describing the decay of sound in a hall, independent of the direction of sound energy, and dependent only on the architectural composition of the space. This thesis discusses the measurement of acoustical parameters in three renown concert spaces. The results of the experiments strongly suggest that no characterization of the acoustics of a hall is possible, without the specification of the microphone used in the measurement. The results also show clearly identifiable differences between Reverberation Times (and other widely used parameters), which are obtained using different microphones. These results support conclusions that suggest, contrary to the belief of many, acoustical science applied to concert spaces is not an exact science, but pathological in character. It is concluded that acoustical comparisons between different spaces cannot be possible unless the type of measurement transducer, as well as its placement and orientation in the space, are specified.
- Publication:
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Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1988
- Bibcode:
- 1988PhDT.......155M
- Keywords:
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- Physics: Acoustics