Difference between revisions of "Sound Power Manual"

The Sound Power Level generated from a source is the value used to quantify its sound emission properties. Because this result should be comparable from one test place to another, the measurement should be realized following a particular test procedure. This procedure is defined by international standards, which are selected depending principally on the source type, the test environment, and the accuracy required. The OROS SOUND POWER Solution has been designed to let you achieve that type of tests in the most efficient and accurate way.

The getting started on-line help explains in detail the three main steps:

It is using an applied approach where explanations are given as questions should come to you during a standard measurement process. The getting started on-line help will let you get the most out of your Sound Power Solution and set you straightaway on the right track.

==Sound power environment==

In case the application needs to be customized, the user can log itself as "SP Manager". In this case, a password will be requested: the password is "soundpower". Logging as SP Manager will let the user modify the "Sound Power" project in NVGate.

===Functioning modes===

During a second step, a test setup can be reloaded and a measurement panel displayed. Only at this stage the measurement can be started. The data are obtained and Sound Power results automatically calculated, giving straight away calculated corrections and standard validation.

===Create a new Setup===

The Setup creation is based on the use of a template. Create the new Setup from the first "Setup" window, then you can find back the information from Sound Power '''Setup Browser''' tab in the workspace:

When you choose to open a Setup, Sound Power allows you to select an Excel® file template. You can select to open a default template or to open your saved ones. This action avoids you to remake your settings each time you begin a measurement process.

In the '''Setup Browser''' tab from the workspace, enter the dimensions of the surface in meter (double click on a setting to get it).

'''Note:''' For the hemispheric surface, just enter the radius value

Set-up the microphone positions by entering the value in the table. To access to the table, double click on '''Position''' from the '''Source''' module in the '''Setup Browser''' tab from the workspace.

====Microphone settings====

In the '''Setup Browser''' tab from the workspace, double click on the '''Microphones''' module, the following window is displayed:

'''Note:''' By default all the inputs are set to Default microphone in the Microphone column. So if you do not have any microphone in your transducer database, enter the new microphones from NVGate® (click on the following button to see how to do it). Then from Sound Power software, click on '''Update transducer database''' from the '''Tools''' menu.

====/n Octave====

'''1/n octave:''' The analysis is done in the 1/3rd octave mode with no weighting process.

There are three methods to define the K1 correction factor (Manual, File or Measurement). Click on the method you want know more about...

There are five methods to define the K2 correction factor (Approached method, File, Manual, Reference source or RT 60). Click on the method you want know more about...

The repeatability module allows you to make the measurement either 1 time or 3 times. If you select 3 times, it means that the average is calculated between the two results which have a difference less than 1 dBA. If the three results have a difference less than 1 dBA, the average is calculated between the two higher results.

Double click on '''Repeat measurement''' to access to it...

===Background noise===

====Background noise correction====

The background noise can be measured in the case where "Measurement" is selected as a K1 method (in the Setup browser). Then you should click on the [[Image:SOUND_POWER_35.png]] button in order to initialize the background noise process (the background noise measurement does not start by clicking on this button). The Setup browser tab becomes Setup viewer, it means that you cannot change any setting.

====Background noise measurement====

2. Wait few seconds for getting results (the status bar indicates "Getting results...")

===Source noise===

Click on the [[Image:SOUND_POWER_38.png]] button in order to initialize the source noise process, NVGate® software updates the input connections (the source noise measurement does not start by clicking on this button). The Setup browser tab becomes Setup viewer, it means that you cannot change any setting.

Source noise measurement

'''Tip:''' For example if you have selected 3 times for the repeatability and 2 steps in the microphones you will have to click 6 times on the run button:

2. Wait few seconds for getting results (the status bar indicates "Getting results...")

When the measurement is finished, click on the  

[[Image:SOUND_POWER_41.png|framed|none]]

button from the '''Measurement Panel''' in order to fill out the report and check the calculated results such as Sound power (dB and dBA) etc...

The Results tab shows the information about the correction factors (K1, K2) and indicates the calculated results such as sound power in dBZ and dBA etc...

Select the saved setup and click on '''Open '''(an Excel worksheet is displayed containing all the information about your setup and measurement). Your report should be like the following one:

====Report customization====

===First lesson===

The aim is to create and prepare a setup to study the noise of a construction vehicle like a bulldozer for example. The idea is to re-load the created setup afterwards, making easier the software operation for the daily user.

1. From the '''Start''' menu, select '''Programs''', '''NVSolutions''' then start '''Sound Power On-line Help''' in order to read properly the Sound Power HTML Help from NVGate®.

3. From the '''Tools''' menu, select '''Transducers''' then '''Definition...''' the following window is displayed:

5. Repeat the step 4 for each microphone. Identify the 6 microphones by Mic1, Mic2, ..., Mic6. Change only the "Identifier" and "Serial number" fields for each microphone.

2. From the Surface type, select '''Sphere''' and number of positions = '''12'''. Click on '''OK'''. You can choose to save or not the current setup.

3. For our case, the radius of the sphere must be 32 meters (this value is used for the hemisphere surface computation), so double click on the '''Dimensions''' setting and enter 32. Click on '''OK'''.

4. To start the measurement, click on the [[Image:SOUND_POWER_62.png]] button from the '''Measurement Panel''' (the status bar indicates "Running..."). The measurement lasts 15 seconds (as defined in the first lesson of the tutorial). When the averaging is finished, wait for the results download (the status bar indicates "Getting results...").

'''Note:''' As you have selected 2 steps (it means that you have not enough microphones to do the measurement in one step) in the measurement process, you will have to change either the microphone positions or to move the source between the 2 steps.

Fill out your report before printing in order to find back all the information about the weather conditions, user name and many other features.

1. When the measurement is finished, click on the  

[[Image:SOUND_POWER_65.png|framed|none]]

button from the '''Measurement Panel''' in order to fill out the report like the following one: