Sound level meter

[foryorent]

Can anyone tell me how usefull an RT60 measurment would be for a small home studio? I am looking into getting a sound level meter to analyze the performance of my recording space before and after the studio construction. I was looking on ebay and found the Phonic PAA2. This guy is also a spectrum analyzer which I think is pretty cool and handy. Upon futher investigation I found out that there is a Phonic PAA3 which also includes an RT60 measurment. My question is, is this worth an extra $100? You also get USB interface instead of RS232 but that does not bother me much.

Can you do RT60 measurments with the acoustics software recommended in Rod's book?

Thanks for the advice.

[knightfly]

http://www.etfacoustic.com/

Second bold item on the list - so if you don't need ultra-portability I wouldn't spend the extra $100 to get this in a handheld meter... Steve

[Ethan Winer]

Can anyone tell me how usefull an RT60 measurment would be for a small home studio?

I agree with Steve that ETF is a better purchase. Small rooms don't really have RT60 anyway, at least not in the classic sense of reverb that swells over time and then decays. ETF does all you need, and it does it better than any handheld device costing less than a used car.

--Ethan

[Kaj]

Hi and hope I dont interupt an ongoing thread. But, I might have a few questions that could be just right here and now!

A bit of my reasons to jump in can be found here: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 3282#53282

My configuration of hardware and software; I have a laptop with Wave lab 5.0 installed (having calibration tools included in software), Edirol FA66 using firewire to PC.

Question 1;
Can I use this set up with a good microphone for check for RT60, room modes, SPL and frequency response, and using Wave lab to create CD with different test files with audio to get a fair picture of how the sound is in the room?

Q 2;
What microphone would work as above?

Q 3;
Any other combination that work as per your own experience (still using wave lab or other parties SW) or even better a thread about this?

Q 4;
Any good book (accoustic testing for dummies) to recommend or a thread in how to conduct a accoustic check of a room for its accoustic properties?

I'm not feeling sure of just buying a gizmo Paa2,3,6 that fix the readings if I lacking the skill how to conduct a test. Is it hard to do a test with no experience more than just checked out around in this and other forums etc? Sorry thats a fifth question, but I just needed to ask.

hope that my 5 questions fit into this thread.

Cheers
Kaj

[Ethan Winer]

Kaj,

> Can I use this set up with a good microphone for check for RT60, room modes, SPL and frequency response, and using Wave lab to create CD with different test files with audio to get a fair picture of how the sound is in the room? <

Sine wave tones will tell you raw response only, but not ringing which is at least as damaging.

> What microphone would work as above? <

A small diaphragm omni condenser mike is preferred.

> Any good book (accoustic testing for dummies) to recommend or a thread in how to conduct a accoustic check of a room for its accoustic properties? <

Have you seen my Acoustics FAQ? There's also an article on my company's site that explains the room testing software I use. Here are the links:

www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html
www.realtraps.com/art_etf.htm

--Ethan

[Kaj]

Thanks Ethan,
It has been a while since I visited your site, and it has grown faster than I. Thanks for the reply and direction. I would like to point out a question that I run in a different thread; http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7514, and I would like your opinion, i received the insulation today, and will cut them out to fit and than no way back less I alter the slots and slats in my Helmholtz absorbers.

Greatful for any help now so I dont have to waste any materials.

Cheers
Kaj

[Ethan Winer]

Kaj,

Sorry, I don't know anything about slat resonators.

--Ethan

[Kaj]

Ethan,
I just realized that I working on Johns design, Maybe I will put your design in the Blue corner, and keep John in the red design corner, Hahaa. And get the best out of two worlds.

Link of the day:
http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 3397#53397

Cheers from the man in the middle