Re: Re: Kleenex and Spit


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Posted by Paul R. Ogushwitz on August 21, 2000 at 09:00:12:

In Reply to: Re: Kleenex and Spit posted by Rick Denney on August 20, 2000 at 19:00:03:

Rick, you say you "don't want to absorb interior sounds", you "want to hear them". Think carefully and you will realize that the sound-proofing that your radio station friend suggests will do just what you don't want: (1) reduce the higher harmonics relative to the lower, thus distorting the tuba spectrum you want to hear, and (2) muffle the sound.

Considering transmission across the neighborhood, the higher harmonics are naturally attenuated during their passage to the neighbors' house. (They have to traverse a greater number of wavelengths than do the low freqs.) It is the thumping bass that is disturbing the neighbors. If you don't believe me, try two experiments: (1) Listen to your own stereo from two rooms away with doors open ... the treble is attenuated, but the bass makes it through loud, clear, and annoying. (2) Have a tuba player friend of yours play in your house, just the way you do, while you go over to the neighbors to listen to what they are hearing.

While you're at it, try a third experiment. Find someone with a vine-laden trellis or similar structure and compare measurements of sound power on the side with the tuba and on the other side. It will be an ear-opening experience for you. Alternatively, try playing upwards into a tree and measure the sound power reduction at ground level from 10-20 feet away.

Supplementary comments:
(1) Mother Nature doesn't care what you "believe".
(2) Would you like the advice of a professional acoustician?
(3) Greetings to my brother Mark in Ohio.



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