Course detail

Electroacoustics

FEKT-CELAAcad. year: 2009/2010

Acoustic environment, basic quantities and relations, energy transmitted by sound. Sound spectrum. Physiological acoustics, sound masking, directional and spatial hearing, fundamentals of experimental psychoacoustics. Noise and its measurement. Room acoustics, room impulse response, acoustic materials. Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy, types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers. Classical, combined, wave and special types of microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics. Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, mechanical design. horns, digital loudspeakers. Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, design and construction of loudspeaker boxes and crossovers, acoustic lenses. Basic measuring instruments for EA measurement and their application. Surround sound systems past, present and future, principles, formats. Stereo and multichannel techniques of sound pickup. Audio signal visualization in dynamic, harmonic and melodic plane.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Overview of basic acoustic and mechanical quantities and their units. Knowledge of hearing physiology and psychoacoustical phenomena including spatial hearing. Knowledge of the principles, characteristics and applications of particular types of transducer, knowledge of the loudspeaker systems design. Knowledge of the noise measuring instruments, basic measuring instruments for the electroacoustical measurement and its application. Knowledge of the principles and types of surround sound systems and methods of the multichannel sound pickup.

Prerequisites

Basic laws and quantities in electrical circuits, properties of elements of the electrical circuits, basic of nonlinear elements and circuits, magnetic circuits, methods of circuits analysis, RC, RL circuits, RLC resonant circuits. Continuous-time signals and systems, analysis and characteristics of linear systems, periodical and non-periodical signal spectrum. Measurement instruments for electrical quantities, analogue measurement devices, measurement of voltage, current, frequency, phase, power, resistance, capacitance and resonant frequency.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.
- Lectures provide the explanation of basic principles, subject methodology, examples of problems and their solutions.
- Laboratory exercises support practical acquiring of themes presented at lectures. Active participation of students is needed.
Participation at lectures is recommended. Participation at other ways of instruction is checked.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Evaluation of study results follows Rules for Studies and Examinations of BUT and Dean's Regulation to the Rules for Studies and Examinations of BUT. Up to 15 points is given in middle of the semester for test from theoretical knowledge related to the laboratory exercises. Up to 15 points is given for correct results and elaboration of all laboratory exercises and possible completive questions. The minimal scale of elaboration of particular laboratory exercises and completive questions are specified by a regulation issued by the guarantee of the course and updated for every academic year. Up to 70 points is given for the final written examination.

Course curriculum

1. Acoustic environment, basic quantities and relations, wave equation of sound propagation.
2. Energy transmitted by sound, sound spectrum, Doppler principle, acoustic impedance.
3. Physiological acoustics, subjective and objective characteristics of sound, sound masking and its utilization in audio compression algorithms.
4. Directional and spatial hearing, 3D room simulation using headphones and loudspeakers, fundamentals of experimental psychoacoustics.
5. Noise and its measurement, basic measuring instruments for electroacoustic measurement and their application.
6. Room acoustics, acoustic wave trajectory, room impulse response, acoustic materials.
7. Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy.
8. Types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers.
9. Classical, combined, wave and special types of microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics.
10. Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, mechanical design, horns, digital loudspeakers.
11. Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, design and construction of loudspeaker enclosures and crossovers, acoustic lenses.
12. Surround sound systems past, present and future, principles, formats.
13. Stereo and multichannel techniques of sound pickup, audio signal visualization in dynamic, harmonic and melodic plane.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course is to make students familiar with the chain of acoustic signal processing from their origination through their transformation to the electric signal and back to acoustic signal up to the listener's final perception.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

It is mandatory to pass all laboratory exercises in regular or alternative terms to complete the course. Other forms of the checked instructions are specified by a regulation issued by the guarantee of the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Benson, K., B. Audio Engineering Handbook. McGraw-Hill, 1988. ISBN 0-07-004777-4 (EN)
Streicher, R., Everest, F., A. The New Stereo Soundbook, 3rd ed. Audio Engineering Associates, 2006. ISBN 978-0-9665162-1-0 (EN)
Zwicker, E., Fastl, H. Psychoacoustics, Facts and Models, 2nd ed. Springer-Verlag, 1999. ISBN 3-540-65063-6 (EN)
Rumsey, F. Spatial Audio. Focal Press, 2001. ISBN 0-240-51623-0 (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEKR-BC Bachelor's

    branch BC-TLI , 2. year of study, summer semester, optional specialized

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Acoustic environment, basic quantities and relations, wave equation of sound propagation.
Energy transmitted by sound, sound spectrum, Doppler principle, acoustic impedance.
Physiological acoustics, subjective and objective characteristics of sound, sound masking and its utilization in audio compression algorithms.
Directional and spatial hearing, 3D room simulation using headphones and loudspeakers, fundamentals of experimental psychoacoustics.
Noise and its measurement, basic measuring instruments for electroacoustic measurement and their application.
Room acoustics, acoustic wave trajectory, room impulse response, acoustic materials.
Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy.
Types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers.
Classical, combined, wave and special types of microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics.
Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, mechanical design, horns, digital loudspeakers.
Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, design and construction of loudspeaker enclosures and crossovers, acoustic lenses.
Surround sound systems past, present and future, principles, formats.
Stereo and multichannel techniques of sound pickup, audio signal visualization in dynamic, harmonic and melodic plane.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Getting familiar with the laboratory and the safety regulations, getting familiar with operating laboratory equipment.
Sound signal spectrum
Measurement of ear's own characteristics
Noise measurement and its evaluation
Room acoustics measurement
Measurement of binaural hearing characteristics
Test and alternative practise
Pistonphone calibration of electrostatic microphone
Measuring the frequency response of microphone
Measuring the impedance characteristic of loudspeaker
Measuring the frequency and directional response of loudspeaker
Stereo microphone pickup techniques
Alternative practise and awarding the credit pass