Course detail

Electroacoustics

FEKT-KELAAcad. year: 2011/2012

Acoustic environment, basic quantities and relations, energy transmitted by sound. Sound spectrum. Physiological acoustics, sound masking, directional and spatial hearing. Noise and its measurement, noise source identification. Room acoustics, room impulse response, acoustic materials. Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy, types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers. Classical and combined types of microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics. Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, mechanical design, horn-loaded loudspeakers. Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, design and construction of loudspeaker boxes and crossovers. Surround sound systems principles and formats. Stereo and multichannel techniques of sound pickup.

Language of instruction

Czech

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 and identification 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

The basic knowledge on the level of following compulsory subjects from previous semesters of the study area is required: Signals and systems analysis, Measurement in electroengineering, and Electrical Engineering

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 20 points is given for test from theoretical knowledge in the laboratory exercises. Up to 20 points is given for correct results and elaboration of all laboratory exercises and completive questions. The minimal scale of elaboration of particular laboratory exercises is specified by a regulation issued by the guarantee of the course and updated for every academic year. Up to 60 points is given for the final written examination.

Course curriculum

1. Acoustic environment, basic quantities and relations, wave equation of sound propagation. Energy transmitted by sound, sound spectrum, Doppler principle, acoustic impedance.
2. Physiological acoustics, subjective and objective characteristics of sound, sound masking and its utilization in audio compression algorithms. Directional and spatial hearing.
3. Laboratory practice.
4. Noise and its measurement. Room acoustics, acoustic wave trajectory, room impulse response, acoustic materials.
5. Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy. Types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers. Microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics.
6. Laboratory practice.
7. Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, horns. Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, crossovers.

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

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Smetana, C. a kol. Hluk a vibrace, měření a hodnocení. Sdělovací technika, Praha 1998. ISBN 80-90-1936-2-5 (CS)
Sýkora, B. Stavíme reproduktorové soustavy, 1. – 48. díl. A Radio 10/97 - 9/2001 (CS)
Toman, K. Reproduktory a reprosoustavy, 1. díl. Dexon, 2003. (CS)
Colloms, M., High Performance Loudspeakers, 6th ed. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2005. ISBN 978-0-470094-30-3 (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEKR-BK Bachelor's

    branch BK-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.
Noise and its measurement. Room acoustics, acoustic wave trajectory, room impulse response, acoustic materials.
Electromechanical and electroacoustic analogy. Types and operation principles of electroacoustic transducers. Microphones, practical design and measurement of characteristics.
Loudspeakers and headphones, acoustic impedance and distortion, horns. Loudspeaker systems, types of loudspeaker enclosures, crossovers.

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Sound signal spectrum, Noise measurement, Room acoustics measurement
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