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Inter-orchestral listening

2012-10-19 Stage Acoustics, performers listening quality, and so-called Hearing Others:

“Listen to the two 6 seconds violin pieces by single-clicks on No18 and No21 (monaural wav). Answer the three simple questions about listening quality on a concert hall stage. Headphones necessary.  We suggest a minimum 36 seconds of total listening time plus the time for 3 response clicks, but feel free to repeat and use as much time as you like. Click the “Finished” button when finished.”

After 60 responses from 60 different respondents, results were published 2013-11-27, see below.

Thanks to all participants! Want more? Check out what’s up on AKUTEK’s listening test page.

Looking for results from previous listening tests? Links below: 
http://www.akutek.info/demo_files/intimacy_monaural.htm

http://www.akutek.info/demo_files/proximity_perception.htm

More about rehearsal room acoustics: http://www.akutek.info/research_files/rehearsal_rooms.htm

Description of the two samples:

Both No21 and No18 are the same wav file but convolved with two different impulse responses measured with a loudspeaker at normal held height for 1st violin and a microphone at normal ear height for contra basson position with a full symphony orchestra present, but no audience, in a 1600 seat 19000cbm concert hall. All musicians sit in a normal manner, holding their instruments as if playing. Source-receiver distance through the orchestra is 11m. Mid-frequency RT is approximately 2 seconds in both samples.

The only known physical difference between No21 and No18 is the presence of an orchestra canopy at 7.2m above stage floor in No21, while no canopy is present in No18. Ceiling height varying 12-13m above stage floor.

Acoustical differences between No18 and No21 were presented at ICA 2007. http://www.akutek.info/Presentations/MS_Sound_Transmission_Pres.pdf. In IR and FR diagrams, the No18 and No21 are labeled OFO_18 and OFO_21 respectively.  In the G50 diagrams, No18 is the 0dB reference curve labeled ”0m ax NoCan Orch” while No21 is the curve labeled ”0m ax Can Orch”. No21 has 2-3dB higher G50-values than No18, from 500Hz octave and upwards.

More differences were presented at the 162nd ASA meeting: http://www.akutek.info/Presentations/MS_Orchestra_Canopies_ASA_Pres.pdf. In IR diagram on page 11,  No18 is labeled ”without canopy” and No 21 is labeled ”with canopy”. 

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