Applied Acoustics course (6 CFU) - Progressive list of lessons
Also in
academic year
2014/2015 this course is taught
in English
Click Here for
accessing the
Italian version of this page
Students of Techniques of Prevention, Click Here for instructions
Post-Graduate (advanced) degrees: Telecommunication Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Science Engineering and Mechanical Engineering
Under-Graduate degree: Civil and Environmental Engineering and Management Engineering
Under-Graduate degree: Techniques of Prevention in the Environment and at the Workplace
Teaching Hours: Friday 14.30-18.30 (classroom A, Engineering Faculty, University Campus)
Beginning of the course: Friday 03/10/2014
Lecturer: prof. Angelo Farina
E-MAIL: farina@unipr.it
Website: http://pcfarina.eng.unipr.it/ or http://www.angelofarina.it/
Receiving hours: Friday, 10:30 to 12:30 - building 7 (not recommended - better to use email).
Phone Number: 0521-905854 (not recommended)
Contents |
Introduction
The course of Applied Acoustics is an introductory course to a scientific and technological field undergoing a very rapid development, which offers great employment opportunities, and which involves disciplines apparently very different: architecture, structural engineering, physiology, psychology, statistics, physics, electronics, vibration mechanics, fluid dynamics, digital signal processing, telecommunications, measurements, hygiene of the workplace, music, musicology, virtual reality.
Obviously in a course of 6 CFUs we can only provide the methodological basis of the topic, which must then be further studied in more advanced courses, such as courses for Competent Technicians in Environmental Acoustics or Master Courses available at some Italian universities (for example Perugia , Naples , Florence , Rome), or even dedicated post-graduate degrees (these are usually abroad, but in Italy it must be evidenced the post-graduate (advanced) degree in Sound and Music Engineering of Politecnico di Milano, taught entirely in English, delivered at the Como Campus).
Because of its multidisciplinary and transversal nature, the Course of Applied Acoustics is attended by students from various degree programs (almost all branches of Engineering, but also some Architecture students, and even the students of the course in Techniques of Prevention in the Environment and at the Workplace of the Faculty of Medicine, for which attendance is compulsory only to the first part of the course, with the exclusion of the final part dedicated to electroacoustic and musical applications).
For students of all branches of engineering this is a key course, it is practically the only opportunity to see (or, rather, hear) the techniques learned in previous courses, in which the purely theoretical foundations of modern advanced mathematical methods are taught. When the "numbers" are transformed into sound, abstruse and difficult mathematical procedures quickly become very clear and immediate, and the possibilities offered by sound editing systems on the PC, used extensively both during lectures and during laboratory exercises, make it possible to listen immediately (usually in real time) to the "effects" of filters or other devices (compressors, gates, convolvers, denoising, etc.).
Given the scientific interests of the teacher, the course covers both the noise-related topics common to all branches of engineering and hygienistics (also as a consequence of the extensive legislative framework on buildings, environment and workplace), and the more specific themes relative to the acoustics of theatres and cinemas, audio production in music and television / film, musical instruments, high fidelity recording and Stereo (1D), Surround (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) playback systems. Obviously, this second part of the course is not pertinent to students of the degree in Techniques of Prevention, who have a program limited to the first 3 CFUs of the course.
The topics are always presented with systematic help of test sounds, as this is the most direct way to make the various operations to be perceived.
|
EXAMPLE: Many students do not understand the physical meaning of "differentiation" and "integration" operators applied to a function. Math teachers tend to give "graphical" explanations , such as "the derivative is the slope of a curve" or "the integral is the area under a curve." These explanations are useless for those who are devoid of the capacity of visualisation needed to transform these concepts into images. In acoustics, the operations of differentiation or integration modify the spectrum of a sound. In particular, differentiation boosts high frequencies (increases the sound level of 6dB/octave). On the contrary, integration boosts low frequencies. Here's an example, which allows to "listen" to differentiation and integration applied to a recording of the human voice:
A more extended presentation of this topic is developed in this web page |
Program of the Applied Acoustics course
|
The first 7 topics (evidenced in blue) are common also to students of the degree in Techniques of Prevention (3 CFUs), while the remaining topics (in black) apply only to students of the Faculty of Engineering (6 CFUs).
New Didactical Approach
In academic year 2014/2015 a "Flipped Classroom" method is adopted for the first time. This approach is not yet fully finalized, so what follows could be modified along the development of the course.
This method is based on homework done IN ADVANCE, prior of each "lesson" in the classroom - but there will be no lesson, actually! The in-class activity is made of experiments, tutorials, exercises, and a final on-line test, which has mostly didactical purposes, albeit it also serves as a method of evaluation of individual progress.
The new didactical approach will make use of the audio-video recordings of the lessons made during previous years. It is expected that, prior of each lesson, each student downloads and watches the recordings providing the theoretical background for each lesson. Of course, this requires a total time which is more than double, compared to a traditional course: for each 4-hours didactical unit, the student needs to waste approximately 3 hours listening to the audio-video recordings and additional 2 hours for studying the notes and the Powerpoint slides, and then of course they must attend to the in-class activity (3.5 h): so each didactical unit requires a minimum of 8.5h instead of 4h. Indeed, in this way each student is allowed to take his own time for listening to the lessons and studying the downloaded material...
This also means that the theoretical explanations will be kept to a minimum in class, just a very quick recall, at the beginning of each lesson. Most of the time will be spent making exercises or practical activities (sound recordings, acoustical measurements, and so on). Each lesson will end with an in-class test, where each student will proof how much he did study before coming to class, how well he did understand what is done in-class and how effectively he can manage the practical usage of theory.
During the in-class activity (and during the in-class test) it will possible to work with traditional methods (pen, paper, an handheld calculator); however, every student is warmly encouraged to bring into the classroom his own personal computing device (laptop, tablet, smartphone), capable of WiFi connection to the University network or direct access to Internet. Such a device will be useful both for performing the practical activities (acoustical measurements, calculations), provided that suitable software is installed, and for compiling the final test online.
Compiling
the test "online" will be rewarded with an additional score of 2 points.
This will make it easy for the teacher to collect the answers to the test, but will also make the students to become proficient in using modern hardware and software, so that, at the end of the course, each one will be "able to operate", and not just "possess knowledge".
During the in-class activities and test the students will be encouraged to cooperate each other: it is not an exam, where it is forbidden to copy! Also the interaction with the teacher will be informal and bidirectional, the class activity has little to do with a traditional "frontal" lesson, where the teacher talks, and the students listen (or sleep)...
There are several rules for the in-class test:
|
The final goal is to avoid the traditional exam for a number of students, who follow a "large percentage" of the lessons and get "good-enough" scores during the in-class evaluation tests.
Unfortunately this approach will probably result in some difficulties for people who cannot attend to most of the lessons. As this is a course which is optional for most students, those who cannot attend the lessons are warmly suggested to choose a different optional course! Unfortunately, this will make the Applied Acoustics course to become quite unfriendly for student-workers who cannot attend to lessons in class...
Method of Examination
The method of examination is quite standard: a written test, based on exercises, followed by an oral final exam, mostly theoretical. This method is unchanged in the last 5 years.
However, thanks to the in-class tests, this year a number of students can be exempted from these exam tests.
In class tests and exemptions
 There
will be no further mandatory exam proof for a first group of students who
followed a "large percentage" of the lessons, and completed the
corresponding in-class tests, achieving a score between 27 and 30 points
(the results of the final evaluation are now available by
clicking here). Those who want to verbalize such score directly,
without any further exam, can do it at a
special exam session,
scheduled for 16 January 2015.
After that date, these students can take the oral examination in any
subsequent exam date: being highly prepared, it is assumed that for them
the oral examination can only lead to an improvement of the score. It is
expected, therefore, that at least some of these students who have
reached the full exemption will not profit of the special exam session
of 16/01, and will prefer to make at least the oral test for improving
the score achieved with the in-class test. If they want, these students
may also decide to redo also the written exam, for improving the
starting score for the oral exam. And if the new written test results in
a score worse than that achieved with the in-class test, the
latter will remain valid as the base score for the oral examination.
For the remaining students the score obtained with the in-class test is irrelevant; the examination is the traditional one, as described in the following, divided in two parts: some written exercises to be solved numerically, followed by an oral examination about theory. And the oral exam is allowed only for students who get at least 15 points in the written part. |
Written exam
| The
written exercises
are to be completed in an one-hour time limit, typically starting at
9.00. After a few minutes for the correction of the exercises, the oral
examinations start (typically around 10.30).
For the written exam, the student is required to carry a pen and an handheld calculator, as well as charts, tables, notes, etc... During the written exercises it is possible to employ all of the above material, including notes and/or textbooks; instead, during the final oral question, the student is not allowed to consult his/her notes or books, but he/she can still employ charts and tables - so it is advisable to keep them separate from the notes. The usage of computers, tablets, smartphones or the like is strictly forbidden during examinations. If the student carries such devices with him/her, including cell phones or smartphones, the devices must be kept switched off (NOT just in standby mode) during the whole duration of the exam. Who infringes this rule will be immediately expelled from the classroom and consequently rejected, even if the device was not being used. Exception to this rule is allowed only for students with certified Learning Disabilities (LD, DSA in Italian), who are invited to contact the teacher before the exam, possibly by Email or in person, instead of passing through the LD Office "Le Eliche". For the written exercises, each student is given two pieces of paper: the examination form, which includes the problems and there are spaces for writing the results, and one 4-faces "protocol" foil, where the student should write clearly the passages required for getting the solutions. Both sheets must carry, since the beginning of the exam, name, surname and matricula of each student. It is forbidden to write on anything else than the "protocol" sheet: if one is not enough, additional "protocol" sheets can be asked to the examiner. All the "protocol" sheets must be given back together with the examination form. The written exercises typically provide a maximum score of 30 points. At least 15 points are required for passing the written exercises and being admitted to the subsequent oral question. At least one written exercise is always mandatory, even for students who take the examination during receiving hours (see later). For optimal training to the exercises, it is strongly discouraged to "study" the solution of already-solved problems. The only way to be trained correctly is by attempting to solve problems without any preliminary knowledge of the correct solution. For this, it can be useful to download the text of the problems which were employed in past years, which can be downloaded here: |
Oral exam
| Each oral exam is
typically shorter than 15 minutes. In most exam sessions, as the oral
exams starts around 10.30, all the students are examined before lunch.
Only when the number of students is very large, some of them will be
examined in the afternoon. It is generally not allowed to make the oral
examination in a day different from the written exam, so the student
should be trained to sustain both parts of the exam in the same day
(except in the case of exemption from the written exam, as described
earlier).
It is always mandatory to satisfactorily answer to at least one oral question, typically on theoretical topics, even for students who passed the written exercises with maximum score (except in the case of total exemption, as described earlier). The evaluation of the oral examination, which usually is positive, in some cases can provide a NEGATIVE score, reducing the score obtained in the written part. Normally a range of +/-5 points is available. Only in very exceptional cases this range can be expanded to +/- 10 points, based on the sole evaluation of the examiner. And, independently from the sum of the scores, if the oral examination is judged unsatisfactory, the student can always be rejected. So students must train themselves to sustain a formal oral examination on theoretical topics, and are discouraged to only train on exercises. Please, note that an oral question is considered satisfactorily answered even if just a minimal answer is given, provided that the student proofs to know and use proper words (names) associated with the physical quantities, and to know the corresponding definitions, physical meaning and measurement units. It is NOT required to memorize complex formulas or numerical values, the student should consult his tables of formulas and values during the oral examination. Conversely, it is well appreciated to be equipped with a good set of tables and charts, proofing to be able to retrieve quickly the required information from them. During the oral examination it is not usually required to do numerical computations: however it is always useful to keep the handheld calculator at hand. Students of the Engineering courses are requested to use English both for the written and oral parts of the examination, even if they followed the course in previous years, when it was named "Acustica Applicata" and taught in Italian. Students of the degree in Techniques of Prevention, instead, are still allowed to take the examination in Italian, if preferred, although of course they are also allowed to take it in English, at their choice. For optimal training to the oral examinations, students are encouraged to assist to the previous session of exams. |
Dates of exams
|
Date |
Day |
Hour |
Place |
|
12/09/2014 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula H |
|
26/09/2014 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula H |
|
16/01/2015 (*) |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula 5 (**) |
|
23/01/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula A |
|
13/02/2015 (***) |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula A |
|
08/04/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula B |
|
26/06/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula A |
|
10/07/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula A |
|
24/07/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula G |
|
07/09/2015 |
Monday | 9.00 | Aula G |
|
25/09/2015 |
Friday | 9.00 | Aula G |
Warning! The dates marked in yellow are just in draft mode, they are not confirmed yet!
(*) The exam of 16/01/2015 is reserved to students who only need to register their score based on in-class tests. Those who have got a score of 27 or more points thanks to the in-class tests are allowed to register this score directly, without oral examination, only on this date. Indeed, they can always ask to make the oral examination, for improving their score: but in this case they cannot profit of this special "dummy" exam session scheduled on 16/01/2015, they should enlist to another normal exam, writing in the notes "oral only - score XX", where XX stands for the points obtained thanks to the in-class tests, exactly as the students who, having got a score of 24-26 points, are exempted from the written examination, and need to perform just the oral exam.
(**) Presence is mandatory even in case for electronic registration - who is not present at 09:00 of 16/01/2015 will not be registered!
(***) On 13/02/2015 only the written exam will be performed, due to research activity planned on the same day. The subsequent oral examination will happen during the next week, on Tuesday 17/02/2015 at 09:00, in classroom 8. However, students who need to perform just the oral examination STILL NEED TO BE PRESENT AT THE CALL of 13/02/2015, at 09:00, as they will be probably examined immediately, during the written exam of their colleagues.
Currently, the Easytest software does not allow to plan the exam dates with large advance, so the students are kindly requested to be patient, and do not stress the teacher asking to fix the exam dates. This is currently outside the control of the teacher, and such requests are absolutely not useful.
The students are simply recommended to check this web page often, when the dates are fixed they will be posted immediately here. In any case, the teacher will not answer to requests of fixing additional exams, as it is possible to make exams every week, during the receiving hours, as explained below.
Electronic registration of exams
| Starting in
January 2015, the standard procedure for registering exams during the official
exam dates shown above is the electronic one, employing ESSE3 (https://unipr.esse3.cineca.it).
This means that every student must obligatorily enlist for the exam on Esse3. And for doing that, the student must have got an approved study's plan, and must have completed the evaluation questionnaire for this course. Students who cannot enlist on Esse3 cannot make the exam: in no case the teacher will perform manual verbalization or wait to register the exam until a following exam session. Please contact the didactical secretary (ex Presidence office, didactical building) for problems with Esse3, and not the teacher, who has no control on that system. Being more clear: even if the secretary tells that they cannot solve the problem and to contact the teacher, this does not means that the teacher can accept students who are not enlisted to ESSE3 during official exam dates. In these dates, due to the large number of students, electronic registration only is allowed, and this requires that the students are enlisted on ESSE3. If, for any reason, the student cannot do that, there is no point contacting the teacher, as he cannot do anything for solving this problem. The only possibility could be to make an exam during receiving hours, as explained here below, as these exams have yet on-paper registration. However, if the student has an irregular administrative position, even doing the exam during receiving hours can be a problem, as the secretary will later void the exam, which must be repeated. Each student must be sure to be allowed to make the exam in a given "receiving hours" date before booking an exam in that date. |
Examinations in receiving hours
Students may ask the teacher to take the exam in dates different from the "official" ones shown above, by sending an E-mail for according about date and site for the exam. In particular, the general rule is to perform these exams during receiving hours, even if it is always required to get a preliminary agreement by E-mail.
Every student is required to check with the Secretary that he is allowed to take the exam on the chosen date - if he is not allowed, the Secretary cancels the exam's recording, and it must be repeated ....
For clarity: who does the exam in receiving hours gets immediate "on paper" verbalization of the examination carried out. Therefore it needs to be ensured that the student is allowed to take the exam on the date on which it actually takes place. Under no circumstances the examinator will leave a "suspended verbalization" until the next exam session. Who is not allowed to take the exam on a certain date, of course cannot do it at that time. These rules were made for presumably good reasons, so they should not be circumvented. If they are deemed inappropriate, students should ask the Didactical Council to change them, rather than bombard the lecturer with requests of improper circumvention of the rule...
On the other hand, these rules are complex, and the position of each student is, in general, different from that of another. I do not have the knowledge and the tools to determining who is entitled to make an examination on a certain date and who is not. It is useless to ask me, for me everyone can do the exam at any time... Every student must check with the Secretary, to avoid that the examination is cancelled, after being done in a "not allowed" date.
Due to the possibility of making exams all around the year, there is absolutely no point about creating "extraordinary exam sessions". Any request of this type will be simply ignored. The only exception to this rule is when the Didactical Council approves a one-week break during the lesson period, and invites each teacher to set an extraordinary exam session within that break period. Except for this case, no request coming directly from students will be taken into account, as they are already allowed to make the exam with the method described here during receiving hours.
Exams done in receiving hours are still registered by means of old paper verbals. However, this does not means that students who cannot enlist for normal exams on ESSE3 are automatically allowed to make the exam during receiving hours: if the position of the student is not complying with regulations, so that he cannot enlist on ESSE3, this means that he is not allowed to make this exam. Even if the exam is registered on paper, the secretary will cancel it, and the exam must be repeated...
So please, book for an "exam in receiving hours" only after checking that the administrative position is regular and that the exam is allowed in the date chosen. These conditions must be verified with the didactic secretary, not with the teacher, who has absolutely no competence on administrative stuff.
Recommended textbooks
The official textbooks for the Applied Acoustics course are:
- Patrizio Fausti: Acustica in Edilizia , Rockwool Italy, Milan (2005)
- Arianna Astolfi e Maria Giovannini: Acustica delle aule scolastiche, Rockwool Italy, Milan (2012)
These books are in Italian - free download in PDF format, you can also request for a free hardcopy to Rockwool. Thanks Rockwool!
The books RECOMMENDED (not required) for thorough preparation of the exam are:
- R. Spagnolo: Manuale di Acustica Applicata - Citta' Studi Editore, Milano (2001/2007).
- S. Cingolani, R. Spagnolo : Acustica Musicale ed Architettonica , Citta' Studi Editore, Milano (2004/2007)
- Thomas D. Rossing (ed.): Springer Handbook of Acoustics , Springer Science + Business Media, New York (2007).
Additional support
material
for the course (Excel spreadsheets, WAV files, etc..) used during the
lessons is available in the
"Public" section of this website:
http://pcfarina.eng.unipr.it/Public/Acoustics-Course/
- It is recommended to download especially the Excel
spreadsheets containing the exercises done in the classroom.
Old "on line" notes (in Italian)
It can be useful to download the material prepared some years ago for the Advanced Training Course for Competent Technicians in Environmental Acoustics , organized by the University of Parma in 2005 and 2006.
It consists of 11 lesson notes covering the first part of the program (the one which covers the topics common also to the students of the Degree in Techniques of Prevention).
New "on line" notes (in English)
A good set of notes written in American English, covering the first half of the course (Noise Control) are available from the site of prof. J. S. Lamancusa at Penn State University: http://www.me.psu.edu/lamancusa/me458/ Please, have a look at the animations on that page!
In particular, the first 10 notes, albeit not in the same order, cover perfectly the first part of this Applied Acoustics course, the one common also to the students of the Degree in Techniques of Prevention:
Audio / Video recording of the lessons
Starting from academic year 2010/2011, we are performing the audio / video recording of the lessons, in AVI format, thanks to the Open Source program CamStudio .
The following link points to a page containing a selection of these audio-video recordings, corresponding to the scheduled numbering of the lessons.
For each lesson the student can download:
- The Powerpoint file containing the slides employed
- The Note written by students of the academic year 2012/2013
- The Audio/Video recording of the lesson (both in Italian and in English)
Prior of each lesson, the students should download and watch the audio/video recording, keeping an eye on the Note, so tat they will get a background, albeit crude, of the topic which will be developed in class.
The experience of previous years has shown that students who attempt to prepare the exam solely by the usage of this material have a great failure ratio.
This will be exacerbated with the new didactical approach employed in academic year 2014/2015, because also the students not attending the lessons in class will be required to proof the same operational skills as their colleagues who are training in class. Students of previous years who did not follow the lesson in class, are warmly suggested to follow again the course in-class. If they have not passed the exam yet, there are very little chances they will be able to pass it when the new didactical approach will be applied during exams, without having followed the lessons in class.
Software
This is the list of software used during the lessons and lab sessions, with links to download them.
|
Name |
Description |
Link |
|
Adobe Audition |
Program for sound recording and playback, waveform editor, simple FFT analysis, sonogram, multitrack recorder, and it can act as a "host" program for plugins in three different formats (VST, Direct-X, XFM). The recommended versions are 1.5 (the best one) and 3.0 (if you need ASIO). An unrestricted version of Audition 3.0 can actually be downloaded for free from the Adobe web site, after registering. Please DO NOT USE version 2.0 or version CS 5.5 and following, as these are NOT compatible with Aurora plugins. And please, install the English version of Audition (and of any other program offering a multi-language interface!). Furthermore,
it is always mandatory to set the Regional Settings of your operating
system (in Control Panel) to English-UK or similar, NEVER in Italian!
This affects decimal separator, date, time and number formats... If
this setting is incorrect, operations such as Copy and Paste to another
program (i.e., Excel) are going to fail.... |
|
|
Aurora |
Suite of XFM plugins for Adobe Audition: generation of test signals (MLS, sweep) computation of the impulse response, acoustic parameters according to ISO 3382, calculation of inverse filters. Includes a fast convolution module, which is employed for performing auralization. See the warnings above for Audition regarding program version and regional settings. Aurora is shareware, with a "russian roulette" annoying-by-purpose feature. |
|
|
AudioMulch |
VST-Host general purpose program, programmable through the construction of block diagrams, coming with a wide range of effects. Easy to use. Versions for Windows and Mac. 90 days free trial. |
|
|
Plogue Bidule |
VST-Host general purpose program, programmable through the construction of block diagrams, coming with a wide range of effects. It is possible to create new effects. Shareware. Windows and Mac versions. It can also be used as a VST plugin inside another VST Host program. More tricky than Audio Mulch, but also more powerful. 90 days free trial. |
|
|
SynthEdit |
VST-Host program and compiler of VST plugins, programmable through the construction of block diagrams. Customizable interface with editable "skins". Contains an extensive library of graphical objects and of processing functions. Shareware. Better than Labview .... |
|
|
SpectraRTA |
Spectral analysis in octaves, third octaves, and FFT, signal generator for acoustic testing, measurement of the reverberation time. Works with one or two channels, can be used to record and analyze WAV files. |
|
|
SpectraPLUS |
FFT and fractional-octave frequency analysis, cross-spectrum, sonogram, waterfall, signal generator for acoustic testing, measurement of reverberation times. Works with one or two channels, can be used to record and analyze WAV files. 30 days free trial. |
|
|
Ramsete |
Simulation of sound propagation in enclosed spaces and outdoors. Calculates the impulse response, and from it derives all the acoustical parameters. Includes a 3D CAD design module and a module for mapping results in colour or by isolevel curves. It also allows for the export of impulse responses in WAV format, for performing auralization. Free trial of the "Lite" version, the crack can be found on Emule, enabling full performance. |
|
|
Comsol |
"Multiphysics" FEM simulator, which includes modules for Acoustics and Vibration. It allows for the study of wave type phenomena (resonance, interference, diffraction, etc..) at low and medium frequencies, using the Finite Elements method. Free trial license available for students. |
|
|
DISIA |
The package includes Citymap and Disiapyr. These are programs for simulation of noise from road and rail traffic, which can operate both on a large scale (Citymap), and for detailed simulations (Disiapyr). They were developed as part of a DISIA project, funded by the Ministry of Environment, and are the reference computational models for the Italian fleet of vehicles. Free for academic usage (password required). |
Note: the above software is commercial software or shareware (excluding the last one, which is free, but the use is restricted to institutional goals of public administrations, and protected by password), although most of them provide a free running mode for a limited period of time, or indefinitely but with reduced functionality. Users who do not like this approach, can use the following open-source software:
|
Audacity |
Simple "open source" program for sound recording / playback, with many editing effects; it also operates in multitrack. Supports all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux). A port of Aurora plugins for Audacity is under development (thesis available). A special version of Audacity containing some of the Aurora modules so far developed can be downloaded HERE. Please note that these Aurora modules DO NOT WORK on other versions of Audacity... |
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
|
|
Sonicbirth |
Compiler for VST and AudioUnit plugis for Mac platform, with graphical interface of "block diagram" type. Interface customizable using editable "skins". It contains a wide library of graphic objects and processing functions. Similar to Synthedit, but less powerful and versatile. |
|
|
RoomEQ |
JAVA application for the measurement of the impulse response of a room with Exponential Sine Sweep and calculation of equalization filters for sound systems. It includes a realtime spectrum analyzer, a realtime Sound Level Meter, and a reverberation time measurement module. |
|
|
Psysound |
Matlab suite of modules, with user interface developed for processing of audio signals and acoustic analysis of all kinds |
Thesis Topics
A variety of thesis topics is available, for all the branches of Engineering. Some are listed below, but others are available, so it is recommended to contact the teacher for more information.
Attention:
an Applied Acoustics thesis can only be experimental, and thus requires
hard work: so, if you are looking for a "light and fast" thesis, you're
in the wrong place ...
|
Title |
Description |
Suggested degree |
|
Digital Audio Amplifier |
Research carried out in collaboration with ASK Industries, Reggio Emilia, looking for a student who is willing to learn programming DSP devices "embedded" in automotive audio amplifiers. The DSP built into the device could be used for active noise cancellation, for dynamically changing the equalization curve and the gain as a function of the background noise, and for the correction of non-linear response of loudspeakers. The student will work as an intern at the ASK Montecavolo (RE), actively participating in the trial, and gaining professional experience in the field, which is extremely useful for subsequent job search. |
Electronics, Telecommunications, Computer Science |
|
Vehicle sound system measurement |
Research carried out in collaboration with ASK Industries, Reggio Emilia. The purpose is to evaluate the perceived acoustical quality of a "automotive" sound system, based on innovative measurement techniques (STI, AQT, PEAQ) and on listening tests performed within the vehicle or in a special playback room. It employs mono recording techniques, binaural, or array of microphones. Depending on the capacity of the student, he will have to develop "ad hoc" software for measurement or analysis (in Matlab or Visual C), to define new metrics, to analyze statistically the results of subjective tests, and to design new strategies for temporal, spectral and spatial equalization of the sound reproduction system. |
Electronics, Computer, Telecommunications, Mechanical |
|
Active Noise Cancellation |
Research carried out in collaboration with ASK Industries, Reggio Emilia. The purpose is to design and build a prototype of device, based on DSP, for processing in real time the signal captured by a primary microphone. The filtered signal is output from one or more loudspeakers, creating an antiphase sound field that cancels the original noise. The student must possess the ability to program a DSP (also using high-level interfaces such as "block diagram"), to carry out measurements of impulse response (Aurora) and of spectra (SpectraRTA), and also to work in the workshop in order to build the mechanical components of the device. |
Mechanics, Electronics, Computer Science, Information Technology |
|
Analysis of sound quality of bakery products |
Research carried out in collaboration with Barilla, Parma. The purpose is the analysis and optimization of the sound created during fracture and / or chewing of bakery products (such as cookies, biscuits, crackers, sticks, etc..). Binaural recordings are employed for objective analysis of the sound produced, and tests with human subjects are performed, in order to operate a collection of questionnaires and obtain an analysis of the subjective sensations evoked while eating these products. |
Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering for the Food Industry, Information Technology, Management |
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Use of ultrasound in the food industry |
Research carried out in collaboration with Barilla, Parma. The goal is to evaluate the possibility of using a treatment section with ultrasound for sanitizing and / or homogenization of liquid foods, either as a single treatment, or as a treatment subsidiary to other devices. The student must work alongside a research assistant in carrying out experiments on the pilot line and in the analysis of results. |
Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering for the Food Industry |
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Noise analysis of gear pumps |
Research carried out in collaboration with Casappa, Parma. The purpose is to develop new methods of signal analysis, applicable to both the noise signal radiated during operation of gear pumps, and to the "pressure ripple" signal detectable in the delivery circuit of the pump. It is expected to obtain useful information in order to identify problems in the pump (diagnostics), and to develop new, more silent pumps and of longer duration. |
Mechanical, Electronics |
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Analysis of the sound generated by old gramophones and radios |
Research carried out in collaboration with the House of Sound, Parma. It deals with measuring the sound characteristics of old gramophones or receivers radio, part of the famous Patane' collection. The recordings could be used as such in the exhibition of the House of Sound, or even be "virtualized" making use of advanced techniques of analysis and resynthesis available in the laboratory of virtual reproduction of the House of Sound. |
Telecommunications, Computer Science. |
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Sound reproduction using loudspeaker arrays |
Research carried out in collaboration with the House of Sound, Parma. The student will have to create recordings or compositions, mostly of musical events, but also of "special effects", to play on the WFS playback systems available at the House of Sound: the WFS "white room" the "Sonic Chandelier". The student must first acquire an adequate understanding of the physical mechanisms underlying the Wave Field Synthesis, and master the system hardware and software that operate the House of Sound. Then he must create one or more "documentary soundtracks" that will be "projected" at the House of Sound. |
Telecommunications, Electronics, Computer Science |
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Shooting techniques with virtual microphones |
Research carried out in collaboration with the RAI Research Centre, Turin. The purpose is the development of a device for recording "live" events such as concerts, sporting events, theatre, etc.., in all cases in which microphones located close the sound sources cannot be employed. The microphone arrays employed are the Holophone and the Eigenmike 32. The student must make a series of test recordings with these devices, process the traces recorded so as to synthesize an adequate number of virtual microphones with suitable directivity and pointing, and manage the organization of special "surround" listening tests with trained listeners specialize, with the goal to identify the best signal processing technique. |
Telecommunications, Electronics, Computer |
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Three-dimensional measurement of impulse responses in theatres and concert halls |
Research carried out in collaboration with AIDA Srl, Parma. The purpose is to develop a method of measuring acoustic characteristics of a room, making use of a new portable recording system, equipped with a tetrahedral microphone probe, called Brahma. The student must perform measurements with the "exponential sine sweep" technique in a number of rooms, comparing the results of the new technique with the traditional ones, and employing the results for designing suitable acoustical corrections, when required. |
Electronics, Civil, Telecommunications |
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Porting of Aurora plugins under Audacity
|
The
project, recently launched thanks to the activity of research assistant
Simone Campanini, aims to rebuild the suite of Aurora plugins (
www.aurora-plugins.com
)
as add-on modules for the
open-source and cross-platform program Audacity
. |
IT & Computer Science Telecommunications, Electronics |
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Porting of Aurora and X-volver plugins to VST format
|
The
project, recently launched thanks to the activity of research assistant
Andrea Venturi, aims to rebuild the suite of Aurora plugins (www.aurora-plugins.com
)
as additional modules in
VST
format. |
IT & Computer Science, Telecommunications, Electronics |
|
Non-destructive analysis of frescoes by acoustic and vibration measurements |
Research sponsored by the Cariparma Foundation, Parma. The purpose is to develop a new test method with very small invasiveness, aimed at locating structurally degraded areas in plaster, frescoes, mosaics, and other structures of historical value. The new method makes use of an "exponential sine sweep" signal, in order to operate with very low sound pressure level; an array of loudspeakers focuses sound waves, so that just a restricted area of the surface to be scanned is stressed, and an array of microphones (or a Laser-Doppler velocimeter) is employed in order to determine the vibrational response of a single point of the structure. The student must first operate a verification of the new method on artificial samples in laboratory, and then perform experimental tests "in situ" inside churches and other historic buildings in Parma. |
Civil, Mechanical |
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Development of a sonar system for "sub-bottom profiling" |
Research carried out in collaboration with WASS, La Spezia and Livorno. The goal is the development of a low-frequency Sonar system, operating in the audio field (1000-20000 Hz), broadband, in order to obtain a good penetration into the seabed and to view the soil stratigraphy below. The system uses an array of 16 hydrophones and an underwater loudspeaker fed with sine sweep signal. The student will have to make a series of tests in the laboratory, in the test tank and in the sea, in order to validate the operation of the system, and to process the results of the acquired traces in order to obtain three-dimensional images of the stratigraphy of the bottom. |
Electronics, Environment and Territory, Computer |
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Development of a three-dimensional underwater sound recording system |
Research carried out in collaboration with AIDA Srl , Parma. The purpose of the research is the development of a device for recording underwater the signals of 4 hydrophones, capable to determine the direction of origin of the sound, to be used for underwater environmental monitoring in marine protected areas. The student must follow the electromechanical development of the prototype and carry out the characterization of performance with in-tank testing and in-sea testing. |
Electronics, Environment and Territory, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering |
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Development of an "Acoustic Camera" system |
Research carried out in collaboration with AIDA srl , Parma. The purpose is to reactivate the "Acoustic Camera" system that was built four years ago, making use of high quality microphones and of a new portable hardware acquisition system, which should allow to be used outside the laboratory. The student must first reassemble the system and make it operational, then verify its performances through a series of measurements to be carried out both in the laboratory, and in industrial environment. If versed in programming, the student may also participate in the development of the new real timea software, that should replace the existing Matlab software, currently capable of "off line " processing only. |
Mechanical, Civil, Electronics, Computer Science |
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Mapping of environmental noise through measurements and simulation |
Research carried out in collaboration with the Municipality of Parma, Department of Environment. It is aimed to realize a first prototype of a control unit for acoustic monitoring of urban areas, based on the assembly of already existing, low cost components. The student must make a series of surveys by placing these 10 units in the hot spots of the city, in order to achieve the noise map in the city of Parma, also making use of the simulation software Citymap. |
Environment and Territory, Civil |
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Development of a "low cost" measurement system for building acoustic |
Research carried out in collaboration with AIDA srl , Parma. This is to verify the ability to employ low-cost instrumentation, making use of digital audio equipment originally developed in the field of music, to carry out building acoustics measurements, thanks to recent technical rules which allow for the use of the exponential sine sweep signal. This makes it possible to use a small loudspeaker and low-cost digital audio recorders. The student must carry out a campaign of comparative measurements, using either the new method and the traditional one, and compare the results obtained in a number of civil and public buildings (school, hospital, etc..). |
Civil, Environment and Territory |