For example, Audio-Technica’s BP4029 stereo shotgun condenser microphone can handle a maximum of 126 dB (click the “Specifications” tab at the link above). This measurement is known as maximum sound pressure level ( SPL). Some may top out at certain decibel ratings and are unable to capture louder sounds. There are many ways to think about this, but I’ll focus on three:įirst, not every microphone can capture loud sounds at all. That’s why the chart is intriguing: it shows us what is technically required to capture certain sounds. Some are designed to shine when paired with certain sound effects, or when doing specific tasks. We all know that not all recorders and microphones are created equally. A Guide to Gear Capabilitiesįirst, you can use it as a guide for field recording sound effects. Not all distances to the subjects were noted, however, most specifics were within 1 meter.
#Decibel comparison download#
You can protect your hearing by lowering the volume of music, reducing the time you’re exposed to loud noise, and using earplugs or ear defenders in noisy environments.You can view it on Google Sheets, or download a copy from the links below: Remember, the louder the noise is and the longer you are exposed to it, the higher the risk to your hearing. If noise is so loud that it hurts your ears, you should immediately leave the venue or stop the activity that’s causing the noise – and use hearing protection in future. If you keep exposing yourself to loud noise, this damage will become more noticeable and permanent over time. If you find you can’t hear properly or have ringing in your ears for a few hours afterwards, it’s a sign you’ve been exposed to noise that’s loud enough to damage your ears and you may have developed a slight and permanent hearing loss. You may be exposed to noise that’s dangerously loud if you go to music events, listen to music through headphones, shoot for sport, ride a motorbike or use power tools.
#Decibel comparison professional#
There are decibel reader apps that are available to download onto your smartphone or tablet, but these should only be used as a guide and aren’t designed for professional use. It can be hard to tell how loud sounds are, but if you can’t talk to someone who’s about 2m (6ft) away without shouting because of background noise, it’s likely that noise levels are dangerously high. For sounds of 110–120dB, even a very short exposure time can cause hearing damage. You’re at risk of hearing damage after just 15 minutes when you’re in an average nightclub, which plays music at 100dB, if you don’t use earplugs to protect your ears. So, for example, the safe exposure time for 88dB is four hours. As sound intensity doubles with every increase of 3dB, the safe exposure time halves. Remember that you’re exposed to lots of different sounds that are 85dB or over throughout the day, and this exposure time adds up. The safe exposure time for 85dB is up to eight hours a day. So even though, for example, the sound of heavy traffic doesn’t sound twice as loud as a food blender, it’s twice as intense. Sound intensity (the energy the sound wave carries) doubles with every increase of 3dB. The length of time you can ‘safely’ be exposed to sound over 85dB without needing to use hearing protection depends on how loud it is. But if you work in a noisy environment and the sound levels reach 80dB, your employer should assess the risk to your hearing and give you information about this. Sounds under 85dB are safe to listen to – you don’t need to use any hearing protection. Dangerous decibel levelsĨ5dB is the threshold level at which your hearing can become damaged over time. 130dB: an aeroplane taking off 100m away.ġ40dB is the level at which noise causes pain for most people, although some people may find lower levels painful too.0dB: the quietest sound a healthy human ear can hear.Noise is measured using the decibel (dB) scale, which reflects the sensitivity of human ears to different levels and frequencies of sound. Here’s our guide to understanding how loud is too loud, so you know when to use hearing protection. It can be hard to tell how loud sounds are.
0 kommentar(er)
