On Mar 11, 11:44*am, "Michael A. Terrell"
wrote:
Adrian Tuddenham wrote:

Robert Macy wrote:

On Mar 11, 1:38 am, (Adrian
Tuddenham) wrote:
Robert Macy wrote:
Need a sound recorder for recording noise intrusion from an adjacent
tenant.

Using Sony ICD-SX700 did not achieve very good results.

What should I use?

The recorder isn't as important as the microphone and the playback
loudspeaker.

Is the noise coming through in one place (e.g. hammer drilling or tap
dancing) or is it diffuse? *If it is diffuse, an omnidirectional mic
might work best.

If the noise is predominantly low frequency (e.g. boom box) a cheap
omnidirectional mic will generally have a better low frequency response
than a cheap cardioid. *The big problem you will have with L.F. noise is
demonstrating it realistically to someone, because loudspeakers are
rarely flat at such frequencies and the bass from headphones will depend
on their positioning on the listener's ears.

Investment in a cheap analogue sound level meter will help; then you can
calibrate the recording level and match the playback level to it when
you come to demonstrate the problem. *Use the dBC scale if the noise is
predominantly L.F.

Thank you for your reply. *Curious, why dBC, not dBA?

dBA was originally intended as an indicator of the potential of
industrial noise to cause hearing damage, it had deliberately reduced
sensitivity to low frequencies because they caused proportionately less
damage (and also to make an advantage out of the fact that the
microphone of the original sound meters was not very sensitive to bass
anyway). *The use of dBC will give you a level measuremement over the
normal hearing range.

The sounds are being transferred through above tenant's flooring and
then through our ceiling. *It is possible to tell origin, but it's
like a spotlight diffused onto a sheet of paper - you can tell where
it's coming from a little.

I like the idea of calibrating to verify the recorded sound
presentation recreates EXACTLY what was there, but may be difficult in
a large courtroom...

You can demonstrate the exact effect you have been suffering to any
official who comes to visit you, but a meter reading in dBC, coupled
with a log of the times it occurs, is often sufficient to convince them..
You wouldn't normally be expected to demonstrate it in a court.

Unless the noise is of some particularly irritating character or
requires specialist identification, you may not need to record it at
all. *The action you take will depend on three properties of the noise:

1) *Its loudness
2) *What time of day or night it occurs - and for how long
3) *Its annoyance factor (is it a hum, intermittent banging noises,
thudding bass, sounds of a murder, bagpipe practice?)

...only the third property might need a recording to demonstrate the
point you want to make.

Any recommendations for readily available sound level meters? *the
Sony has vu meters on it, but I think they're relative and not
absolute.

There used to be a simple SPL meter, with analogue readout, available
from Tandy / Radio Shack at a very reasonable price. *Its accuracy
wasn't certified, but mine was spot-on when I checked it against an
expensive calibrated meter.

* *Harbor Freight has a similar sound level meter for $14.97 right now:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92282

* *Here is the owner's manual:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/manuals.taf?f=form&ItemID=92282

If you are contemplating legal action, you might have to get an 'expert'
to take legally-valid measurements for you.

--
Lead free solder is Belgium's version of 'Hold my beer and watch this!'

ARRGGG

DISCONTINUED!!!