Acoustic Fingerprint™ Triggering & Audio Recording for the Optimus Green Sound Level Meters
Acoustic Fingerprint is an advanced noise event detection system, available within the Optimus Green sound level meters from Cirrus Research.
The Optimus Green Sound Level Meters can record and store audio information during a measurement. These recordings can be started manually or automatically by configuring a set of detection templates which contain rules that determine when the recordings are triggered.
The system allows templates to be created from a number of rules which can be combined to create anything from very simple level based triggers to a sophisticated set up which can use tonal noise, rate of change and level based rules.
The Optimus Green Sound Level Meters can hold up to 5 independent templates, any or all of which can be active at any time, and up to 20 independent rules.
A template contains rules and can be made up from a single, simple rule or a combination of different types of rules. Three different detection rules are available (depending upon instrument type) and these can be used either on their own or combined to develop a sophisticated detection template.
This advanced detection methodology enables the optimus green sound level meters to be used in a wide range of applications where the recording of noise levels along with audio recordings is required.
When used with the CK:680 outdoor measurement kit, the optimus sound level meter can communicate remotely over a 3G/GPRS network and provide both data download and live noise information to the NoiseTools PC. GPS location data is also provided allowing noise measurements to be stamped with the location and time/date.
Detection Rules
Three different detection rules are available (depending upon instrument type) and these can be used either on their own or combined to develop a sophisticated detection template.
Each of these rules is covered briefly below. For a more detailed explanation and examples of these templates, please refer to Technical Noise 28 - Audio Recording with the optimus sound level meters.
Level Rules
The threshold (or level) rule is the simplest of the three available. It uses a simple noise level in dB as the starting point, for example "Trigger when the LAeq is above 75dB for more than 5 seconds".
This can be used, for example, to trigger a recording when a train passes or when a noise is detected within a frequency band.
- Example: Trigger if the LAeq is above 75dB for more than 5 seconds
- Example: Trigger is the LAS goes below 30dB
Rate of Change Rule
The Rate of Change rule is very different to the Threshold rule. It is used to trigger recordings when the level changes at a certain speed and removes the link between level and triggering.
The rate of change is the "speed" at which the sound level changes, and it is usually expressed in dB per second (dB/s). It shows how fast the sound is changing.
- Example: Trigger if there is an increase in the LAeq of more than 10 dB in 5 sec (10dB/5sec)
- Example: Trigger if the LAeq has increased by at least 10dB since 5 seconds ago
Tonal Rule
The Tonal Noise rule allows recordings to be triggered when a tone is detected according to either the ISO 1996-2:2007 Simplified Method or the Cirrus improved method.
This feature is available on the CR:171C & CR:172C instruments.
- Example: Trigger if a tone is detected in any band
- Example: Trigger is a tone at 3,15kHz is detected
Actions & Alerts
When a template within the system has been triggered, there are a number of actions that can take place, depending upon the instrument and any accessories to which is it connected.
Markers
Each time a template is triggered the noise profile, or time history data, is marked and this can be seen when the data is downloaded to the NoiseTools software.
This is enabled as default and provides a range of very useful information which can be used for further analysis and reporting.
Audio Recording
In a standard optimus green sound level meters, the most basic action is to start an audio recording when a template is triggered.
When the criteria for the event have been met, the recording will start and continue until those conditions are no longer met or the maximum duration has been exceeded. Pre and post triggers are available along with maximum durations.
Audio recordings can be made using either standard quality, which provides 16bit/16kHz WAV files, or studio quality, which provides 32bit/96kHz WAV files.
SMS Alerts
When the optimus sound level meter is used with the CK:680 outdoor kit, the instrument can send an SMS or Text message, via the optimus cloud system, to a range of different numbers when a template is triggered.
Email Alerts
When the optimus sound level meter is used with the CK:680 outdoor kit, the instrument can send an email , via the optimus cloud system, to a range of different addresses.
Twitter Alerts
When the optimus sound level meter is used with the CK:680 outdoor kit, the instrument can send an Tweet , via the optimus cloud system, to a range of different addresses.
Acoustic Fingerprint™ availability
The function is available on the following Optimus Sound Level Meters
Optimus Green Sound Level Meters
- CR:1720 Class 2 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging & Audio Recording
- CR:1710 Class 1 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging & Audio Recording
- CR:172A Class 2 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording & 1:1 Octave Band Filters
- CR:171A Class 1 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording & 1:1 Octave Band Filters
- CR:172B Class 2 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording, 1:1 & 1:3 Octave Band Filters
- CR:171B Class 1 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording, 1:1 & 1:3 Octave Band Filters
- CR:172C Class 2 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording, 1:1 & 1:3 Octave Band Filters & Tonal Noise Detection
- CR:171C Class 1 Integrating Sound Level Meter with Data Logging, Audio Recording, 1:1 & 1:3 Octave Band Filters & Tonal Noise Detection
More Information
Find out more
If you have any questions or if you would like any more information, please contact us and we will be pleased to help.
From the UK, contact us on 01723 891655.
From outside the UK, please contact us on +44 1723 891655.
You can also contact us via our contact form.