The Black Box

Eric Moskus
&
Nathan Sibon, Zach Bruin, Josh Roberts, Chris Nottoli, Melissa King
November 2
th
, 2!"#
$coustical %esting &'
(r) (omini*ue Ch+enne
(r) ,auren Ronsse
"
Abstract:
%he ob-ective o. The Black Box /as to accuratel0 1escribe the com2onents containe1 insi1e o. a
locke1 case, using an0 available e*ui2ment) %he case itsel. containe1 t/o in2uts 3labele1 4C5 an1 4(56
an1 t/o out2uts 3labele1 4$5 an1 4B56) &t /as .oun1 that bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1 out2ut 4B5 /as a
gra2hic e*uali7er, a 1o/n/ar1 e82an1er /ith a 9'" ratio, an1 a com2ressor:limiter /ith an ;'" ratio
an1 a threshol1 at <2! 1Bu) =ut2ut 4$5 /as con.igure1 to act as an antenna, intro1ucing ra1io
.re*uenc0 3R>6 inter.erence an1 noise into that out2ut) &n2ut 4(5 /as entirel0 1isconnecte1 .rom the
signal chain /ithin the case)
Introduction:
The Black Box /as the last o. three 2ro-ects to be com2lete1 .or the $coustical %esting & course
at Columbia College Chicago) %he aim o. the 2ro-ect /as to accuratel0 1escribe the com2onents
containe1 insi1e o. a locke1 case 3herea.ter re.erre1 to as, 4the black bo856)
Initial Listening Tests:
%he black bo8 32icture1 in >ig) "6 has t/o in2uts 34C5 an1 4(56 an1 t/o out2uts 34$5 an1 4B56)
&nitial listening tests /ere con1ucte1 to 1etermine the .un1amental connections bet/een each in2ut an1
out2ut) ?arious signals 3sine tones, /hite noise, etc)6 /ere generate1 .rom a %erraSon1e $u1io %oolbo8
32icture1 in >ig) $<" in $22en1i8 $6 an1 route1 into the black bo8 in2ut3s6 via an @,R cable) %he
signal /as then route1 .rom the black bo8 out2ut3s6 into a ASC KB lou1s2eaker, so that the out2ut3s6 o.
the black bo8 coul1 be activel0 monitore1) %his 2rocess /as re2eate1 .or ever0 combination o. in2uts
an1 out2uts 3e)g) in2ut 4C5 to out2ut 4B5, in2ut 4(5 an1 4C5 to out2ut 4B5, etc)6 to 1etermine /hich
2ath/a0s allo/e1 signal to 2ass into the lou1s2eaker)
2
%hese listening tests reveale1 that the onl0 /orking connection /as bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1
out2ut 4B5) $ subse*uent listening test using music as a source also reveale1 /hat soun1e1 like a noise
gate bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1 out2ut 4B5) =nl0 the transients an1 lou1est sections o. the music /ere
out2ut .rom the lou1s2eaker)
Regar1less o. in2ut, the out2ut o. 4$5 /as onl0 noise, an1 the original signal being sent in .rom
the lou1s2eaker /as lost) &t /as notice1, ho/ever, that a sine tone 2la0e1 through in2ut 4C5 coul1
.aintl0 be hear1 over the nois0 out2ut o. 4$5) %his onl0 occurre1 using high out2ut levels o. the $u1io
%oolbo8) %his /as believe1 at the time to be an e..ect o. crosstalk bet/een the channels)
Chen the onl0 in2ut use1 /as 4(5 no signal coul1 be hear1 out o. 4B5, an1 4$5 onl0 out2ut its
characteristic noise) >rom the listening tests it /as believe1 in2ut 4(5 /as not connecte1 to the signal
chain /ithin the black bo8)
#
Fig. 1: Image of the black box with inputs "C" and "D" and outputs "A" and "B". he powe!
suppl" is located on the left.
Output A:
&nitial listening tests 1emonstrate1 that the out2ut o. 4$5 /as noise) %o better un1erstan1 the
*ualit0 o. that noise, a series o. nine 1i..erent .re*uenc0 res2onse gra2hs /ere constructe1 .rom in2ut
4C5 an1 4(5 to out2ut 4$5, using the %E>2! unit an1 Soun1 ,ab so.t/are) Each .re*uenc0 res2onse
test /as 2er.orme1 at a slightl0 higher out2ut level than the 2revious, so that the variation o. .re*uenc0
res2onse over am2litu1e coul1 be observe1) >ig) 2 sho/s the overla0 o. these nine se2arate .re*uenc0
res2onse gra2hs)
9
Fig. 2: Pictured is an overlay of nine separate frequency response graphs over varying amplitude, from inputs ! and "
to output !. #reated using the T$F2% unit and &ound 'a( soft)are. The output kno( on the T$F2% unit )as used to
increase the amplitude for each of the nine tests. $ach frequency response )as then overlayed to create this graph. The
imprecise method of turning the kno( means that the difference in amplitude for each test is different. !mplitude levels on
the y*axis of graph )ere not cali(rated and can only (e used in relative terms. +verall, the graph sho)s little variation in
frequency response )ith changing amplitude. ,t also sho)s several distinct peaks in frequency response -.% /0, 12% /0,
etc.3. Parameters used during these tests can (e seen in Ta(le B*1 in !ppendix B.
%he small variation in .re*uenc0 res2onse .or var0ing am2litu1es that is seen in >ig) 2 in1icates
that out2ut 4$5 is largel0 in1e2en1ent o. in2ut level) &t /as also believe1 that the .re*uenc0 res2onse
2eaks 3beginning /ith a 2eak aroun1 ! D76 ma0 have been a result o. groun1 hum or R> inter.erence
.rom com2onents in the surroun1ing room) %he crosstalk<e..ect hear1 in the listening test also
in1icate1 inter.erence entering out2ut 4$5)
Subse*uentl0, a small ra1io transmitter 32icture1 in >ig) $<9 in $22en1i8 $6 /as brought in to
see i. the noise observe1 on out2ut 4$5 coul1 be increase1 or altere1 /hen R> /as transmitte1 into the
black bo8) %he signal generator 32icture1 in >ig) $<# in $22en1i8 $6 /as connecte1 1irectl0 to the
@,R in2ut o. the ra1io transmitter, so that sine tones coul1 be transmitte1 .rom the ra1io transmitter
antenna into out2ut 4$5 o. the black bo8) =ut2ut 4$5 /as monitore1 in real<time through
S2ectraE,FS) %he signal .lo/ 1iagram o. this setu2 is sho/n in >ig) #)
Chen the signal generator /as set at ma8imum out2ut, the sine tones being transmitte1 via the
ra1io transmitter coul1 be seen being im2ose1 on the out2ut o. 4$5) &t /as sho/n that R> signals coul1
be broa1cast an1 1emo1ulate1 on out2ut 4$5, 2roving that it /as acting as an antenna, an1 /as
constantl0 2icking u2 R> inter.erence on its channel) >ig) 9 sho/s the transmitte1 signal being im2ose1
on the noise o. out2ut 4$5)
G
Fig. 4: &ignal chain used during the radio transmitter tests. ,t represents t)o physically isolated signal chains. /o)ever,
the antenna of the radio transmitter )as placed almost directly against the (lack (ox.
Input D:
&nitial listening tests using the ASC KB in1icate1 the 2ossibilit0 that in2ut 4(5 /as not
connecte1 to the signal chain /ithin the bo8) %o veri.0 this, signal /as out2ut o. the $u1io %oolbo8
into in2ut 4(5 an1 out o. out2ut 4B5) =ut2ut 4B5 /as then connecte1 to a millivoltmeter 32icture1 in
$<" in $22en1i8 $6) %he millivoltmeter registere1 7ero voltage coming .rom the black bo8Hs out2ut,
even 1es2ite increase1 in2ut signal level) %hus, it /as 1etermine1 that in2ut 4(5 /as com2letel0
1isconnecte1 .rom the signal chain /ithin the black bo8)

Fig. 5: This graph sho)s a spectral analysis of output 6!7 )hile sine tones )ere (eing
transmitted from the near(y radio transmitter. The axes are not sho)n on the graph.
Frequency is represented in the x*axis, time in the y*axis, and amplitude is represented (y
color. The green line to the right of the arro) represents the output of the signal generator
(eing transmitted via 8F into the output of 6!7. The output frequency of the signal
generator )as manually oscillated during this test, hence the curvature of the line.
From Input to Output B:
Fre!uenc" #esponse:
Fsing a %E>2! unit 3see >ig) $<" in $22en1i8 $6 an1 the accom2an0ing Soun1,ab so.t/are, a
series o. thirteen 1i..erent .re*uenc0 res2onse gra2hs /ere constructe1 .rom in2ut 4C5 to out2ut 4(5)
$.ter each .re*uenc0 res2onse gra2h /as generate1 the out2ut level on the %E>2! unit /as slightl0
increase1 in the same manner as that use1 to construct >ig) 2) %he overla0 o. all these .re*uenc0
res2onse gra2hs can be seen in >ig) #)
I
Fig. 4: Pictured is an overlay of thirteen frequency response graphs over varying amplitude from input # to output B.
#reated using the T$F2% unit and &ound 'a( soft)are. The output kno( on the T$F2% unit )as used to incrementally
increase the amplitude for each test. $ach frequency response test )as then overlayed into one graph. The imprecise
method of turning the kno( means that the difference in amplitude for each test is different. !mplitude levels on the y*axis of
graph )ere not cali(rated and can only (e used in relative terms.
>ig) # sho/s all the characteristic .re*uenc0 res2onse 2eaks an1 1i2s o. an e*uali7er) &t /as also
1etermine1 that each 2eak an1 1i2 corres2on1e1 closel0 /ith J<octave ban1 center .re*uencies 3e)g)
"!! D7, "2G D7, "! D76) Kra2hic e*uali7ers contain center .re*uencies corres2on1ing to J<octave
ban1 center .re*uencies) %hus, it /as 1etermine1 that there /as a gra2hic e*uali7er bet/een in2ut 4C5
an1 out2ut 4B5, an1 that its sha2e matches the sha2e o. the e*uali7ation seen in >ig) #)
Trans$er Functions:
>ig) # also sho/s a .lattening o. .re*uenc0 res2onse at higher out2ut levels, /hich is
characteristic o. a com2ressor:limiter) &n or1er to attain a more 2recise vie/ o. /hat /as ha22ening to
the signal /ith increase1 am2litu1e, trans.er .unction gra2hs /ere constructe1) %he signal generator
/as use1 as the soun1 source an1 the signal through the black bo8, .rom in2ut 4C5 to out2ut 4B5, /as
monitore1 on the millivoltmeter) %he re.erence signal 1irectl0 .rom the signal generator /as also
monitore1 on the millivoltmeter) %he .ull signal .lo/ .or the test is sho/n in >ig) 9, an1 an image o. the
e*ui2ment use1 1uring these tests can be seen in >ig) $<2 in $22en1i8 $)
B
Fig. 5: This is the signal flo) used during construction
of the transfer function graph seen in Fig. 9. The level
directly from the signal generator )as monitored on the
millivoltmeter. The signal through input # and
output! )as also monitored on the millivoltmeter.
%o construct the trans.er .unction gra2hs, the level o. the 1irect, re.erence signal .rom the signal
generator /as incrementall0 increase1 b0 )G 1B?, an1 the corres2on1ing voltage o. the signal through
the black bo8 /as recor1e1 at each increment) %hese 2oints /ere then 2lotte1 an1 the 2rocess /as
re2eate1 .or a total o. eight 1i..erent .re*uencies) %he0 are all overla0e1 an1 gra2he1 in >ig) G)
%he trans.er .unction gra2h in >ig) G sho/s the am2litu1e<.lattening e..ect o. the
com2ressor:limiter on signals at higher in2ut levels) &t /as 1etermine1 that the com2ressor /as acting
as a limiter /ith an ;'" ratio, because regar1less o. out2ut level the signal /oul1 not rise above the
com2ressor:limiter threshol1) %he threshol1 o. the limiter /as 1etermine1 to be aroun1 <2L 1B?
3or <2)B 1Bu6, as that /as consi1ere1 the average in2ut level at /hich the com2ressor began to /ork
L
Fig. 9: The graph a(ove is a comparison of input level -in dB:3 to output level -in dB:3 for eight different frequencies (eing
run through input # and output B. The signal generator )as used as the sound source, and the millivoltmeter )as used
to record levels in dB:. To construct the graph, the level of the direct, reference signal from the signal generator )as
incrementally increased (y .9 dB:, and the corresponding voltage of the signal through the (lack (ox )as recorded at each
increment. These points )ere then plotted, and the process )as repeated for several different frequencies. The straight red
line on the graph represents a linear, 1:1 response, )hich )as simply used a reference. ;x (et)een different frequencies )as
determined to (e an effect of the graphic equali0er.
on the 1i..erent .re*uencies)
&t /as also notice1 that lo/ .re*uencies a22eare1 to be sub-ect to a higher limiter threshol1 than
that .or higher .re*uencies) >or instance, >ig) G sho/s that the limiter .lattens high .re*uencies to
aroun1 <#! 1B? out2ut, /hile a lo/ .re*uenc0, such as # D7, .lattens closer to <2! 1B? out2ut) %his
2henomenon can also be seen in the gra2h sho/n in >ig) #, /here the threshol1 o. the limiter can be
seen to rise at lo/er .re*uencies) &t /as believe1 that the onl0 e82lanation .or this 2henomenon /as a
shelving e*uali7er, coming a.ter both the limiter an1 the gra2hic e*uali7er in the signal chain) %his /as
believe1 to be the onl0 /a0 in /hich lo/ .re*uencies coul1 be booste1 above the limiter threshol1)
Fne82ecte1l0, >ig) G also hel2e1 e82lain /h0 it soun1e1 as i. there /as a noise gate bet/een
in2ut 4C5 an1 out2ut 4B5 1uring the listening tests) $ consistent slo2e o. .our /as calculate1 .or the
1i..erent .re*uencies, as the0 rise .rom the noise .loor to the 2oint /here the0 hit the limiter threshol1
3as seen in >ig) G6) $ 1o/n/ar1 e82an1er, /orking at a "'9 ratio, e82lains the consistent slo2e o. the
lines in >ig) G, as /ell as the soun1 o. the noise gate 1uring listening tests) &t /as also 1etermine1 that
the 1o/n/ar1 e82an1er threshol1 must be at or above the com2ressor threshol1, because the
1o/n/ar1 e82an1er /orks on the signal at ever0 2oint bet/een the noise .loor an1 limiter threshol1)
%ignal Flo&:
%he signal .lo/ o. com2onents in the black bo8 /as con.ine1 to being bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1
out2ut 4B5) %his is because out2ut 4$5 /as 1etermine1 to be acting as an antenna, an1 in2ut 4(5 /as
1etermine1 to be entirel0 1isconnecte1 .rom the signal .lo/) %he gra2hic e*uali7er /as 1etermine1 to
be the .irst com2onent bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1 out2ut 4B5) &. the gra2hic e*uali7er came a.ter the
1o/n/ar1 e82an1er then the lines o. slo2e .our seen in >ig) G /oul1 not have been consistent) &. the
gra2hic e*uali7er came a.ter the limiter then the e*uali7ation shoul1 retain its sha2e a.ter the limiter
"!
threshol1 is reache1, though >ig) # sho/s that this is not the case)
&t /as also 1etermine1 that a shelving EA /as the last com2onent in the signal chain because it
/as believe1 to have raise1 lo/ .re*uenc0 content over the limiter threshol1) %he or1er bet/een the
1o/n/ar1 e82an1er an1 limiter coul1 not be 1etermine1) %he actual signal .oun1 insi1e the black bo8
is sho/n in >ig) )
>ig) sho/s that there /as no shelving e*uali7ation a.ter the limiter bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1
out2ut 4B5) %he higher limiter threshol1 at lo/ .re*uencies 3as observe1 in >ig) # an1 >ig) G6 /as
actuall0 1ue to an im2e1ance mismatch bet/een s0stems, an1 coul1 have been reme1ie1 /ith the use
o. a resistor in the signal 2ath)
$s 2re1icte1, the sha2e o. the gra2hic e*uali7er resemble1 the sha2e o. the e*uali7ation seen in
>ig) #) %he ratioHs .or both the 1o/n/ar1 e82an1er an1 the limiter /ere accuratel0 .oun1) Do/ever, the
actual threshol1 o. the limiter 3<2! 1Bu6 /as slightl0 o.. the estimate1 3<2)B 1Bu6 limiter threshol1) $ll
other com2onents /ere accuratel0 .oun1)
""
Fig. .: This signal flo) chart sho)s the actual component flo) inside of the (lack (ox.
This )as determined exactly only after opening the (lack (ox.
onclusion:
%hrough a series o. various tests, the com2onents insi1e o. the black bo8, as /ell as the basic
settings .or those com2onents, /ere .oun1) &t /as 1etermine1 that bet/een in2ut 4C5 an1 out2ut 4B5
/as a gra2hic e*uali7er, a 1o/n/ar1 e82an1er /ith a 9'" ratio, an1 a com2ressor:limiter /ith an ;'"
ratio an1 a threshol1 at <2! 1Bu) =ut2ut 4$5 /as con.igure1 to act as an antenna, intro1ucing ra1io
.re*uenc0 3R>6 inter.erence an1 noise into that out2ut) &n2ut 4(5 /as entirel0 1isconnecte1 .rom the
signal chain /ithin the case)
Several e8tra tests coul1 have been 2er.orme1 to attain greater accurac0 in results) &. the
electrical im2e1ance o. the 1evices ha1 been consi1ere1 then the mistaken claim o. a shelving
e*uali7er coul1 have been avoi1e1, an1 the lo/ .re*uenc0 s/ell in res2onse at high am2litu1es coul1
have been negate1) &n turn, this /oul1 have allo/e1 the threshol1 o. the com2ressor to be calculate1
more accuratel0) %he attack time o. the limiter coul1 also be calculate1 b0 sen1ing im2ulses o. various
lengths into the black bo8) &. an im2ulse b02asses the limiter then its 1uration is shorter than the attack
time o. the com2ressor) %he length o. the im2ulse coul1 then be increase1 until it is caught b0 the
limiter, an1 this length /oul1 be the attack time o. the limiter)
"2
Appendices
Appendix A ' (ictures o$ %etup and )!uipment
"#
Fig. !*2: Pictured is the signal generator and millivoltmeter used primarily in constructing
the transfer function graphs seen in Fig. 9. The red line on the millivoltmeter -on the left3
represents the level of the the 1k/0 tone through the (ox )hile the (lack line on the
millivoltmeter -on the right3 represents the dry, reference signal directly from the signal
generator.
Fig. !*1: Pictured is the Terra&onde !udio Tool(ox, )hich )as used to generate different types
of signals -sine )ave, )hite noise, etc.3 for various tests. The T$F2% unit is also pictured. ,t )as
used to generate the frequency response graphs seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.
Appendix B ' Fre!uenc" #esponse (arameters
"9
Ta(le B*1: Frequency response parameters used to construct the frequency
response graphs seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. !ll parameters )ere kept the same for
each test, and all tests performed )ith the T$F2% unit in the &ound 'a(
soft)are.
Start Frequency: 20 Hz
Stop Frequency: 20,000 Hz
Sweep Time: 59.733 s
Sweep Rate: 33.5 Hz!s
Frequency Reso"ution: #$.3 Hz
Time Reso"ution: 5.%$ ms
&istance Reso"ution: %#.79 'eet
(an)wi)t*: #$.3 Hz
+um,er o' Samp"es: $#92
Frequency Response Parameters
Fig. !*4: This is a picture of the radio transmitter used to transmit sine tones into
output !. The transmitter unit utili0es an <'8 input, and (roadcasts on F.=. 2>.4.