L’ARGOT DELL’AUDIO - Audio Jargon
BEAMFORMER/MODELLATORE DI FASCIO: diffusore
composto da più altoparlanti atti a creare un’emissione sonora
modellata a seconda delle necessità dell’utente. Può essere
di tipo passivo, con amplificatori e DSP esterni o attivo, con
elettronica incorporata.
BOCCASCENA: nei teatri, è lo spazio che delimita il
palcoscenico.
CAD ACUSTICO: software per la simulazione dei campi
sonori complessi. È in grado di calcolare una serie di parametri
acustici significativi nel campo dell’Acustica Architettonica
e dell’Elettroacustica. Alcuni software sono dotati di
un’estensione per la riproduzione sonora del Campo Sonoro
simulato, talvolta capace d’impressionante realismo.
CAMPO SONORO DIRETTO: è generato da una sorgente
sonora che invia l’energia direttamente verso l’ascoltatore.
DSP: Digital Signal Processor – Elaboratore digitale di segnale.
Dispositivo elettronico dotato di processore in grado di
elaborare digitalmente un segnale. In campo audio ha sostituito
le apparecchiature analogiche e creato un enorme panorama di
nuove applicazioni.
LINEA DI RITARDO: dispositivo in grado di ritardare
temporalmente un segnale elettrico. Prima meccanico, poi
magnetico, infine elettronico analogico e ora elettronico
digitale, realizzato con l’ausilio dei DSP.
LINEA DI SUONO/LINE ARRAY: diffusore composto da
numerosi altoparlanti collocati in modo da comporre una
colonna lunga anche alcuni metri. Se la colonna è progettata
correttamente, l’interferenza fra gli altoparlanti genera un’onda
sonora cilindrica.
PARADISO (detto anche piccionaia e loggione): ordine
superiore di posti in un teatro, vicino al soffitto.
STEERING SYSTEM: linea di suono beamformer in grado di
inclinare l’emissione sonora, di allargarla e generare due o più
fasci.
TEMPO DI RIVERBERAZIONE (T60): grandezza usata in
Architettura Acustica. Valuta il tempo – in secondi – necessario
affinché l’impulso di energia introdotto in un ambiente si riduca
di 60 dB. All’aperto, il valore del T60 è 0 s o poco più.
“Cosa?”
“Non abbiamo parlato dei bassi”.
“Già abbiamo chiarito che questo sistema non sarà
utilizzato per concerti rock, e i diffusori che abbiamo
scelto sono in grado di scendere senza problemi e con
buona pressione sonora sino a 60 Hz. Però è giusto
offrire al Sovrintendente l’opzione di poter riprodurre le
ottave più basse. Ho una soluzione anche per questo,
però prima beviamoci un caffè”.
The die was cast and we agreed to show the
Superintendent one of the speakers we intended to use,
to gain his approval and the consensus to proceed with the
project and proposal of the system. Later, the Soundman
explained to me in detail the technology he intended to use
and its fascinating possibilities, assuring me that he would
have managed the “mathematical” theoretical part of the
project, entrusting me with the formulation of the proposal
and installation of the system, if it were approved.
A few days passed and, as promised, I showed the
Superintendent one of the speakers we had talked about.
A one metre long very slender sound line, wide and
less than fifteen centimetres deep. The Superintendent,
www.connessioni.biz
BEAMFORMER: speaker composed of more loudspeakers
to create a sound emission tailored to the user’s needs. It can
be passive, with external amplifiers and DSP, or active, with
electronics incorporated.
PROSCENIUM: in theatres, it is the space which separates the
stage from the auditorium.
ACOUSTIC CAD: software to simulate complex sound fields. It
is able to calculate a series of significant acoustic parameters in
the Architectural Acoustics and Electric Acoustics field. Several
software versions are equipped with an extension to reproduce
the sound of the simulated Sound field, which is sometimes
able to offer amazing realism.
DIRECT SOUND FIELD: it is generated by a sound source which
sends the energy directly to the listener.
DSP: Digital Signal Processor. Electronic device equipped with
a processor able to process a signal digitally. In the audio field
it has replaced analogue appliances and created an enormous
panorama of new applications.
DELAY LINE: device able to delay the time of an electric signal.
First mechanical, then magnetic, analogue electronic and now
digital electronic, produced with the aid of the DSP.
SOUND LINE / LINE ARRAY: speaker composed of numerous
loudspeakers positioned to compose a long column which
can reach several metres in length. If the column is designed
correctly, the interference between the loudspeakers generates
a cylindrical sound wave.
GALLERY (ALSO KNOWN AS GODS): upper row of seats in a
theatre, close to the ceiling.
STEERING SYSTEM: beamformer sound line able to tilt sound
emission, to widen it and generate two or more beams.
REVERBERATION TIME (T60): measurement used in
Architectural Acoustics. It assesses the time – in seconds
- required for the impulse of energy introduced into an
environment to fall by 60dB. In the open air, the value of T60 is 0
or a little higher.
interested first and foremost in the aesthetic impact of
the system and only secondly in its quality – which, with
great confidence in the 21st science, he takes for granted
... – proved to be more than happy, having allayed his fears
over a proposal based on the cumbersome and intrusive
speakers which other installers had offered him.
I obtained his approval and proceeded with the presentation
of the proposal. On that occasion, I also measured the
Reverberation Time of the theatre, following the procedure
taught to me by the Soundman (see part II of “The
Soundman and I”, “Acoustics in relation to Architecture:
Friend or foe?” – Connessioni November 2011).
THE PROJECT IN THE WOLF’S LAIR
The Soundman phoned me today, telling me that the
project of the audio system was ready, and calling me
for a meeting in his office to discuss it. It is the first time
I have put foot in the Soundman’s lair and I am a little
disappointed. I almost expected a vast and mysterious
cave, full of esoteric appliances, cables and sparks: a little
of Tesla and a little of Frankenstein. And yet, nothing of
the sort. It is a very normal apartment in a new district on
the outskirts of the city, where fortunately I had no trouble
finding parking, and the room where we settled to discuss
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