Sound Lab Polar ETC (PET) Kit for Windows

Find the direction of reflecting surfaces relative to the microphone

If you need to quickly locate the direction and intensity of reflections in an acoustic environment, just use Polar ETC (PET) software with your TEF analyzer. Sound Lab Polar ETC (PET) software generates polar coordinate plots from ETC (Energy Time Curve) data. The result for the contractor and consultant is accurate and rapid distance and direction information regarding problem reflections.

 

The Sound Lab Polar ETC (PET) program not only measures the magnitude and time of arrival of reflections, but also reports the direction of the reflecting surface relative to the microphone placement. The software is supplied with a Mic Stand and Positioning Arm.

 

Sound Lab PET Kit

The Sound Lab PET Kit combines the PET software, the Mic Stand and Positioning Arm, the MK8C Cardioid Mic, an Alignment Laser and a Hard Side Carry Case.

 

The Mic Stand is essentially a two axis protractor. The microphone is positioned to the inside of the arc, so it swings around a point in space. The X axis give you the front, left, rear and right. The Y axis gives you up and down. Both axis are marked in 15 degree increments.

 

The microphone is a cardioid of our own design. The kit will work with commercial cardioids, but are they prone to being heavy, which is a disadvantage when trying to build a lightweight kit which has to rotate on arms. This mic is rugged, has good patterns for the software, and weighs a couple of ounces.

 

The Laser is made for Gold Line by American Recorder. It is very carefully manufactured on CNC machinery, and properly collimated so the dot is clear at hundreds of feet. Once again it is lightweight, and is shaped to fit in the mic stand. It also has a built in bubble level, so you can confirm that the 0,0 start position is in fact level with the floor.

 

The case is locking and is made from aluminum with composite sides. These are tough, but still lightweight. Not shown in the picture are the foam inserts.

 

And, of course the software itself, which comes on a CD. If you already have other TEF Windows programs, it will simply add to the tool bar in your current program. If you do not have other windows programs, it will run by itself.

 

PET provides Frequency, Phase, ETC and then post processes all of the data to determine the direction of origin for the individual reflections from the ETC. It does this by post processing data from six measurements (front, right, rear, left, up and down). The display then has a spherical presentation with the point of origin, and a text message of the direction of origin on both axis. Replace the cardioid mic with the laser, dial up the coordinates, and the laser is now pointed at the direction of origin for the offending reflection. Apply acoustical material, and move on to next problem. There are of course many other uses.

 

SOUND LAB PET KIT

MIC POSITIONING ARM EXTENDED