Impulse Response Measurement Random Noise inverse Fourier Transform/autocorrelation function is a delta function (impulse) and therefore can

be used as the excitation signal for the measurement. Problems: Long signal duration required for satisfactory correlation Large number of averaging required to eliminate fluctuations (randomness) Therefore very time consuming and fine details of impulse response often lost due to fluctuations. Delta pulse approximations (e.g. starting pistols) Energy content proportional to duration of pulse but short pulse is require to simulate an impulse. Difficult to obtain satisfactory signal to noise ratio with short pulse duration. Maximum Length Sequence (MLS) Technique Pseudo random test signal (similar properties to random noise) but deterministic Sequences of delta pulses or rectangular pulses with equal amplitude but with signs changed according to the MLS pattern. Signal sequence is stationary and has a period comprising R=2n-1 pulses where n is the order of the sequence. E.g. for n=3, R=7 and a period of the pulses have signs: -1, +1, +1, -1, +1, -1, -1 It also has the general property that the sum of the signs = -1.

Because the excitation signal is deterministic, it has the great advantage of highly repeatable. Only a small number of averaging (e.g. 16) is required to improve the signal to noise ratio.

Autocorrelation is an impulse of magnitude R at multiples of period length, elsewhere is -1. Hence approaches an impulse response for large R. Another advantage is that the impulse response is recovered through a cross-correlation of the measured and excitation signal, the effect of background noise that are uncorrelated to the signal period will be greatly reduced. Hence measurements can be done in a relatively noisy environment. The duration of the MLS excitation, tmls (corresponding to one R) must be longer than the significant part of the impulse response otherwise time aliasing can occur. E.g. in room acoustics tmls should be at least longer than 2/3 of RT, ideally should be longer than RT.

Because the duration is usually long (e.g. n=16, R=65535 usually used in room acoustics measurements, a 36kHz sampling rate then gives 65526/36000 = 1.82s), the energy content carried by the excitation is high and it is generally not a problem to achieve a suitable signal level for measurements even in a large auditorium. E.g. an impulse response of a room measured by a stationary MLS with a duration equal to the RT would have energy given by the MLS signal but compressed into the impulse response. Assuming that the impulse response has an exponential decay it can be calculated that the improvement in signal level is 10log(13.8 tmls /T60) which is 11 dB if tmls =T60. One crucial consideration in the use of this technique is that the measurement environment must be stationary (or time invariant) in order for the cross-correlation to work. Unpredictable errors will occur if the measurement environment changes with time. E.g. cannot be used in rooms with rotating diffusers not suitable for outdoor measurements where atmospheric conditions change rapidly. Because of its significant advantages over conventional methods, the MLS technique is almost the de facto standard measurement method for room impulse response measurements.