Acoustic feedback:

Gul E Zahra Naqvi

Lecturer Audiology
BMDC BAHAWALPUR
Introduction:

 Audio feedback (also known as acoustic feedback, simply

as feedback, or the Larsen effect) is a special kind of
positive loop gain which occurs when a sound loop exists between an
audio input (for example, a microphone or guitar pickup) and an audio
output (for example, a power amplified loudspeaker).
 In this example, a signal received by the microphone is amplified and
passed out of the loudspeaker. The sound from the loudspeaker can
then be received by the microphone again, amplified further, and then
passed out through the loudspeaker again.
 The frequency of the resulting sound is determined by resonance
frequencies in the microphone, amplifier, and loudspeaker, the
acoustics of the room, the directional pick-up and emission patterns of
the microphone and loudspeaker, and the distance between them.
Definition:

 The reverberation of sound waves from a loudspeaker to a preceding part of an audio

system, such as to the microphone, in such a manner as to reinforce, and distort, the
original input.
 Acoustic feedback is basically the result of the sound level coming from the
loudspeaker being picked up by the microphone, and being amplified. Then this
amplified signal is again picked up by the microphone and gets amplified again.
Acoustic feedback in hearing aid:

 Hearing aid feedback is what happens when the acoustic signal—or sound wave—escapes the ear canal and
hits the hearing aid microphone. It can sound like a squeal, screech, whistle, loud buzz or hiss.
 “It’s been around in hearing aids since the dawn of time,” Soriya Estes, owner of Texas-based
Estes Audiology said. “The more severe your hearing loss, the greater the chances for potential feedback,
simply because of the power and size of the sound wave.”
What causes audio feedback?

 A participant has both the computer and telephone audio active

 The speakers on participants' computers or telephones are too close to each other
 There are multiple computers with active audio in the same conference room
Reason for feedback problem:

 Placing loudspeakers too close to microphones

 Too many open microphones
 Room surfaces that are hard & reflective such as glass, marble, wood
Acoustic of rooms:

 Room acoustics describes how sound behaves in an enclosed space. Sound of different
frequencies behaves differently in a room. Reflections between walls, floor and ceiling create room
modes at specific frequencies and locations. Reflections also produce reverberation.
Different acoustic room types

 Different types of room will create such different sound fields that this in itself requires different descriptors if a
meaningful evaluation is to be made. The list of actual types of rooms can of course be made very long but, if we
restrict ourselves to the most common ones, three different basic acoustic types can be identified
 Hard rooms
The first is a room with little sound absorption, a “hard room” in which the surfaces reflect most of the noise.
 Rooms with absorbent ceilings
Another type of room which is much more common is a room with a sound-absorbing ceiling. This type acts
differently than the hard room and, as a rule, requires several descriptors for an acoustic assessment
Different acoustic room types:

 Open-plan rooms
A third type is a room with extended forms such as open-plan areas and corridors.
How to eliminate audio feedback?

 To eliminate feedback, you must interrupt the feedback loop.

 1. Prevent sound resonance by placing microphones and speakers away from each other.
 2. Minimize microphone volume, reduce echo.
 3. Reduce the frequency of howling with EQ, this is considered the best way but must be practiced and have
professional knowledge.
Equalization:

 Equalization in sound recording and reproduction is the process of adjusting the volume of different
frequency bands within an audio signal. The circuit or equipment used to achieve this is called an
equalizer.
 It is the process of adjusting the balance between frequency components within an electronic
signal. The most well known use of equalization is in sound recording and reproduction but there
are many other applications in electronics and telecommunications. The circuit or equipment used
to achieve equalization is called an equalizer "adjust the amplitude of audio signals at
particular frequencies" they are, "in other words, frequency-specific volume knobs." .
 These devices strengthen or weaken the energy of specific frequency bands or "frequency ranges".
Equalization:

 Selectively boosting or cutting bands of frequencies to improve the performance of a sound reinforcement
system.
 It improve the naturalness or intelligibility of a sound reinforcement system by emphasizing the frequency
range most critical for speech.
 It increases the overall output level of a sound reinforcement system by reducing the system output the
frequency bands at which the feedback occurs. These frequency bands will differ from system to system
based on many variables, including room acoustics microphone placement/design, loudspeaker location
design, even air temperature.
How to approach equalization:

 Approach equalization gently and slowly! After every adjustment, listen carefully to the resulting sound. The
goal is to improve sound quality as well as increase the gain before feedback.
 When the system is loud enough & or clear enough stop equalizing! Also stop equalizing & examine
complete sound reinforcement system in detail whenever the equalization causes a degradation in the sound
quality.
How does the equalization program work?

 Equalizers are software or hardware filters that adjust the loudness of specific frequencies. As with all sound
engineering, the basis is on the human ear.
 Certain frequencies are louder than others to our ears, despite having the same or even more energy behind it
 What are the two types of Equalization
techniques?

The first one frequency domain equalization

techniques which includes pre-tone
equalization and it is used where channel
order is larger than the cyclic prefix.

The second one is time domain equalization

techniques which includes channel shortening
and time domain statistics-based techniques.
Uses:

 Equalizers are used in recording studios, radio studios and production control rooms, and live sound
reinforcement and in instrument amplifiers, such as guitar amplifiers, to correct or adjust the response of
microphones, instrument pick-ups, loudspeakers, and hall acoustics.
 Equalization may also be used to eliminate or reduce unwanted sounds (e.g., low-frequency hum coming
from a guitar amplifier), make certain instruments or voices more (or less) prominent, enhance particular
aspects of an instrument's tone, or combat feedback (howling) in a public address system.