Testing for system resonance

Does anyone know how to test for resonance fq's for a mac system?

I can choose a sine wave from the analyzer in Soundtrack Pro, and sweep the fq thru the spectrum, but how do I measure the volume result? It only puts out the volume that is selected.

It might show a fuller set of harmonics with a square wave, but would this really vary with fq for my system? I want to find the dominant frequency of my system, if there is one. Then, I want to find ways to adjust it or filter it out.

For example, the best old Martins have been found to resonate at around 400 Hz, and the worst acoustic guitars resonate at 100 Hz. The even harmonics for 400 Hz would be 800, 1.6k, right?

Also, does anybody know if CPU speed, or FSB speed, has anything to do with audio resonance for audio files? I used to get some pretty weird resonances in GarageBand on my mac mini that might not have ever been generated on a larger box.

Any info would help me decide which Mac to upgrade to.

M.T.

Mac mini 1.42 GHz, 1G RAM LE 8 External 120GB HD 7200 RPM Apogee I/O, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Nov 4, 2007 1:24 AM

Reply
20 replies

Nov 4, 2007 10:00 AM in response to David Robinson9

I've got one better. Is there a system test for input objects, busses, and auxes that can run before recording anything, to verify that each object is working perfectly?
I mean, there shouldn't be any resonances or artifacts imposed onto any tracks by the system itself, right? In GarageBand, I'd sometimes get a flat sounding high-pitched whine that went up to a very high frequency, and it would then stay on the track, and suddenly would be in other tracks for that song, too. This always happened after a lot of editing of EQ settings, with a modulation effect on. But the thing wouldn't go away from these affected tracks. This would be a case of file corruption?
I read in another thread that someone was having trouble with low frequencies crossing several inputs in L8, and I was wondering if there is a system test that looks for resonances of the system itself, or of the software. Here's my idea--

Open a new song, and set it to the maximum possible number of tracks, busses and auxes. Then set each track's output to the first buss, output that buss to the next buss, that to the next, etc, and thru all the auxes, and out the master output. Then record a wave form from SP and copy it to every track. Then open Channel EQ for the first track input and for the last possible insert in the environment, the master track if this is possible, or else the last aux, I forget, and then monitor the playback and see if there is any change in the waveform in Channel EQ, or volume in the channel faders.
If a program could automatically do this, for every track, for a variety of frequencies, then if there is a problem with one of the input objects, busses or auxes it could find it. But there shouldn't be, right?
Then, change all of the tracks to instrument objects, and insert an instrument that produces resonance, and try it again, monitoring for any change in resonance thru the system. Try it for each track, and a variety of resonances.
A program to do this quickly would be pretty fast.

I don't do drugs, but this would find any problem like a dream, and if there was a bad input object, buss or aux, you could just delete it. If a new one did the same thing, then you could tell Apple.

There shouldn't even be any problem like this anyway. It's probably something else.

Unfortunately, I can't install the full Logic Studio without filling my mini's drive to 2/3, or I'd be trying this out myself.
Has anybody heard of any testing capability on the Mac besides Audio Units plug in test?

Nov 4, 2007 11:08 AM in response to ManyToons

ManyToons wrote:
Has anyone ever tested their Mac for resonance?


Piece of cake!

You're going to need a lot of room for this. First, go out and rent the biggest industrial shake table you can find. I recommend the 20,000 watt variety. You'll need accelerometers and charge amps too. Oh, and a decent storage scope.

Now strap your Mac on to the shake table. Real tight now, you don't want it flyin off prematurely and spoilin your experiment. Glue the accelerometers to your Mac and plug everything in. Now, start the shake table off at about 20Hz and bring up the gain for maximum displacement, ie just before the point at which you think the Mac is gonna fly off the table.

Raise the shake frequency slowly and keep an eye on the scope. At some point you'll see the waveform increase on the scope's display. Then, just when the waveform is at its largest and the Mac flys into a thousand pieces, press "Store" on the scope. Measure the frequency. Voila! The resonant frequency of your Mac.

Nov 4, 2007 11:41 PM in response to mattrixx

Thy talk is cheap. . . but I'll allow it. Court is recessed.

Now, about resonance and artifacts and things. Skip it. I know they work great. I can just tell. I'm going to go ahead and buy a Mac at whatever FBS and PCU speed I want, and just leave the science stuff up to the folks at Apple. I'll bet that Logic is so sure about the input objects and busses and auxes that it makes, that they don't even need to be tested. Then, I'll do my test and see if I find anything interesting with a LFO set to below 10Hz, up to 100Hz. Then, as I find nothing, after arduous trials, I'll come back to this thread and read it again and break my old computer with my table. . .It doesn't blame me. Not like all of you. Still, look at it, just sitting there, so overworked and shaking.

Nov 4, 2007 11:59 PM in response to ManyToons

Okay, I just found the answer I was looking for in the thread next door.

I just open a Logic EQ plugin, boost a parametric EQ with a narrow Q up about +10dB and sweep across the spectrum, choosing a variety of audio files. Any resonant frequency(s) will really peak with the boost. I'll record some waveforms set to different Fq's, too, just for fun, just to test the system itself to see if computers are tunable. I'm betting they're not, that this is factored in when they're designed, and ditto the software is the same way, just like the other is ditto, too.

The more I learn about Logic Studio, the more impressed I am that it will suffice, that music will sound very good thru it.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Testing for system resonance

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.