Identifying Sounds: Apparatus Needed?

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  • Thread starter Thread starter callumbrad128
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of creating a device that can recognize a specific sound, such as that of a blender, and trigger a response, like turning on a light. Participants explore the technical challenges involved in sound recognition, particularly in distinguishing one sound from others in a potentially noisy environment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire to create a device that activates upon hearing a specific sound, such as a blender, while ignoring other noises.
  • Another participant notes that recognizing a single tone is straightforward, but distinguishing the complex sound of a blender, which consists of multiple frequencies, is significantly more challenging.
  • A participant suggests that recognizing the sound of a blender involves pattern recognition and may require machine learning techniques.
  • It is mentioned that a spectrum analyzer could be useful for identifying the overall sound spectrum of a blender.
  • One participant inquires about the apparatus needed to detect a single, consistent frequency sound, indicating a preference for simplicity in sound recognition.
  • A suggestion is made to use a microphone and an operational amplifier tuned to a specific frequency as a potential solution.
  • A reference is provided to a device called the “Clapper,” which activates lights based on sound, as a possible inspiration for the project.
  • A link is shared to another thread discussing the complexity of recognizing signals with multiple components, highlighting the difficulties in sound recognition.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that recognizing a specific sound amidst background noise presents significant challenges, particularly due to the complexity of the sound itself. Multiple competing views on the methods and apparatus for achieving this recognition remain, and no consensus is reached on a definitive solution.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of technical knowledge and familiarity with sound recognition technologies, which may influence their proposed solutions. The discussion does not resolve the specific apparatus needed or the theoretical underpinnings required for sound recognition.

callumbrad128
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Is there such a part that when it hears a particual sound, that it only recognises this sound.

let me explain...

I am trying to conduct an experiment, and have limited knowledge in this field! Basically my project is to make something, so when a blender is turned on 'my project' hears this sound, and a light comes on (prefer a light, but it could be anything which indicates the noise has been heard). To make things harder for me, is this possible for the light to come on when only a particular noise is heard! If this is possible, could someone explain the theory behind this and the type of apparatus need to make this!

I hope this doesn't come across as if it were "a homework project"! I am infact 22 and just an experiment I want to carry out for my own pleasure! (hopefully everyone can see, that by my lack of knowledge it would def not be anything to do with a homework)

Any help would be muckly appriaciated
 
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Tricky
Recognising a single tone is very easy, recognising the pattern of almost random noise from a blender is much harder.
It becomes a pattern recognition/machine learning task (see neural nets, Haar classifiers etc)
It depends on how disciminatory you need to be, do you need to be able to tell the difference between a blender and a dishwasher, or a lawnmower outside, or a concrete mixer? Or do simply need to respond to any noise like a blender.
 
Just need to recoginise one noise! A blender was an example! So that it knows the sound of a blender, but when it hears a "cement mixer" sound, nothing would happen! Please please help!
 
Like MGB was trying to get across is that a blender has a sound that is made up of many individual tones, i.e. random noises. If you were to look at a spectrum of the noise from a blender it would have many peaks at many frequencies that would comprise the overall sound. That would be a difficult task to recognize without something like a spectrum analyzer or the like to recognize the overall spectrum. Now, if your sound source was a single, pure tone, i.e. one frequency, then it would be a lot easier to do.
 
Ok, I understand what u are saying! If it was a one consistent noise with one frequency! What appuratus would be able to only pick out that, apose to other noises!
Thanks
 
Hello callumbrad-
It is very straight forward to set up a microphone and an operational amplifier tuned to a very specific audible frequency, such as C below middle C for example (~256 Hz).
Bob S
 
There is a device they use to sell a few years ago and may still sell it called the “Clapper”
By clapping your hands you could turn on the lights. This device may give you some insight on what you are looking for.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000CGKLR/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here's a link to a pretty neat thread where the OP is trying to recognize the two tone signal created by telephone number dialing. You can get an idea of just how difficult it could be to recognize a signal with hundreds or thousands of components!

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=325457
 

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