An v1n02

CADP2 Technical Notes Vol.
1, No 2
CADP2 Design Applications

Calculating Gain-Before-Feedback
Gain-Before-Feedback
Maximum system gain before the occurrence of feedback is a function of:
• The characteristics of the electronics and transducers.

• The acoustical characteristics of the room.
• The source distances to a microphone.
• The source distances to a listener.
If the characteristics of the electronics are assumed to be flat response and minimum phase,
their effects can be disregarded. For the same purposes, the microphone is designated
omnidirectional, flat response and minimum phase. Any other microphones are defined as
non-contributing and the ambient noise floor is assumed to be at least 25 dB lower than the
talker.
With these conditions met, the onset of steady state oscillation will generally occur when the
sound pressure level from a talker at the microphone is equaled or exceeded by the sound
pressure level from speaker sources and room reflections [1][2]. In order to provide an
appropriate margin below this oscillation point the speakers should then be reduced an
additional 6 dB [3]. Once the speaker levels
have been adjusted to this stable level,
comparisons between the talker and speaker
sources can be made in the listening area. The
difference between the original source SPL (the
talker) and the combined speaker SPLs will be
the Gain-Before-Feedback value. (See Figure
1.)
Calculating Gain-Before-Feedback in CADP2

In the example shown in Figure 2 the sound
system has been located in a room and the
proposed system has satisfied all of the other
aspects of a good design: even coverage, flat
Figure 1
response, and minimal phase anomalies, and appropriate frequency response. An imaginary
microphone position was designated downstage, center and a talker source located 2 feet
behind this position, aimed at the microphone. The 2 foot setting is an arbitrary but often used
value for this type of calculation. Most people will stand within this distance of a microphone
and so this distance represents a worst case scenerio. A “talker” is included with the CADP2
device files and has a sensitivity value of 74 dB (1W-1M), the level of an average orator. The
talker source is positioned 5 feet above the stage floor, at mouth height.
In this example the speaker sources are three JBL2365 horns and three JBL4648 bass
cabinets, placed within a ‘cluster’. The ‘cluster’ type is used so that the average complex sum
can be used to examine phase effects and so the results can be merged to only one arrival.
Figure 1: Arrivals at the microphone location.
The first LTP computation was set up at the imaginary microphone position by following
these steps:
• Select the LTP computation
• The 'Listener Position' window was brought forward by selecting it and the listener
cursor was positioned at the microphone by using the shift-right mousekey in an
appropriate view. (The values can also be entered or fine tuned by keyboard.)
• The 'LTP Calculation' setup window was brought forward and was set for:
Frequency Band 2 kHz (The Talker only includes the 2 kHz band)
Direct Merge Average Complex Sum
Reflections 0
Other values remain as defaulted.
The computation was then begun. To simplify the example, only direct arrivals were
computed; The room reflections were ignored but there is no reason why they could not be
included in the LTP calculation. After the new layer was added to the Layer List window the
echogram and summary windows were opened by double-clicking the layer's line number,
and positioned.
The arrivals from the talker and cluster were compared in Figure 1 by clicking on each arrival
and noting each arrival's sound pressure level value in the summary window.
Cluster-to-Microphone 62.5 dB @ 19.6 ms

Talker-to-Microphone 77.3 dB @ 1.8 ms
As shown, in order for the sound from the cluster to arrive at the microphone at a level equal
to the talker, the cluster level should be increased by 14.9 dB. To provide the appropriate
margin below feedback this level should then be reduced 6 dB yielding a total increase of 8.9
dB.
Figure 2: Arrivals at an audience location.

With the cluster adjusted another LTP computation was performed at an audience location as
shown in Figure 2. Again the arrivals from the talker and cluster were compared by clicking
on each arrival and then viewing each arrival's sound pressure level value in the summary
window.
Cluster-to-Audience 81.4 dB @ 56.0 ms

Talker-to-Audience 44.7 dB @ 53.2 ms
The talker level can now be then subtracted from the cluster level. The resulting value of 32.8
dB is the system gain over the unaided talker at this listening location. (Note: The Partition
Time can be chosen to give this value automatically)
It should be pointed out — since by definition of gain-before-feedback — the drive level to

the cluster cannot be raised further without incurring ringing or feedback. The audience level
of 81.4 dB is the maximum level of system reinforcement from the talker at this room location
for the conditions given.
Expanding the Concept...

The performance of a microphone other than omnidirectional can be estimated. Assume that
the chosen directional microphone is on-axis to the talker and from the microphone's polar
pattern, obtain the dB attenuation value at the cluster's arrival angle. This value can be
subtracted from the cluster arrival level at the microphone. For example, a cardioid
microphone is -6 dB at 90 degrees off axis. The resulting gain-before-feedback value will
most likely increase by 6 dB.
A lectern, as a free-floating volume, can be added to the room to determine it's effect on gain.
The LTP is then calculated for the microphone position using first order reflections. The
early-to-late partition can be set to merge all signals after the arrival of the talker to obtain a
value for the combined level of the late arrivals.
References
[1] JBL Sound System Design Reference Manual, March 1986
[2] The Gain of a Sound System, C. P. Boner and R. E. Boner,

J. Acoust. Soc. Am., April 1969
[3] Frequency Characteristics of a Sound-Reinforcing System, William B. Snow

J. Acoust. Soc. Am., April 1955

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CADP2 Technical Notes Vol.

CADP2 Design Applications

• The characteristics of the electronics and transducers.

Calculating Gain-Before-Feedback in CADP2

Figure 1: Arrivals at the microphone location.

Cluster-to-Microphone 62.5 dB @ 19.6 ms

Figure 2: Arrivals at an audience location.

Cluster-to-Audience 81.4 dB @ 56.0 ms

It should be pointed out — since by definition of gain-before-feedback — the drive level to

Expanding the Concept...

[2] The Gain of a Sound System, C. P. Boner and R. E. Boner,

[3] Frequency Characteristics of a Sound-Reinforcing System, William B. Snow

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