kind of technical English problem

[mas]

I already wrote that I wanna write an essay about transient response of microphone. now I've got a problem because of the term transient response and my bad English.

is the "impulse response" and the "transient response" the same and if not, what's the difference. I found some German studies and I think I have to consider some English ones as well. I'm not sure if it's got a sense to search in English studies if I've already got problems with this technical terms. Acutally after reading some small stuff I think it's the same but tell me if you're already laughing about me because I'm sounding ridiculous

ok mates hopefully you're able to help me.

[Timo]

This isn't an official answer, merely a personal opinion.

To me, an "impulse" implies a controlled and expected occurence, which has a rise and a fall in the signal. An impulse only happens once. Several/Multiples would be "impulses".

To me, a "transient" is a description of the leading edge of a signal that has changed extremely suddenly, from rest. Like an initial, very abrupt change in the audio waveform on the leading edge of a kick drum, for example.

I guess both terms are interchangable to an extent.

The term "Transient" is used a lot in electric current or electronic areas of study (to describe a brief but very powerful power-surge, or the like), or to describe very sudden changes.

[Threlly]

A transient refers to a change of state. (positive to negative)

A pulse is a short timed event. (60 ppq)

[Timo]

(It's not ideal to do this, but...) You know when you turn on your speakers, then switch on your Virus and you get a *thwump!!* from your speakers as you turn the Virus power switch on?

That's one example of a transient (a brief power surge). Actually that happens to me far, far worse with the Virus than any of my other synths, but I digress.

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Example 2:

Highlighted in this pic is what I would call a transient (or an "initial impulse") in a kick drum audio waveform:

http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/3...ansientnn9.png

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An "impulse", on the other hand, would be morelike a controlled event, where a state of change (or load of data) is transmitted/received.

[mas]

your explications sound like a transient is a part of an impulse. actually the first part. of course, I know the term transient of compressors because of the attack time.

so I'm looking for the impulse response because it's interesting me the whole response after a spark gap.

[Timo]

These guys will know, try posting the same question here:

http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/po...Cat=&Board=MRT

[jasedee]

Impulse response is generally a term used in acoustics for measurements of rooms RT60.

You go into a room, and pop a balloon, and record it, and this will give you an IR of the rooms natural reverbs. This can then be analyzed in many different ways (FFT etc) and could also be used in reverb plug-ins to model that rooms particular reverb.

[mas]

I had a talk with the head officer of developments from Neumann and he told me that impulse response in case of acustics exactly that is what Jase explained. but in case of microphone measurements it's the same like transient response.

cheers mates