Sorry, Vicki. I know how disturbing that can be. We had the same problem
last Spring here in the northern hemisphere. I had a few sound level
meters around and just gave them out to my neighbors so we could all
corroborate our measurements. We took a short video of the activity with
the sound level meter in the frame to document activity and the timing
of the measurement. I don't know what is available there, but you can
buy a cheap sound level meter here in the US for less than $40.00.
The recording you made is probably not meaningful unless you know the
exact gain settings of the recorder and can reproduce that exactly with
the same mike while making a reference measurement--either with a known
sound amplitude or by recording a reference sound while simultaneously
monitoring a borrowed sound level meter. Don't bother using the sound
level meter apps that you can download for your phone. They are grossly
inaccurate.
Good luck!
On 9/25/2012 11:57 PM, vickipowys wrote:
>
> All,
>
> Its spring in Australia, the birds are singing, but school holidays
> have just started and kids on motor bikes are doing constant circuits
> on the property next door. One new 2-stroke bike is particularly
> annoying. There is a 1-minute recording of it on SoundCloud here:
>
> http://snd.sc/VGh7DW
>
> I would like to be able to get a rough estimate of its noise level
> for legal reasons. Does anyone know how I can estimate a decibel
> reading from this recording? Details of equipment are on SoundCloud.
>
> My legal advice is that I have 'an entitlement to the quiet enjoyment
> of my property' and that the 2-stroke motorbike noise constitutes 'a
> legal nuisance'.
>
> Being able to measure the actual noise level would be a bonus.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Vicki Powys
> Australia
>
>
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