About the Company
Since 1969, Clarke Hess Communication Research Corp. has served the nation as one of the leading providers of equipment for audio precision test and measurement equipment. Over these past nearly fifty years, we have accumulated a client base that leads the world in sound development and measurement. Our reputation has become one of trust, expertise, and quality. Our line of products that especially focus on dc and low frequency applications have been used extensively by some of the most important branches of the county’s government including the military and national standard laboratories. We have been proud to uphold such a reputation, and continue to serve our clients with the best power analysis equipment to accurately measure the standards, and audio analyze a variety of frequencies with our modern and intricate technology.
What is Audio Analysis?
The basic idea of audio analysis is that technological designers take specific measurements to guarantee the performance of audio signals and audio equipment. The designers do this to make sure that audio equipment is working properly and that they are running to meet specifications. It is important that they do this because they need to make sure that the audio equipment is working within audio paths that are considered to be within acceptable limits. The measurements of audio equipment are taken to measure within their intended usage. The audio waves are measured within the guidelines of psychoacoustic principles so that they may relate appropriately to the hearing of a person.
Measuring Audio: Why do We do It?
Around the late 1960’s, new forms of audio production came into usage. Technology such as the domestic cassette tape, and noise reduction methods of audio production proved to be incredibly popular. These ended up being used not just by your average music enjoying friend, but commercial industries as well. However, it was noticed that the quality of some of these audio advancements were not meeting the needs of a higher standard for basic audio engineering companies. It was decided that accurate measurements of audio production needed to be taken. Introductions of audio analysis to validate audio distortion measurements were being created to ensure the quality of audio waves and advancing audio technologies.
How is Audio Measured?
There is not a single measurement that can assess the quality of audio. Engineers must use a vast amount of different methods to analyze and measure the varying types of audio frequencies that exist. Many different aspects come into play when measuring a certain type of audio frequency. They include attributes such as speed variations, tape speed over time, distortion, and accuracy. Another important basis for audio measurement is that of psychoacoustics. In other words, taking the sensitivity to human hearing into consideration by measurements of equal loudness contours and types of sound emitted by any one audio device.
Over the years, different methods of audio measurement have been invented, involving listening tests and frequency trials.
Audio Analysis Technology: What do We Use?
In order to accurately measure audio, or audio analyze, and piece of audio emitting equipment, the audio engineers at Clarke Hess Communications Research Corp create and produce a wide variety of technology and devices. Some of the most popular products and methods that we produce are power analyzers, phase standards, phase meters, phase angle volt meters, precision ac current sources, calibrators, and transconductance amplifiers. With the variety of these products on hand, we have been able to serve many high levels of clientele including the United States Military. In order to fully understand what our products do, we will provide a description of some of our most popular methods and products used for audio measurement.
What are Power Analyzers?
One of the most popular forms of audio analysis produced by Clarke Hess Communication Corp is our line of power analyzers. A power analyzer is an instrument that has very wide voltage that are designed to cover a frequency range from dc to over 1000 kHz. The reason power analyzers are so popular is because they are able to cover such a wide variety of popular audio producing technologies within a narrow current source. Typically, a power analyzer can produce sub par performance at high frequencies. Our line of power analyzers, however, are designed to perform at higher levels to ensure that these audio producing technologies are well measured. Our line of power analyzers are able to provide audio analysis of a wide range of computer, telephone, aircraft, and motors. They are purchased by some of the world’s top companies and factories. Our power analyzers are designed to measure the loss of lamp ballasts, capacitors, and the power of various distorted low power factors as well as distortion source. Because of this, these products are in high demand, not only in the aforementioned faculties, but by the nation’s top university teaching laboratories as well.
What is Phase Standard?
When an audio signal is applied to the audio input of any particular device, the audio output is transmitted to appear later. The delay between said inputs are expressed in what is known as a sine wave cycle. The transmittance of these needs to be measured, and that’s where a product known as a phase standard comes in. Typically, a phase is measured and recorded over the audio range as a function of frequency. Usually these measures are very close together, but any variance in frequency can produce a phase shift. If a device needs a close amplitude response variation, it is referred to as having minimum phase characteristic so a phase standard will be utilized to verify this. The most popular device produced by Clarke Hess Communications Research Corp is the Model 5600 Digital Phase Angle Standard. This has become a piece of technology that is accepted as the leading standard for phase generation and form of power analyser. The Model 5600 delivers digitally controllable sine wave with a relative phase that is adjustable in very close measurements.
The reason that Phase Standards, and Phase Angle Meters are so widely used is that they are incredibly precise pieces of technology that allow them to be used by some of the world’s leading laboratories. In addition to this, our line of Phase Standards are also regularly used by NASA, the army, Rockwell, Philips, and General Electric. Since the late 1960’s, Clarke Hess has played a vital role in the frequency detection and measurement with our line of Phase Standard devices.
What are Calibrators?
When the sound frequency of a piece of audio emitting equipment needs to be adjusted, a calibrator is often used. In any kind of electronics test, a calibrator is a device that can adjust the accuracy of any given instrument according to particular applications. These include temperature, pressure, and weight. The world’s most sophisticated industrial equipment will not be used for any job unless it is properly calibrated. When an instrument is properly calibrated, adjustments will be made to be sure that the equipment will run and perform as expected. Accuracy is key, and a proper calibration will ensure that this attribute is delivered.
Multifunction Calibrators vary in form and function depending on the instruments with which they are designed to work. Pressure calibrators, temperature, thermocouple and multifunctional are the most common types of calibrators associated with processes of measurement and control. In the certification process of a piece of equipment, calibrators will ensure that a piece of equipment is guaranteed to operate within its guidelines of performance. When a company follows the standards of calibration, it offers assurance that its products or services are going to work accurately which provides peace of mind to its customers.
The same is true of the calibrators produced by Clarke Hess. A great example of our top model of calibrator is the Model 8080, or the Model M143. We design these multifunction calibrators with several attributes in mind: voltage, current, resistance, and power. Our calibrators have the highest accuracy known to the world’s leading industrial companies. This is because they come designed with excellent precision and accuracy. They serve as the ideal standard of calibrators because the supply different wave shapes as well as the normal sinusoidal outputs. Because of these two characteristic, our calibrators are ideal testing meters for temperature and temperature sensors.
What are Transconductance Amplifiers?
One of Clarke Hess’ other voltage converter products is the Transconductance Amplifier. This is an amplifier that converts a voltage to a current. This is a device that converts the voltages by measuring its transfers in siemens. Essentially 1 siemen is equal to one ampere per volt. This process is known as transconductance.
At Clarke Hess, we have developed one of the highest current producing transconductance amplifiers in the world. That would be the 8100 Ampere 100kHz Transconductance Amplifier. This model generates strong output currents which are directly proportional to its input voltage over a wide frequency range. This makes this model a highly stable choice for clients because it can manage many capacitive loads. The 8100 is incredibly accurate in comparison to other models of transconductance amplifiers on the market.
Understanding AC Current Source
When it comes to precision test, an AC current source is something one needs to understand. In electricity, a varying current will occur when a conductor’s charge carrier are periodically reversed in their movement direction. Utility currents are typically measured in AC with a frequency of 60 hertz. A waveform, known as AC, can be sinusoidal, square, or saw tooth shaped. Other AC forms are a bit more irregular. The aforementioned waves can be produced by various electronic oscillators when operated from a battery. The voltage measurements of an AC power source can be changed by the use of what is called a power transformer. This will allow the voltage to be increased for the means of transmission and distribution of audio. The levels of voltage in an AC power source can change from instant to instant. Typically, AC waves are produced by audio amplifiers that work with voice signals and music.
At Clarke Hess, one of our top models of AC Power Sources is the The Model 515 High Accuracy AC Reference Oscillator. This piece of equipment fulfills the need for a cost effective and logical product for precise calibration. This particular model is widely used because of its built-in loading sensor feature. It is a popular item because it eliminates the effects of fluctuating output loads, which makes it ideal for driving inductive loads.
Our Team Thanks You!
The team at Clarke Hess Communication Corp is happy you took the time to read about why we are one of the top manufacturers of precision test equipment in the world. For nearly fifty years we have been keeping up the the technology of industrial products in the audio measurement field. When it comes to audio measurement, we have proven ourselves to be the world’s leading electronic test and measurement company. We honorably serve clients such as the United States Military, Navy, and the top electric and audio entertainment companies in the world. For all of your audio measurement equipment needs, we thank you for choosing Clarke Hess Communication Corp!
