New software versions for Nor118 / Nor140

Norsonic has released new main software versions for Nor118 and Nor140, as well as corresponding new NorXfer transfer software.

The new instrument firmware versions - named 2.0.772 for Nor140 and 4.0.772 for Nor118 - have the following new features and changes:

1. The Setup menu structure has been improved. Hence, the experienced users may find that some feature selections have changed their position in the new menu system. The main changes are the split of the Reverberation and Noise Output setup menu as well as the new Input Signal selection menu for Nor140. Please see the new Instruction Manual for further details.
2. In Normal mode, a new measurement function called “LΔeq” is available in the tabular results. This function is a calculation of the total energy between a pre-selected lower and upper frequency band. Hence, special frequency limited Leq values may now be measured such as the low-frequency Leq in the 20 – 200 Hz range. The pre-selection of the lower and upper frequency is done in the SETUP – 4:Frequency mode menu. By selecting the ‘lower frequency’ higher than the ‘upper frequency’, the “LΔeq” feature is turned off.
3. The new firmware includes a set of default measurement setups for various measurement tasks. These 12 standardized setup files are found in a special folder named STNDRD upon pressing the RECALL key.
4. In Building Acoustic mode, the measured data may now be stored in separate files in addition to the overall BA-file. The activation of this new feature is done by setting the storage selection to Automatic, Repeat or Synchro. Hence, reverberation time measurements taken for airborne insulation ratings may now easily be used for additional impact insulation ratings.
5. When performing airborne insulation tests, the source room excitation level difference between neighbor frequency bands shall not exceed 6 dB (ISO-140 requirement). The instrument has therefore got an automated spectrum shaper included that may shape the noise level to avoid this problem. This equalizer may be turned “ON” in the position “Equal” found in the SETUP – 3:Noise gen. menu in the BA-mode. When activated, another position called “Adj. equal” is available for making a new setting of the equalizer when a new source room test is started.
6. The maximum measured reverberation times is now exceeded from 10 seconds to 32 seconds.
7. The average routine for making arithmetic averages of RT values in BA-mode is improved. Hence, the small error of maximum 0,02 seconds that occasionally appeared earlier has disappeared.
8. For normal rooms with an expected maximum RT of only 4 seconds, the calculation time is reduced from previous firmware versions. By introducing a pre-selection of the expected maximum RT values to 4, 8, 16 or 32 seconds, the sampling of the decay can be stopped earlier than before. This pre-selection is done in the “Max RT” position in the SETUP – 2:Reverberation menu in Reverberation mode (or in the SETUP – 4:Reverberation menu in the BA-mode).
9. In Reverberation mode, the measured decay may be stored in addition to the calculated RT values. This is achieved by setting the “Decay” choice to “ON” in the SETUP – 2:Reverberation menu.
10. Impulse Response measurements based on SweptSine technique is now possible. Hence, a wave-file is generated for further use with specialized room-acoustic software. Simply turn “ON” the “ImpResp” selection in the SETUP – 2:Reverberation menu requiring that the SweptSine optional feature is installed in the unit.
    
    For Nor140 only, the following additional new features are available in the new version:
     
11. In Reverberation mode, the measured wave-file of the decay may be stored in addition to the calculated RT values. This is achieved by setting the “Audio” choice to “ON” in the SETUP – 2:Reverberation menu. The format of the wave-file must be selected in the separate SETUP – 5:Recording menu.
12. The increasing range of various transducers, including the correction networks for the new outdoor microphone Nor1214, has required a better method for setting up the Nor140 to the actual transducer in use. By opening the input signal menu found by SETUP – 1:Instrument menu – 4:Input, the user may now select between the following transducer inputs:
    
    a. Standard (i.e. the normal Nor1225 microphone)
    b. ICP
    c. Line
    d. Nor1214 Horizontal
    e. Nor1214Vertical
13. The “Preamplifier Correction” feature is now turned off automatically when ICP input is selected in the new input signal menu.
14. Individual instrument identificator (TIC-id) is now stored together with all measurement data even on SD-memory cards. Hence, transferring measurement data by use of locally connected card-readers do not any longer loose this id-information.
15. In Audiometer mode, measurement data may now be stored in the instrument memory for later read-out to PC. 

All new Nor140 and Nor118 units delivered after 1st March 2010 get the version upgrade free of charge.
Older units require the option Nor140/V2 or Nor118/V4 upgrade codes. 
 

The new firmware versions are supported by a new version 4.6 of the NorXfer transfer software. This new version named 4.6.0.5 additionally has included some new features:

• In the connection dialogue box, the user finds information about the required handshake settings for the individual cables in use
• In the Overview feature, all statistical Ln values are now named by their correct percentage values
• The Overview feature has got an additional column presenting the measurement duration of each measurement
• The now available TIC-id information from locally connected SD-memory cards is handled correctly