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Outdoor Noise Monitoring Systems Rental

Environmental Noise Kits from Larson Davis

environmental-noise-monitoring

Need to perform a short-term noise measurement? Want to try out a new product? Or only have operational budget available for your project? Renting a noise monitoring system is a great option.

Outdoor noise monitoring systems rented from The Modal Shop are highly customizable. All include a meter, power source, and environmentally protected enclosure. See the charts below for available systems, microphones, preamplifiers, and more. Contact our team with any questions or for guidance on which system best fits your needs. All kits come with Larson Davis Integrating Sound Level Meters capable of:

  • Time History Logging (for fast data from 100 ms to 24 hr)
  • Measurement Intervals and Exceedances (for long term trending over time, from 1 min to 24 hr)
  • Selectable time and frequency weightings

Outdoor Noise Monitoring Kits

Note: 831C-based and 821ENV-based models are recommended, unless you already own a system and wish to expand with legacy models.

Kit ModelBase Meter Model1/1 and/or 1/3 Octave BandsEvent Sound RecordingSolar PanelTripod IncludedRemote ConnectionWeather Sensor
NMS044‑SLA100831C✓ ✓ ✓ Built-in✓ Optional
NMS‑831C‑L831C--Optional✓ OptionalOptional
NMS‑831C831C✓ -Optional✓ OptionalOptional
NMS‑831C‑H831C✓ ✓ Optional✓ OptionalOptional
KNMS048821ENV✓--Built-in--
KNMS048-SLA821ENV✓-✓Built-in--
NMS‑831L831---✓ -Optional
NMS‑831831✓ --✓-Optional
NMS‑831H831✓ ✓ -✓ -Optional
NMS‑SE‑FFLxT✓ -----
NMS‑SE‑RILxT✓ -----

Which Microphone Should I Use for Outdoor Noise Monitoring?

Free Field – Designed to be used when the field of measurement is open and not filled with hard, reflective surfaces (in other words, when the measurement is being taken in an open area). There are two ways of using a free-field microphone:

  • Pointed directly at the sound source of interest, for example, when getting a sound profile for a piece of equipment or making sound power measurements
  • Placed in the center of all sound sources and pointed 90 degrees away (up) – for example, in many environmental studies, National Park studies, traffic studies, or construction noise studies when the surrounding environment is wide open.

Random Incidence – Designed to measure a sound field with multiple sources in multiple directions. Random incidence microphones react equally to pressure waves from every direction in reflective areas. Typical applications include

  • Indoor crowd noise
  • Building acoustics (classroom, theater, sanctuary)
  • Sound chambers

Pressure Field - Designed to measure the sound pressure in front of the diaphragm, pressure microphones typically allow for a greater dynamic range and have a very flat response across the full frequency spectrum. The pressure microphones offered by TMS for rent feature low sensitivity that allows the noise monitoring system to measure higher dB levels without overloading.

  • Indoor/outdoor gun ranges, ballistics testing
  • High-intensity work sites (e.g., pile-driving)
  • Monitoring very loud machinery or systems

Note that 831C and 821ENV meters can apply measurement corrections to account for a specific microphone or the presence of an environmental shroud. LxT meters can apply a correction to a free-field microphone for a random incidence response and to a random incidence microphone for a free-field response.

Learn more about available microphones.

Microphone DescriptionModel NumberResponse
General Purpose (Traffic, etc.)377B02Free Field
High Level (Factory, etc.)377C10Pressure Field
Extremely High Level (Ballistics at near range, etc.)377A12Pressure Field
Random Incidence to Full Hearing Range (For reverberant spaces and inside vehicles)377A21Random Incidence
Extremely Low Level (National Parks, sanctuaries, etc.)378A04Free Field

*Microphone range varies with the meter used, preamplifier, etc. Contact our rental team for more details.

Preamplifier Options for Outdoor Noise Monitoring

PurposeModel Number
For 831C metersPRM831
For 821ENV metersPRM821
Low noise for LxT metersPRMLxT1L
For LxT metersPRMLxT1H
For 831 metersPRM831

Power Options

UseBattery TypeBattery Life (display off)
Handheld with 831C4x Internal Alkaline AA Batteries8 h
Handheld with 831C4x Internal Lithium AA Batteries18 h
Handheld with 821ENVBuilt-in Rechargeable Battery40 h
Short Term with 831C and Weatherproof Case8x D cell5 d
Short Term with 821ENV and Weatherproof case12x D cell10 d
Short Term with 821ENV and Weatherproof Case21AH SLA Battery (BAT011)12 d
Continuous with Solar 821ENV or 831C and Weatherproof CaseSolar panel with 21AH SLA battery (BAT011)continuous when solar insolation > 2kW•h/m2/day

Options for Connectivity (831C-based models only)

Type of ConnectionModel Number
WiFi for close proximity wireless (e.g., when the meter is in a fenced area or on a high pole)DVX014
Cellular Modem for temporary or permanent installations with wireless gateway and data SIMCOM‑RV50‑DC‑U
USB to Ethernet Adaptor for permanent Ethernet-based data connectionDVX012
USB Multi Port hub for multiple USB devices, including connectivity, USB storage, GPS, and moreDVX015

Sync Sound and Weather Data

Various weather parameters can be collected and synced with other measured data. Parameters that can be measured may include wind speed, gust speed, direction, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. The Modal Shop rents these sensors as kits (denoted by the "K" prefix in the model number). Kits include

  • Selected weather sensor (SEN031 or SEN032)
  • Cable to mate weather sensor, batteries, and meter
  • Necessary hardware adaptors for tripods and cabling
PurposeModel NumberWind (Speed & Direction)TemperatureHumidityBarometric PressureRain RateHail Rate
Multi‑parameterKSEN031✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Wind speed and directionKSEN032✓ -----

Tripod Options

PurposeModel Number
MonopodNMS044 and NMS048, Built-in to system
Light-duty, short-term use for attended measurementsTRP001
Heavy-duty, unattended tripodTRP003