Introduction

Joseph Curtin, a dedicated violin maker and acoustics researcher, has introduced a system to measure the sound radiation and thus footprint of violins of violas. Originally introduced in 2010, the experiment setup (called the "rig") has been refined and tested in various environments, including concert halls, laboratories, and workshops. Through this experiment, researchers have been able to measure the sound response of violins and violas to various force applications, allowing them to better characterize the sound characteristics and footprints of different instruments.

You can read more about the Joseph Curtin's rig (left), and the experiment setup here.

You can read about the experiment and how the analysis works on Joseph Curtin's research paper, "Measuring Violin Sound Radiation Using an Impact Hammer" on his website here.

You can find more articles by Joseph Curtin here.

For more info about modal analysis, violin acoustics, and acoustics in general, visit either Jim's or Colin's sites.