What are the benefits and drawbacks of using pink noise as a phase and polarity test signal?

Benefits of Using Pink Noise: Pink noise offers a broad frequency range with equal energy per octave, making it useful for assessing phase and polarity across the audio spectrum. It helps in identifying inconsistencies in frequency response and system alignment due to its comprehensive coverage of frequencies. Drawbacks of Using Pink Noise: Pink noise may not be ideal for pinpointing specific phase and polarity issues, as it provides a general view of frequency response rather than detailed phase behavior. Additionally, its lower-frequency energy is less pronounced, which might limit its effectiveness in evaluating low-frequency performance.

Le bruit rose est couramment utilisé comme signal de test en audio pour vérifier la phase et la polarité. Voici un résumé des avantages et des inconvénients de son utilisation : Avantages : Spectre équilibré : Le bruit rose a une répartition d’énergie égale par octave, ce qui le rend plus proche de la manière dont nous percevons le son. Cela permet d’évaluer la réponse en fréquence des systèmes dans un environnement réaliste. Test large bande : Il couvre une large gamme de fréquences, ce qui le rend utile pour tester des systèmes audio dans leur ensemble. Détection de phase efficace : En raison de sa large bande de fréquences, il est efficace pour vérifier les incohérences de phase entre les différents composants d’un système.

I find pink noise pretty handy for phase and polarity tests in sound design. On the plus side, it's got energy across the whole frequency spectrum, which makes it great for spotting issues. It's also closer to how we perceive sound naturally. The steady slope helps me catch subtle phase problems that might slip by with white noise. But it's not perfect. Sometimes the randomness can mask minor issues, and it's not as precise for pinpointing specific frequencies as sine sweeps. Plus, it can be a bit harsh on the ears after a while. I usually use it alongside other test signals for a well-rounded approach.

It is worth understanding why pink noise is preferred as a test signal over other noises like white and brown noise. This is because as the frequency increases, there is a drop in amplitude/signal, about 3dB per octave. You will notice that pink noise is most prominent at low to mid freq range. This is closest to human hearing. If it were white/brown noise where amplitude is constant, it would either be too "harsh" or too "deep". While white noise covers the same level across frequencies, brown noise decreases at 6dB per octave. Pink noise accounts for our sensitivity to both high and low frequencies. This is also why pink noise is also used across applications such as speaker testing, room acoustics, equalization and hearing tests.

I recommend to not use 0dbfs pink noise for spl calibration. It will tend to yield a much louder spl reading than program. Program material often feels much lower since the dynamics of music or a movie are substantially more pronounce by comparison. When you average out the dynamic range of a program over time, it tends to be lower than pink noise. While there's no standard reference, I like to use a -10dbfs pink noise tone which feels about the same as loud program material