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Re: Buffet RC - Replace cork with neoprene?

Author: bassclarinet101 ★2017
Date: 2017-01-20 01:19

Dear Brad,

What do you think would be necessary in order to isolate the (lack of) effects of cork vs O-rings on the body of the clarinet? You know me and my love of experimentation with the development of the instrument. If I could experiment without sacrificing my Tosca, I'd be more than happy to put her to the test in terms of any tangible benefit.

If the O-ring approach can even be proven equal on the body, then the practicality of it would justify the switch in terms of clarinet development.

Would the scientific approach to it be something like this?

Question: Do O-Rings or Cork provide a better projection of sound?

Hypothesis: O-Rings project sound better than cork tenons, resulting in higher dynamic levels over the same distance.

Materials: One clarinet, outfitted with fresh cork
O-rings for each tenon
8 highly directional microphones, each pointed at the center of the room.
Duct tape
One control room, with a low noise floor
One synthetic reed (to avoid warping)

Procedure: At the center of the control room, mark, with the Duct Tape, a spot on the ground.
At the eight compass points, and equidistant from each other and the duct tape mark, set up each microphone, pointed so that it is facing towards the duct tape.
With the clarinet warmed up, record a chromatic scale of the complete first two registers of the clarinet at its loudest dynamic level, slowly. Repeat this recording a number of times, until a satisfactory number of samples are reached.
Record the maximum dynamic level, in dB, from each note, as recorded on each microphone, for each test.
Using the same clarinet, replace the cork tenons with the O-rings.
With the clarinet warmed up, record a chromatic scale of the complete first two registers of the clarinet at its loudest dynamic level, slowly. Repeat this recording a number of times, collecting an identical number of samples to the cork, and recording the same data points.

Table:
Test Number/Material/Mic 1/Mic 2/Mic 3/Mic 4/Mic 5/Mic 6/Mic 7/Mic 8 (dB)

Conclusions: Based on Data; Pragmatic Considerations, Shortcomings (such as the inherent faults of human player, and how they are offset by quantity of sample data)

-Daniel

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