 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: john4256
Date: 2013-10-03 13:37
A member of my Wind Band was using one of these last night and it intrigued me. I have never seen anything like it. She said she bought from the US. Has anyone any experience of these and are they really worth the money? The holes in the outside of the barrel caught my attention and I fail to see how these can make any difference to the tone.
John
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Author: BobD
Date: 2013-10-03 17:04
My impression is that they have not taken the market by storm.
Bob Draznik
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-10-03 19:27
Not sure if Doc Omar still reads this board; if so he can jump in and correctly describe his product.
My recollection (from when the Doc came out with the device) is that it is supposed to act as a sort of bandpass filter/resonance chamber to emphasize the upper midrange frequences and thus increase the perceived loudness (volume) of the clarinet at the expense of changing its tone quality -- mainly for marching band or other "musical" (sic) activities for which decibel level is more important than beauty of tone.
I think.
I have no idea if it works, never personally tried one nor seen/heard one.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-04 00:15
I have one. Synthetic with metal band ....with holes of various sizes. For me it doesn't increase volume much if any. I just tested with a db meter..in various registers. not a significant gain. Tone is quite nice.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2013-10-04 11:24
Disclaimer - I assemble, tune, and sell Power Barrels)
The Power Barrel with a cavity under the outer metal sleeve with holes is based on the Hemholttz principal. Hemholtz theory predicts that the frequency of sound coming out of an enclosed body which is energized (by vibration or other means) is dependent on the volume of the cavity, characteristics of the energy supplied, and the size of hole which sound exits. The Power Barrel emphasizes even harmonic frequencies and because of its acoustic properties it is less sensitive to the length of the barrel for tuning. The sound is "brighter" than usual.
The sound made by clarinets is characterized by odd harmonic overtones as well as pure note frequencies. Our brains through evolution, process even harmonic frequencies better than odd harmonics. The theory is that this is because the distress calls of many young animals are high pitched even harmonic cries. These sounds are perceived to be louder to the human ear than the same sound energy containing even and odd frequencies.
The number of Power Barrels sold is increasing exponentially as marching bands from high schools, military bands, and university marching bands are adopting it to add a more even balance of sound produced and increase the egos of the poor clarinet players on the field competing with the other instruments. I hand tune each barrel before shipping.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-10-04 14:24
I have a Power Barrel, and the results I get from it vary dramatically from clarinet to clarinet. It does add to the volume and projection of my Leblanc-sourced clarinets, but not so much to my Ridenour Lyrique 576BC, Boosey & Hawkes 1-10 and 8-10, and my Pruefer Festival and Silver Throat clarinets.
One simply has to try it to determine whether it'll make a difference.
Added volume or not, it's a very nice barrel. I've gotten stable intonation and even resistance from every clarinet I've put the Power Barrel on.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-04 14:57
As the Doctor points out the tuning is a little different. I found that the scale was ok but pulling out the barrel didn't give normal results...ie flattening. I would suggest just not trying to tune.....just assemble and go.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2013-10-04 15:39
are they tuned to 440 or 442?
how about different bore sizes for different horns?
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2013-10-04 16:26
(Disclaimer - I assemble, tune, and sell Power Barrels)
At present, and to satisfy the great bulk of orders, the Power Barrel is tuned to A=440 but is easily "lipped" up to A=442. The acoustics of the Power Barrel are different than a normal barrel in the ways we are used to of the Moenig reverse taper and they are also flexible to various sized bores. As mentioned the barrel length does not function in the same ways as normal barrels. The tenon cups however mostly fit more modern Buffet, Selmer, and LeBlanc horns. They do not fit the LeBlanc Bliss clarinets. The Power Barrel is by far the most complicated manufactured clarinet barrel in the industry.
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-06 18:04
Hi Omar, Regarding your statement "These sounds are perceived to be louder to the human ear than the same sound energy containing even and odd frequencies" Is there a source verifying this statement?
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: The Doctor ★2017
Date: 2013-10-07 12:19
Although this article does not go into the evolutionary development of hearing it does indicate that pure frequencies are perceived by our brain as louder with even harmonics than a series containing odd harmonics.
>http://www.feilding.net/sfuad/musi3012-01/html/lectures/007_hearing_II.htm#loudnesscomplex<
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-10-07 19:05
It only makes sense that brighter sounds are more "present" to the human ear. I can't tell you how often there has been some squeaking sound in the car that made my wife exclaim, "What is that THAT? Make it STOP!!"
I find the barrel will offer two distinct 'sounds,' and have used it several times with good results.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-09 16:09
So are you saying a flute would therefore be perceived to be louder than a clarinet? This doesn't fit with my experiences.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2013-10-09 17:35
All things being equal (save for a more strident timbre) the instrument with more overtones will come through.
So if (as the Doctor stated earlier) you are able to emphasise those overtones which are more present, you will be more audible.
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-10-09 18:46
Rather than speculating, perhaps someone (Doc Omar?) could do a test using several clarinets, with stock barrels and Power Barrels, using a sound level meter with an "A-weighted" scale calibration (this is the algorithm that is supposed to adjust the meter reading to most accurately estimate the sound level perceived by the human hearing process).
Talk is cheap. Test results are expensive and therefore better. 
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-09 19:59
My original post dealt with this. I used a db meter. The Doctor is referring to perceived differences. I really don't find the power barrel to be strident at all. If I wanted to create a tone with lots of high partials I would change the mouthpiece. I wonder if foldback is the main difference. Is there more sound emanating from the barrel? ....rather than rest of the clarinet. So is it louder to the performer....to the audience or both?
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-10-09 21:16
@Arnoldstang: Did you have your dB meter reading "straight" (unweighted) decibels or was it set to record A-weighted decibels? The latter should be more indicative of "perceived" loudness.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-10 03:41
Good point.....I don't know...I'll see how I have it set. Back in a minute.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2013-10-10 04:12
You are correct I had it on the c setting. So my results now with A setting is generally speaking 2 to 3 db increase with the power barrel depending on the note. It doesn't seem substantial but it is louder. The tone is still quite acceptable.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-10-10 05:06
+3db may not seem like much, bot it is a doubling of volume versus the reference stock barrel.
I'm tempted to dig out my sound level meter and see what readings I get with the Power Barrel on my clarinets.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2013-10-10 13:44
Not that the concept of "doubling" a sound volume really doesn't mean much to a listener.
If one player produces a certain volume, then how many players are needed to "double" that volume. (If it is two players, then that is not much louder to our ears.)
Post Edited (2013-10-13 12:22)
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