Why explore background noise data?

Data about background noise levels from Nureva audio devices can help:

• Compare background noise levels across multiple rooms
• Troubleshoot when audio issues are reported
• Proactively detect and correct issues
• Identify where to invest in improving room acoustics

What background noise data is available?

The background noise chart shows the average, minimum and maximum background noise levels over time for the selected room, measured in dBA. It also shows the maximum background noise level recommended by Nureva for comparison.

Investigating background noise levels can help with troubleshooting audio issues. When background noise levels in a particular room are higher than recommended levels, comparing noise levels at different time intervals can help to determine the source of the noise.

Nureva advises a maximum background noise level of around 40 dBA. If Analytics is reporting a background noise level beyond 45 dBA for a sustained period, we recommend reviewing the space to determine what can be done to decrease background noise levels.

To help you remember that values below 40dBA are desired, the area below the recommended line is shaded grey with the word ‘BETTER’ displayed in white letters. This is in contrast to the signal-to-noise ratio chart, where values above the recommended line are desired.

Explore background noise levels in the room at different dates and times to determine if there is a pattern to when peak noise levels occur. This could help pinpoint the best times to visit the room to investigate the source of the noise.

• Learn more about background noise 

How to explore background noise data

• Access the Analytics feature by logging into Nureva Console cloud and navigating to Analytics in the left-hand navigation menu

• On the Analytics landing page are the Device usage, Background noise, Sound location, and Signal to noise ratio charts
  • The charts show data for the first room in your organization alphabetically
  • View and compare data for different rooms using the 'Select a room' dropdown menu

• With a Nureva Pro plan
  • By default, these charts display data from the past week
  • Change the date range using the Date range selector found on the top right-hand side of the browser window
  • Select a single day or a date range of up to 31 days
• With a standard plan
  • Try out this Pro feature by viewing data from the past 3 days, but the date range cannot be changed

• From the landing page, click the Explore button for background noise data

NOTE: With a Nureva Pro plan if a custom date range is entered, this selection will persist when exploring the chart.

• See a larger version of the background noise chart from the landing page

This chart shows both the average and the range of background noise measurements over time

Explore background noise data via the following controls:

• Any changes that are made to these options will persist when navigating to the device usage, sound location, or signal-to-noise ratio charts

1. Date range
   • With a Nureva Pro plan
     • Change the date range by clicking on the calendar icon   
     • Select a single day or a range of up to 31 days
     • The example above shows a date range of June 14 to June 21, 2023
   • With a standard plan
     • Try out this Nureva Pro feature by viewing data from the past 3 days, but the date range cannot be changed
2. Timeframe
   • This setting filters the data from the selected date range to show only certain times from each day
   • For example, the image above has a timeframe from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
     • Data captured on the selected days between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm is displayed
   • Change the timeframe using the dropdown menus for Start time and End time
     • The minimum range is 1 hour
   • The time zone is taken from the system time of the computer being used to access Analytics
     • This may not be the same as the time zone where the Nureva audio device is located

Selecting a larger time frame will result in a visualization that focuses on the ‘big picture’. Data points that do not contribute to a larger pattern of use are removed to make it easier to spot such patterns. To see more detailed sound location data, try selecting a smaller timeframe.

3. Select a room
   • Use the radio buttons to view and compare data for different rooms

4. Chart interactions
   • Hover over a particular data point and a popup will show the time stamp and the data value for that x-value
   • Use a mouse or trackpad to zoom into the chart to view data on a smaller time scale
   • The chart legend also functions as a filter
     • Clicking or tapping on a legend entry will toggle between showing and hiding that type of data in the chart

NOTE: The combination of the date range and timeframe selections determines the level of detail at which the data is displayed.

• See the data in finer detail by selecting a smaller date range and/or time frame
• For a coarser level of detail select a larger date range and/or time frame

Exporting background noise data

Background noise data can be exported as a .csv file. 

• Click the export icon in the top right corner of the background noise chart
  • The data currently visible in the chart will be downloaded via the browser
  • The .csv file will reflect the date range and time filter selected at the time of export
  • The export button will be disabled if there is no data visible in the chart

Learn more

Learn more about how to explore and interpret other data types:

• Device usage data
• Sound location data
• Signal-to-noise ratio data

Get a general overview of Analytics features, including troubleshooting information:

• Getting started with Nureva Console Analytics

• Nureva Pro subscription information