Answers.Body: <p>I looked up the Bible of Underwater Acoustics (Urick 1983) and found the following overview
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/p7jhb.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/p7jhb.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>There are 12 methods mentioned with 27 references!</p>
  <p>Anyhow, the simplest method is to compare the sensor in question with a calibrated one. In underwater you compare the recording with the direct measurements of a calibrated hydrophone.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: WMXZ
Answers.Body: <p>From a terrestrial sound perspective, I've seen analogous calibration methods to those pointed out by @WMXZ. See chapter contents from [i] below.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NgNpb.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NgNpb.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>On a regular basis though, I've only so far seen the substitution method (measuring the playback sound with a quality calibration mic, and then switching it with the target mic and comparing the recorded signals.</p>
  <p>References</p>
  <p>i) Wong, G.S. (2014). Microphones and Their Calibration. In: Rossing, T.D. (eds) Springer Handbook of Acoustics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY.</p>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Thejasvi
Answers.Body: <p>You can either:</p>
  <ol>
  <li>Trust the cal sheet of the microphone</li>
  <li>use a pistonphone to check sensitivity at one frequency (typically 250 or 1000 Hz)</li>
  <li>do a relative calibration where you measure a sound field with a known microphone and then insert your unknown microphone in the same sound field to work out its sensitivity.</li>
  </ol>
  
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Marinebioacoustics Aarhus Univ
Body: <p>I have come across many terms to describe different types of recorder calibrations (e.g., end-to-end calibration, point calibration, factory calibration) and the whole topic of recorder calibration was very confusing for me when I started in bioacoustics. I had a hard time finding beginner-level (i.e., not highly technical, jargon-filled) material describing calibration, and even now, I still at times question whether I'm using the correct terminology.</p>
  <p>I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide a concise summary of the different types or methods of recorder calibration and perhaps when they might be more or less recommended.</p>
  <p>I also wonder if the calibration categories and recommendations tend to be similar for air and underwater recordings. (For me, I have only worked with underwater recorders, so I'm not very familiar with air recording methods.)</p>
  <p>Thank you for any help you can offer!</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2022-07-02T23:08:21.383Z
Comments.Text: You must have read my mind -- I was just googling this very thing!
Comments.UserDisplayName: angie_zorka
Tags: <methods><calibration><terminology>
Title: Distinguishing between types of recorder calibration
ThreadText: # Distinguishing between types of recorder calibration
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2022-07-02)
  
  I have come across many terms to describe different types of recorder calibrations (e.g., end-to-end calibration, point calibration, factory calibration) and the whole topic of recorder calibration was very confusing for me when I started in bioacoustics. I had a hard time finding beginner-level (i.e., not highly technical, jargon-filled) material describing calibration, and even now, I still at times question whether I'm using the correct terminology.
  
  I was wondering if anyone would be able to provide a concise summary of the different types or methods of recorder calibration and perhaps when they might be more or less recommended.
  
  I also wonder if the calibration categories and recommendations tend to be similar for air and underwater recordings. (For me, I have only worked with underwater recorders, so I'm not very familiar with air recording methods.)
  
  Thank you for any help you can offer!
  
  **Tags:** methods, calibration, terminology
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: You must have read my mind -- I was just googling this very thing!  
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2022-07-02. Score: 6
  
  I looked up the Bible of Underwater Acoustics (Urick 1983) and found the following overview
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/p7jhb.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/p7jhb.jpg)
  
  There are 12 methods mentioned with 27 references!
  
  Anyhow, the simplest method is to compare the sensor in question with a calibrated one. In underwater you compare the recording with the direct measurements of a calibrated hydrophone.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2022-07-03. Score: 2
  
  From a terrestrial sound perspective, I've seen analogous calibration methods to those pointed out by @username_2. See chapter contents from [i] below.
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NgNpb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/NgNpb.png)
  
  On a regular basis though, I've only so far seen the substitution method (measuring the playback sound with a quality calibration mic, and then switching it with the target mic and comparing the recorded signals.
  
  References
  
  i) Wong, G.S. (2014). Microphones and Their Calibration. In: Rossing, T.D. (eds) Springer Handbook of Acoustics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, New York, NY.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2022-07-05. Score: 1
  
  You can either:
  
  1. Trust the cal sheet of the microphone
  2. use a pistonphone to check sensitivity at one frequency (typically 250 or 1000 Hz)
  3. do a relative calibration where you measure a sound field with a known microphone and then insert your unknown microphone in the same sound field to work out its sensitivity.
  
  
  ---
  
  