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Speaker: KICK IT! Vuvuzelas and Jambulanis

85 Responses

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  • Hadyn Green,

    Gizmodo has a look at the specs of the vuvuzelas:

    Why are they so loud?

    The loudness can be explained by the bore shape, which is roughly conical, and flares. As well as creating sound at a frequency of 235 hertz, the instrument generates harmonics – sound at multiples of the fundamental frequency. We have measured strong harmonics at 470, 700, 940, 1171, 1400 and 1630 hertz.

    A flared instrument has louder higher-frequency harmonics than a cylindrical one. The flared instrument is perceived as louder because the higher harmonics are at frequencies where our hearing is most sensitive. This is partly why the conical saxophone sounds louder than the cylindrical clarinet.

    Since it produces 116 decibels at 1 metre, prolonged exposure to the vuvuzela poses a risk to hearing, according to a study by the Department of Communication Pathology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Listen to just one instrument for 7 to 22 seconds and you exceed typical permitted levels for noise at work. A whole crowd produces even higher levels, and measurements at a training match have shown temporary hearing loss among spectators.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    The BBC may offer Vuvuzela-free broadcasts, as a Red Button option for digital viewers.

    A commenter on the Guardian story backs up my theory about an EQ solution:

    since they make a uniform Bb below middle C, a using graphic equaliser may make life a life more bearable... that's about 240 Hz ish

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    providing a big screen at Queens Wharf so that football fans can gather and watch the games. But have they noticed the temperatures recently?

    Expecting sports fans to gather on a wharf in winter, eh. Who in their right mind would consider such a crazy plan?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Julian Melville,

    I didn't realise all the All Whites games are live on TV One.

    Thank goodness for that.

    And if Australia/Germany on TVNZ7 the other day is anything to go by it'll be free of all that worthless screen clutter such as, oh, the score and how many minutes have flown by. I ended up watching the slightly blurrier but much more informative Sky coverage.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 200 posts Report Reply

  • JP Hansen,

    Which games are on TVNZ7?

    Is there a free-to-air schedule somewhere?

    Oh, there are links to the TVOne & TVNZ7 live schedules here, but it's not very easy to read.

    Waitakere • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Cancel that, the reply came already.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    Is there a free-to-air schedule somewhere?

    See here

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    it'll be free of all that worthless screen clutter such as, oh, the score and how many minutes have flown by.

    That really pisses me off too. How hard is to have a tiny thing in the corner. They do it in the rugby too, so if you come in half way through you have no idea what the situation is.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    And Gizmodo are reporting of a software filter that will kill the vuvuzela

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • recordari,

    Toni at the end of three news. 'I'm looking forward to John Campbell's horn'. Chortle I did, mmm, yess.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    Why did we have to have all this attention to the vuvuzelas? In this house it has led to a great deal of digging through deep cupboards and finally one produced from some long forgotten game (and years before we ever heard that name). And what's more it still makes that dreadful sound, which will no doubt be shattering the quiet here on several upcoming nights.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    vuvuzealot

    Surely an early candidate for Word o the Year

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I like the iVuvuzela app, for the convenience of aggregating loathsome objects with one another.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Culture my arse. What an annoying and pointless fecking noise. Predict sales of graphic equalisers through the roof, and tentative watchers like me never coming back.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    It's a racket, but with an ending like that Sacha, I hope you think twice.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Yippy!

    I won't get to sleep for an hour at least.

    I've got work in 6 hours!

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Nope, nice goal and all but waiting 90 minutes for it not so cool - and as others noted you can't even fast forward the FTA coverage reliably because no score displayed.

    They can call the game "beautiful" as much as they like, but until they can get beyond low-scoring draws I have some paint to watch drying.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • chris,

    Hehe. Yeah, not so convinced by the 'beautiful game' rhetoric either...

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Nope

    No, I really do have work in six hours.

    ...until they can get beyond low-scoring draws...

    You should have watched the Germany v Australia game. The scoreline flattered the Australians, frankly.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    There's a joke in that somewhere - how do you flatter an Australian?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • webweaver,

    Ah I don't care that the game wasn't so beautiful - I think I probably woke up the entire neighbourhood (those who weren't also watching the game, anyway) with my yell of delight when the ball went into the net. Couldn't believe it!

    Hooray!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 332 posts Report Reply

  • Just thinking,

    Bitch'n about a win!?

    Come on it's historic, fantastic, & what a goal.

    That a game is played for the full 90 mins isn't a detractor, it draws people into the magic.

    By contrast, high scoring games can be over in the first half, or earlier. Missmatches and high scoring games occur in football, but appreciate the openess of the game and the oppitunity low scoring games have to turn, as this one did.

    It was truely beautiful.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Celebration is great and it's certainly an achievement in any code (though perhaps someone could explain to me how this is our first FIFA points - what happened in 1982?). I'm just not enough of a fan to overlook the tedious gameplay or the pesky kazoos. As an aspie they drive me spare.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jake Pollock,

    Sacha do you really need to rain on the parade?

    ETA: Which is to say, woohoo.

    Raumati South • Since Nov 2006 • 489 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Can I offer this wonderful game summary from the New York Times (h/t @elpie). Even has a heat map of field position.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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