So I am finding it difficult to calibrate for a particular signal that changes in amplitude over time, and is randomly presented to a listener over a time span. I have attached a picture of the waveform for reference. Basically it sounds like wind chimes.
There is about a 15 dB difference between the largest peak of the most intense presentations and the largest peak of a less intense stimulus presentation. Additionally, the stimuli decay about 2-3 dB over the duration of each signal presentation (ranging from 1-2s).
Using our Larson Davis 831 SLM or our Fluke 45 volt meter for a stimuli like this is not accurately capturing one value that represents the signal amplitude very well.
I am presenting everything else for the study (pure tones, narrow bands of noise, broad bands of noise) at 55 dB SPL at a fixed frequency, and those stimuli are easy to calibrate, but this signal is proving very difficult to capture and assign an output voltage, as the signals change in amplitude during each presentation, and over time. Not to mention the frequency composition of each sound is different.
Basically, though the RMS of a pure tone and the complex stimulus are close to equal, the loudness of the chimes is much greater than for the pure tone.
Any suggestions on how to calibrate this complex stimulus?