Quantifying your product’s signature sound

There’s an entire industry dedicated to making foods crispy. When you bite into an apple, a sharp, crisp crunch tells you it’s fresh. Without such a characteristic sound the apple would be less appealing. Similarly, there is a distinct noise emitted when you bite into the crunchy coating of a choc ice or snap a cracker in half. The science of sound emission is called acoustics and its analysis gives you vital information on the quality and acceptability of the food – both actual and perceived. If consumers perceive a crisp that crunches louder as tasting fresher, manufacturers turning the volume on product crunchiness might be more likely to attract loyal consumers. And if you want to make your textural claims on your packaging e.g. 50% more crunch, you’ll need to substantiate your claims using objective and quantitative measurements.

So, how does sound measurement work?

A Texture Analyser stresses the product and the noise energy emitted by the sample is detected and measured by an Acoustic Envelope Detector which is attached. The resulting acoustic and force curves can be viewed simultaneously to show both the texture/mechanical properties of the tested sample and the sound profile captured during the test.

Here we show you three examples of products that produce a characteristic sound during their use or consumption – three sounds that are part of that product’s signature.

Want to see more? Visit our YouTube channel acoustic playlist

Acoustic data can be measured and displayed in Exponent Connect software (as shown above) in real time alongside mechanical measurements (force, distance and time) to identify certain events during a test and provide the 4th dimension in texture analysis. You can measure the popping sound when a beverage can is opened or the fizz of a bath bomb as it disintegrates. This sound measurement provides another level of quantitative data on fractures or audible events that occur when a sample is deformed during testing.

What’s new in sound measurement?

The latest improvement is that Exponent Connect software can now process audio and synchronise this data as .wav files. These audio files greatly aid comprehension when analysing test results. Being able to hear the audio while seeing the audio data and Acoustic Envelope data helps you understand the nature of the data they are analysing.

Who’s been using the Acoustic Envelope Detector already?

The Acoustic Envelope Detector has been around since 2009 and in this time has been used in several patents and extensively in published papers as a valuable addition to characterising products in this novel way.

Get a run through of all Google Scholar articles that include the use of this product

Read our latest blog post on recent research that has used the Acoustic Envelope Detector

Read our blog post about measuring the sound of popping candy

Why sound is so valuable to your product success

Ever wondered why we are so drawn to the snap of a potato chip or the crackle of fried chicken – it’s down to biology, psychology and an incredible amount of engineering. Crispy is everywhere according to this article from Bon Appetit. And, ‘Auditory inputs contribute to food enjoyment’ according to a Food Ingredients First article: Eat with your eyes and ears: Sensory innovation beyond taste

Want to know more about measuring sound?

To get the competitive edge, you’ll need the tools to measure the results of your crispy/crunchy product development – a Texture Analyser attached to an Acoustic Envelope Detector is the solution when you’re ready to quantify your claims.

Visit the Acoustic Envelope Detector page for more detailed product information

Request an Acoustic Envelope Detector brochure

There is a Texture Analysis test for virtually any physical property. Contact Stable Micro Systems today to learn more about our full range of solutions.

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For more information on how to measure texture, please visit the Texture Analysis Properties section on our website.

The TA.XTplusC texture analyser is part of a family of texture analysis instruments and equipment from Stable Micro Systems. An extensive portfolio of specialist attachments is available to measure and analyse the textural properties of a huge range of food products. Our technical experts can also custom design instrument fixtures according to individual specifications.

No-one understands texture analysis like we do!

Get in touch to discuss your specific test requirements