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Transducer

Object that changes one form of energy to


another
Sound Travel
Sound travels in waves
Compression / rarefaction
Sound Recording
Basic Characteristics of
Sound
7 Basic Characteristics of
Sound
Amplitude Phase
Frequency Harmonic Content
Velocity Envelope
Wavelength
Amplitude
the maximum
displacement from a
reference point. Can be
measured in average,
rms or peak value (link
1)
average
add points together,
divide by number of
points
peak
maximum
displacement
rms
root mean square
0.707 x peak

link 2
frequency
number of times per
second a cycle repeats
itself. Also known as
pitch. Measured in
Hertz (Hz)
frequency
the period is the time it takes to complete
the cycle.
The tuning pitch for string instruments,

A = 440 Hz = 440 cycles/second


Period = 1/frequency
1/440 Hz = 0.002 seconds
frequency
Example 1. If a
sinewave has period
(T) of 0.25 seconds,
what is the frequency?
frequency
Example 2.
Instruments are tuned
to A = 440Hz, the next
octave up is 880 Hz.
What is the period for
880 Hz?
Frequency
Humans can hear frequencies from 20 Hz
to 20,000 Hz (20kHz)
well, before everyone had an ipod
and when you were 2 years old...
lets check a couple things...
CD, handout and equal loudness curves
velocity
The speed of sound in
air. 344 m/s pr 1130
ft/sec @ 70 F
wavelength
the distance between
the beginning and end
of the cycle OR
between corresponding
points on a cycle.
wavelength
wavelength = velocity
Frequency

Example 3
Phase
displacement in time
between waves of the
same frequency.
phase
constructive interference
waves combine to become larger
destructive interference
waves subtract and cancel
check the mono mix!!!
phase
displacement in time between waves of the
same frequency
time difference of waves between ears gives
direction of sound
time difference of waves between mics or
speakers give direction (location) of sound
reflections = time differences = phase
interference = problems
Examples (CD)
harmonic content
a set of tones including
the fundamental and
partials
harmonic content
Partials (or overtones) occur in multiples of the
fundamental. e.g. 440/880/1320/etc
octaves occur at each doubling. e.g.
440/880/1760/etc
some instruments have partials that are NOT
harmonically related to each other (bells,
xylophone, other percussion, organ)
harmonic content
instruments sound different from each
other because of differences in the level
and balance of harmonics
the number and intensity of harmonics
present determine the character or
TIMBRE of the instrument
Instruments radiate differently in different
registers
harmonic content
fundamental = 1st harmonic
1st overtone = 2nd harmonic
2nd overtone = 3rd harmonic
etc.
harmonic content
why do we care?
harmonic content
why do we care?
because the balance of harmonics is so
important to the sound of the instrument -
the frequency response of mics, amps,
speakers etc. can greatly affect the sound
Envelope
a graphic
representation of the
wave, composed of 3
parts. 1. Attack 2.
Sustain 3. Decay
Other terms that matter
Dynamic Range
Dynamic Range
the variation from soft to loud that the
recording can accurately reproduce
without distortion

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