Chapter 1- Music Vs Sound Flashcards
What are the parameters of musical tone
- Pitch
- Intensity
- Tone quality
What are pitched tones?
Musical notes
What is the general range of the human hearing spectrum
20hz-20khz
What is the volume or intensity of a note called
Velocity
What is the scale of velocity and how is it measured
0-127. 0 = no velocity, 64 = medium velocity, 127 = maximum velocity
What is the purpose of velocity in music made by computer musicians
It offers realism in the midi landscape
What is tone color/timbre
The property that enables our ears to distinguish between two different sounds
What is the sound producing quality of a synthesizer
The oscillator
What are 4 types of wave forms
- Sine
- Square
- Triangle
- Saw tooth
Define the square wave. What is the way we perceive this wave?
It is produced by emphasizing odd-numbered harmonics. It produces a hollow sound good for basses
Define the triangle wave and how do we perceive this wave?
Wave with emphasis on odd numbered partials. Produces a clear note hood for imitating flutes
Define the sawtooth wave and how do we perceive this wave?
The sawtooth is rich in harmonics. It produces a sound good for imitating brass and string sounds
Define additive synthesis
Starting with a simple wave form and adding harmonics to achieve the sound wanted
Define subtractive synthesis
Beginning with a wave form that is rich in harmonics and selectively filtering out certain frequencies
What must we do to accurately synthesize a sound?
We must take into account the sound envelope
What are the 4 elements of the sound envelope
- Attack
- Decay
- Sustain
- Release
Define attack
The way in which sound starts from an initial low and then it’s peak value
What is decay
The way a sound fades away
What is sustain
The period of which the peak value is maintained
What is release
The time it takes for a sound to disappear once the note has been released
