Quiz 1 Flashcards
Soundwave
A vibrational disturbance that involves mechanical motion of molecules transmitting energy from one place to
another
Compression
(1) Reducing a signal’s output level in relation to its input level to reduce dynamic range. (2) The drawing
together of vibrating molecules, producing a high-pressure area. See also rarefaction.
Rarefaction
Temporary drawing apart of vibrating molecules, causing a partial vacuum to occur. See also compression (2).
Cycles Per Second
Hertz
Hertz
(Hz) Unit of measurement of Frequency; Numerically equal to the Cycles Per Second(cps)
Kilohertz
A measure of Frequency equivalent to 1,00 hertz
frequency!+!octaves%!
The number of times per second that a sound source vibrates, expressed in hertz (Hz);
formerly expressed in cycles per second (cps).
Pitch
The subjective perception of frequency—the highness or lowness of a sound.
Wavelength
The length of one cycle of a sound wave. Wavelength is inversely proportional to the frequency of a sound;
the higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength.
Infrasonic
The range below the frequencies audible to human hearing.
Low End
The bass range of the frequency spectrum.
Bass
The low range of the audible frequency spectrum; usually from 20 to 320 Hz.
Mid Range
The part of the frequency spectrum to which humans are most sensitive;
the frequencies between roughly 320 and 2,560 Hz
Treble
Frequency range between roughly 5,120 Hz and 20,000 Hz, the highest two octaves in the audible frequency spectrum.
High End
The treble range of the frequency spectrum.
Ultrasonic
Frequencies above the range of human hearing.
Amplitude
The magnitude of a sound wave or electric signal, measured in decibels
Decibel
(dB) A relative and dimensionless unit to measure the ratio of two quantities.
Velocity
The speed of a sound wave: 1,130 feet per second at sea level and 70°F.
Direct Sound
Sound waves that reach the listener before reflecting off any surface.
Indirect Sound
Sound waves that reflect from one or more surfaces before reaching the listener.
Reverberation
Multiple blended, random reflections of a sound wave after the sound source has ceased vibrating. The types of reverberation in current use are digital, convolution, plate, and acoustic chamber.
Echoes
Sound reflections delayed by 35 ms or more that are perceived as discrete repetitions of the direct sound
Sound Envelope (timbre)
The unique tone quality or color of a sound.
Attack
(1) The way a sound begins—that is, by plucking, bowing, striking, blowing, and so on.
(2) The first part of the sound envelope—how a sound starts after a sound source has been vibrated
Decay
How fast a sound fades from a certain loudness.
Sustain
In the sound envelope, the period during which the sound’s relative dynamics are maintained after its initial decay.
Release
In the sound envelope, the time and the manner in which a sound diminishes to inaudibility.
