Test 1 Flashcards
With his new device, the gramophone Emile Berliner improved Edison’s original phonograph both technologically and from a business standpoint, how?
Lateral cut making it clearer, easier for replication, cheaper so more sales
A soundwave is made up of a series of c_______ and r__________
compression and rare fractions
How do we measure amplitude of a sound wave? Frequency?
dB & Hz
How do we perceive amplitude and frequency?
Equal loudness curve
How long are particular frequencies in feet, meters?
1000Hz=1ft
5 things invented in recording history
Phonoautograph-1857-Edouard Leon Scott Telephone-1876-Alexander Bell Phonograph-1877-Thomas edison Recording Horn-1890-1st commercial sound recorded Microphone-1925-Emile Berliner
The threshold of human hearing (in dB SPL) is defined as?
0 dB SPL
The dynamic range of human hearing is?
20-20k Hz and 130dB
Using technical language, how would you describe the “sound” of recordings made in the acoustic period?
Minimal bandwidth, poor signal to noise ratio
What is TTS? What is PTS? What are they caused by? Are there warning signs?
TTS- temporary of threshold shift
PTS-Permaneny threshold shift
Describe the difference between a large and small signal to noise ratio
Small- 40% noise and 60% desired sound
Large- 1% noise and 99% desired sound
Describe the difference between a narrow and wide bandwidth.
Narrow- small range of frequencies-little changes in amplitude
Wide- large range of frequencies-large changes in amplitude
How much louder is 70dB than 50dB? 30dB than 0dB?
100x and 1000x
Using the equal loudness chart/graph found in the text, a 1 kHz tone played at 40 dB SPL compared to a 50 Hz tone will require how much dB SPL in order to
sound equally as loud?
?
Why was the stroh violin used in the acoustic era?
Made sound directional and amplified it
What is the threshold of pain in dB? Average conversation? A rock band in concert?
140 dB
60dB
130dB
Name the three sections of the ear and each of their basic functions
Outer-transducer helps localize the sound
Middle-amplifies and limits sound
Inner-converts mechanical energy into neural energy
What is the name for the “texture” or “color” or “quality” of a sound?
Timbre
The lowest frequency found in a complex tone is called …
a fundamental
The fifth harmonic of a note played at “x” Hz will be approximately…
5x
When sound waves collide, what happens? How do sound waves react when they are out of phase?
Constructive/destructive interference
Two identical sound waves that are 180 degrees out of phase will…
Cancel
What is the “decibel?” What is the formula?
The acoustic pressure within a defined area
Velocity/Frequency
What is the waveform envelope
Changes in level
What are “overtones” and “harmonics”? Why are they important?
All frequencies present other than the fundamental. Harmonics are overtones that are whole number multiples
“A” above Middle “C” on piano is what frequency?
440 Hz
What is an “octave?”
Doubling of frequency
The first device to successfully record a soundwave was …
Phonoautograph
How is the art of early acoustic recording similar to the art of recording today?
Used placement of distance
What does “linear” mean?
Having an output that varies in direct portion to the input
What are some of the ways the brain localizes sound?
The auditory center to the brain center
What issues determine the degree of masking between two sounds? Give some examples
Frequency, amplitude, duration
What frequencies can we hear the best?
Mid and high frequencies
How are bandwidth, frequency, dynamic range, signal to noise, linearity, amplitude related to each other?
All related to sound
What is the significance of the phonautograph? Who invented it and in what year?
The first sound recorder-1857- Edouard Leon Scott
The correct chronological order of the telephone, phonautograph, telegraph, gramophone, and phonograph is….
the telegraph, phonautograph, telephone, phonograph, and gramophone
Berliner increased the dynamic range of early disc recording by__________
lateral movements (left to right)
What does dB level(s) does OSHA recommend for daily listening exposure? How many hours should I listen to music at 103 dB SPL?
90dB, 1 hour
Approximately how long is a 50 Hz sound wave? 1 kHz? 10 kHz?
50Hz=1kHz
1kHz=1ft
10kHz=10Hz
What devices came together to make the electrical recording system of 1925?
audion vacuum tube amplifier, electric stylus, loudspeakers
Who invented the disc? When? What was the device called?
Emilie Berliner- gramophone
What was considered the first recording studio? Where was it?
Abbey Road Studios in London, England
During the acoustic period, how were various instruments and/or voices were recorded and mixed?
Placement in the room
What device spurred the audio industry from acoustic recording into electrical recording?
Vacuum tube, The microphone, disc cutter
ADSR Curve
Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release
Amplitude
Volume
Binaural localization Complex waveform
Where sound comes from- above, below, behind, to the side
Cycles per second
the frequency
Decibel
A dimensionless unit to measure the ratio of two quantities
Dynamic Range
The difference between the softest and loudest sound a device will process without distortion
Equal loudness curve
Shows sensitivity of the ear to different frequencies at various levels
Frequency
Relative tone of the sound
Masking
When loud sound signals prevent ear from hearing softer sounds
Octave
Doubling the frequency
Phase
The time relationship between two or more sounds reaching a microphone
Pitch
The frequency of a sound
Precedence effect
When a sound comes from somewhere and on ear hits louder than the other
Psychoacoustics
Human perceptions of acoustics
Sine wave
A fundamental frequency with no harmonics or overtones
Telegraphone
A magnetic wire recorder
Threshold of Pain
140 dB
Valdemar Poulsen
Created a wire microphone
Waveform
A graphic representation of a sounds characteristic shape displayed
Cilia
Hairs in the ear, where it converts to electric
