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Intro To Audio
Overview of class for Final Test
80
Other
Post-Graduate
11/02/2011

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Term
What is sound?
Definition
Sound is the periodic disturbance of molecules caused by vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, and the interaction of those disturbances in the environment.
Term
An acoustic wave is also...
Definition
A longitudinal wave.
Term
Sound is three different types of forces. They are
Definition
Physical, Perceptual, and Emotional
Term
Sound provides two types of information. They are...
Definition
Cognitive: memory, reasoning, logic
Affective: feelings, emotion, mood
Term
There are THREE categories of sound. They are...
Definition
Speech, Environmental Sounds, and Music
Term
In order for an acoustic wave to be formed, three things must be present. They are...
Definition
Compression, Rarefaction, and Elasticity
Term
COMPRESSION
Definition
The outward motion of a vibrating object.
Term
RAREFACTION
Definition
The inward motion of a vibrating object.
Term
ELASTICITY
Definition
A medium that can move forward and back to its original starting point.
Term
PITCH
Definition
The highness or lowness of a sound.
Term
AMPLITUDE
Definition
The loudness or quietness of a sound.
Term
TIMBER
Definition
The tonal quality of a sound.
Term
TEMPO
Definition
The speed of a sound and the spaces between.
Term
RHYTHM
Definition
A sonic pattern
Term
There are FOUR types of rhythm. They are...
Definition
SIMPLE, CONSTANT, COMPLEX, AND CHANGING
Term
ACOUSTIC ENVELOPE
Definition
The parts of a sound measured over time from beginning to end. ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN, and RELEASE.
Term
FREQUENCY
Definition
The number of complete cycles of compression and rarefaction per second.
Term
HERTZ
Definition
A unit describing the number of cycles per second.
Term
Describe low frequencies in three words.
Definition
Longer, stronger and more omnidirectional.
Term
Describe high frequencies in three words.
Definition
Shorter, weaker and more directional.
Term
FREQUENCY RANGE
Definition
A numerically consecutive group of frequencies.
Term
FULL RANGE
Definition
The frequency range that humans are capable of hearing. It ranges from 20Hz - 20 KHz.
Term
SUBSONIC FREQUENCIES
Definition
These frequencies are felt. They range from 0 - 20Hz.
Term
ULTRASONIC FREQUENCIES
Definition
These frequencies are too high to be perceived. They range from 20KHz - infinite.
Term
The time of a cycles is called its..
Definition
Period.
Term
Who is Heinrich Rudolph Hertz?
Definition
He was a German physicist who was the first to satisfactorily demonstrate the existence of electromagnetic waves by building an apparatus to produce and detect radio waves.
Term
The full range has been broken up into ten categories called
Definition
Octaves.
Term
An octave is...
Definition
A doubling of frequencies.
Term
1st & 2nd Octaves
Definition
LOW BASS (20Hz - 80Hz) These are called the MUDDY frequencies. The provide power.
Term
3rd & 4th Octaves
Definition
UPPER BASS (80Hz - 320Hz) These are the frequencies that provide depth and perception. Also known as the SONIC FOUNDATION, SONIC ANCHOR and SONIC HORIZON LINE.
Term
MASKING
Definition
A phenomenon that takes place when two frequencies are the same but different amplitudes. When a louder wave encounters a quieter wave, it will swallow, or MASK, the quieter wave, making you not hear the quieter wave.
Term
5th, 6th, & 7th Octaves
Definition
MID-RANGE FREQUENCIES (320Hz - 2.56 KHz) Humans are very sensitive to these frequencies. They cause EAR FATIGUE. As your ears get tired, your threshold for hearing goes up, cause you ears to no hear certain sounds. Most sounds in the universe have their fundamental frequency in this range.
Term
FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCY
Definition
The lowest frequency anything produces.
Term
COMPLEX WAVE
Definition
A fundamental frequency with some combination of odd and/or even harmonics, plus partials; anything that's not any of the other five waves.
Term
SINE WAVE
Definition
A pure, simple wave; a single frequency that possesses no harmonics or partial content; the fundamental
Term
HARMONIC
Definition
A whole number multiple of a fundamental frequency.
Term
PARTIAL
Definition
Any frequency component of a sound that exists between harmonics.
Term
SQUARE WAVE
Definition
A fundamental frequency with logarithmically attenuating odd order harmonic content.
Term
DECIBEL
Definition
A relative valueless number that expresses a ratio of difference between x and y.
Term
LOGARITHM
Definition
A way to express very large numbers using very small numbers based on the power of 10.
Term
+4dBu
Definition
Professional quality line level.
Term
-10dBv
Definition
Consumer quality line level.
Term
A preamplifier's job is to...
Definition
Boost a weak signal to line level.
Term
DYNAMIC RANGE
Definition
The difference between the least and the most.
Term
A square wave is twice as powerful than a...
Definition
Sine wave, or 3dB louder.
Term
TRIANGLE WAVE
Definition
A fundamental frequency with logarithmically attenuating odd order harmonic content, but every other harmonic, in terms of amplitude, will be the inverse square of the harmonic that preceded it. x=1/x{squared} -10dB
Term
SAW TOOTH WAVE
Definition
A fundamental frequency with logarithmically attenuating all order harmonic content (all waves).
Term
PULSE TRAIN WAVE
Definition
All harmonic content at equal amplitude; only for scientific study
Term
WHITE NOISE
Definition
All frequencies at equal amplitude. 8KHz is the most sensitive to humans, so it drowns out the highs and lows.
Term
PINK NOISE
Definition
All octaves at equal intensity. Each octave is on an equal logarithmic attenuation of -10dB. Lows are much louder. It is used to EQ stadiums.
Term
GRAY NOISE
Definition
Random noise subjected to a psychoacoustic equal loudness curve over a given range of frequencies, giving the listener the perception that it is equally loud at all frequencies.
Term
FLETCHER/MUNSON CURVE
Definition
A graphic representation of the Equal Loudness Principle.
Term
INVERSE SQUARE LAW
Definition
States that for every doubling of distance between the source and the listener, there will be a 6dB change either through attenuation (doubling distance) or boost (halving distance).
Term
COMPLEX WAVES will reveal what through a Fourier Series analysis?
Definition
A combination of odd/even harmonics, plus partials.
Term
The smallest amplitude change the ear can perceive in a complex wave when you're not expecting a change is...
Definition
3dB
Term
Which frequencies are least directional?
Definition
Low Frequencies
Term
The three bones in the middle ear transfer vibrations from...
Definition
The tympanum to the cochlea.
Term
The threshold of hearing is...
Definition
0 dBSPL.
Term
The Inverse Square Law states...
Definition
For every doubling of distance, there will be a 6 dB attenuation, and for every halving of distance, there will be a 6 dB boost.
Term
In a natural acoustic environment, many random echoes becoming more closely spaced with time is known as...
Definition
REVERBERATION
Term
When sound waves in a room are reflected back on themselves in phase, the resulting wave is known as a...
Definition
STANDING WAVE
Term
One complete cycle of a sine wave has how many degrees?
Definition
360
Term
The equation: speed of sound/frequency will determine what?
Definition
WAVELENGTH
Term
WAVELENGTH
Definition
The amount of physical space any single cycle of any wave will occupy in terms of distance; changes based on atmospheric conditions
Term
PHASE
Definition
A time difference between two identical waves. They have to have the same frequency & amplitude.
Term
What is the speed of sound in air at "standard" temperature and pressure?
Definition
1130 ft/sec
Term
The bass knob on a hi-fi system is what kind of eq filter?
Definition
Low Shelf Filter
Term
The Basilar Membrane is located...
Definition
within the cochlea of the inner ear.
Term
The inner ear can be related to what piece of audio equipment?
Definition
Spectrum Analyzer
Term
The brain stem does what for our hearing capabilities?
Definition
It combines the signals from both ears to be sent to the brain for processing.
Term
The treble frequencies account for how much of our (human) audible sound frequencies?
Definition
75%
Term
True or False? The "midrange" frequencies (5th, 6th, and 7th octaves) are located between 2.57 kHz and 3.5 kHz.
Definition
False. They are located between 320 Hz - 2.56 kHz.
Term
Compression of molecules occurs when...
Definition
molecules are forced, or pressed, together.
Term
Permanent hearing damage will be the result of sound pressure levels beginning at...
Definition
152 dBSPL
Term
0 dBu is equal to...
Definition
.775v
Term
Constructive interference of sound waves that are partially out of phase is defined as...
Definition
phase that increases a sound's amplitude.
Term
A Fourier Series analysis of a square wave would indicate...
Definition
only odd harmonics.
Term
The middle ear contains the...
Definition
hammer, anvil, and stir-ups.
Term
Interaural intensity differences help us determine acoustic directionality by...
Definition
the amplitude differences of high frequencies between the two ears.
Term
A reverberant field can be broken down into how many parts? What are they?
Definition
Three; direct sound, early reflections and reverberation
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