Handout of sound
Download as PPTX, PDF0 likes543 views
This document discusses basic concepts in music technology including sound, pitch, frequency, harmonics, equalization (EQ), oscillators, synthesis, filters, and sound design. It explains that sound is created by pressure disturbances propagating through air. Pitch is defined by the repetition rate of a sound, while frequency refers specifically to the repetition rate of a simple oscillator. Harmonics are the multiple frequencies present in all oscillations that give a sound its tone. EQ is used to boost or cut certain frequency ranges to enhance or modify tones. Synthesis uses oscillators, envelopes, filters, and other tools to design and manipulate sounds from scratch.
Handout of sound
- 1. Music Technology Musical Acoustics
- 2. What is Sound? Human Aspect of Sound? What is heard Physical Aspect of Sound? Pressure disturbances propagating through a medium, usually air
- 3. What is Pitch? Repetition rate in a Sound Not the same as frequency – a note with given pitch normally contain many frequencies – what are these different frequencies called?
- 4. What is Frequency? Repetition rate for a simple oscillator An oscillator is a repetitive wave e.g. sine wave, saw wave etc.
- 5. What is Frequency measured in? Hertz Normal hearing range is 30-15,000Hz
- 6. Frequencies The range of pitch of the piano is 30-4,000Hz The lowest notes are heard almost entirely via the harmonics present in the tone.
- 7. Harmonics All oscillations contain more than one frequency. The cluster of all the different sounding frequencies make the tone of the sound. The frequencies are often exact multiples of the lowest, fundamental frequency, or near to this.
- 8. Harmonics
- 10. What, therefore, does EQ do? • Boosts and cuts certain frequencies, which will inevitably, take out or increase the dynamic volume of some of the harmonics.
- 11. EQ Bands Normally three bands: High Freq: 5-6kHz upwards Mid-Range: 500Hz – 5kHz Low Freq: 50Hz-500Hz
- 12. Why should you use EQ? • Enhances the balance of the overall sound, by altering the tonal qualities of individual instruments • Makes MIDI sounds more realistic • Removes unwanted frequencies • Separates mid-range sounds that are similar in frequency, helps to give clarity to the mix, and stops them blending too much on important parts • Bring out important melodies
- 13. Types of EQ Shelving EQ: High freq: Cut/boost all the signal above a certain frequency Low freq: Cut/boost all the signal below a certain freq. Can you draw it?
- 14. High-Shelf Boost Low Shelf and High Shelf Cut
- 15. Band Pass EQ Cut/boost the signal between an upper and lower frequency.
- 16. Sweep EQ A band-pass EQ with the option of adjusting the centre frequency around which the signal is altered. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmrve23xR W8
- 17. Parametric EQ A sweep EQ with the option of adjusting the ‘Q’ (also called resonance). This increases or decreases the range over which the frequency is cut or boosted either side of the centre frequency (increases or decreases the bandwidth)
- 18. • Low Q Factor: wider bandwidth
- 19. • High Q Factor: narrower bandwidth
- 20. Why is this important? Important for ALL portfolio Use music technology keywords in your logbook to explain your choice of EQ and why. Making sounds more realistic and fitting Task 1A better.
- 21. Synthesis What is Synthesis? How have you currently been creating your sounds for your instruments?
- 22. Synthesis How are sounds created? An oscillator creates a sound wave which can then be manipulated to design the sound you wish
- 23. Oscillators Used to generate a raw repeating signal/wave Different tyes of oscillators produce a variety of signals including sine, triangle, sawtooth, square and random noise waves
- 24. Sine Wave • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sine_wave • No harmonics
- 25. Triangle Wave • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_wave • Only odd harmonics are sounded
- 26. Harmonic Numbers
- 27. Square Wave http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_wave Only uses odd harmonics – sounds similar to a triangle wave but slightly brighter in treble
- 28. Sawtooth Waves • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawtooth_wave • Uses all harmonics – sounds quite gritty
- 29. Why are these important to you? You can design your own sounds – very important!! Start with a template and then adjust it or start from scratch if you wish!
- 30. What is the Sound Envelope? ASDR Attack Sustain Decay Release Alter the sound of the audio signal over time, from the time it starts until the time there is no sound.
- 31. Sound Envelope • What about a piano?
- 32. Sound Envelope (ASDR) • Example of a piano:
- 33. Sound Envelope (ASDR) How to design your sound using the sound envelope http://en.wikiaudio.org/ADSR_envelope
- 34. Filters What do filters do? Modify a signal by cutting/removing a specific frequency band. Changes the brightness of a sound. Filters use a cut-off frequency to define which frequencies are removed from the signal Two main types: high-pass and low-pass
- 35. Types of filters Low pass filter – removes frequencies higher than the cut-off frequency, allowing the lower frequencies to pass through High pass filter – removed frequencies lower than the cut-off frequency, allowing the higher frequencies to pass through. Band pass filter – uses combination of both HPF and LPF to allow only frequencies near the cut-off to pass through Band-elimination filter – uses both LPF and HPF to remove only frequencies near the cut off. Peaking filter – emphasizes frequencies near the cut-off frequency – also called resonance.
- 36. Sound Design and Synthesis Start with an oscillator and work on the sound you like Adjust the envelope (ASDR) Use EQ and filter to boost/cut the correct harmonies Use reverb to complete the sound Write it all up in your logbook – so important to show you can design your own sounds!!