What Is Sound1.Ppt
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Sound is the sensation we perceive when vibrations in the air are detected by our ears. Our ears convert these vibrations into electrical impulses that are transmitted to our brain. The brain distinguishes three main characteristics of sound: pitch, timbre, and amplitude. Pitch is determined by frequency and is measured in Hertz. Timbre refers to the unique tone quality of a sound and is determined by its frequency content. Amplitude describes the loudness or volume of a sound and is measured in decibels. Synthesizers allow users to manipulate these three characteristics to create and shape unique sounds.
What Is Sound1.Ppt
- 1. What is sound? To fully understand synthesisers, synthesis and samplers, we need to be familiar with the characteristics of sound.
- 2. What is sound? Sound is the sensation we perceive when vibrations in the air are detected by our ears. Our ears convert these vibrations to electrical impulses. These impulses are transmitted to our brain via our nervous system. Our brain then distinguishes its 3 main characteristics.
- 3. What is sound? These 3 main characteristics are termed: Pitch Timbre Amplitude
- 4. The 3 main characteristics of sound: 1. Pitch Pitch is determined by Frequency Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz) Human ears perceive a range of frequencies - generally given as ranging from 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz (abbreviated to 20 kilo Hertz, or 20 kHz)
- 5. The 3 main characteristics of sound: 2. Timbre Timbre means ‘tonal characteristics’. We distinguish between different sounds according to their timbre. A piano and a saxophone, both playing at the same pitch and level, still sound different - this is because they each have a different timbre. Our voices also have different timbres. Timbre is determined by the frequency content of a sound.
- 6. The 3 main characteristics of sound: 3. Amplitude Amplitude is the loudness or volume of a sound. Amplitude is measured in Decibels (dB) Humans can perceive amplitude levels ranging from: 0dB (a leaf falling on the grass) up to 120dB (standing 20 paces from a jet engine!)
- 7. The 3 main characteristics of sound Pitch, Timbre and Amplitude are the fundamental elements to understanding what is going on when you are creating and manipulating sound.
- 8. Pitch Sounds can be: low in pitch - like a bass guitar high in pitch - like a crash cymbal Or have a range of pitches - like a piano Synths often have a keyboard - enabling you to play a tone at different musical pitches.
- 9. Timbre Sounds can be: Pure sounding - like a flute Rich sounding - like a string section Musical sounding - like any musical instrument Non-musical - like machinery noise Synths have many controls - enabling you to create different musical (and non-musical) timbres.
- 10. Amplitude Sounds can be: Quiet sounding - like a triangle Loud sounding - like a bass drum Or they may change in level over time Synths have amplitude controls - enabling you to control how loud a sound is over time.
- 11. Timbre, Pitch and Amplitude Over the coming weeks we will look at the different ways that synths allow you to change these 3 fundamental characteristics. You will learn how to: Create and shape your own unique sounds Use these sounds in your own music