Music Acoustics and Audio Technologies

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering musical acoustics, sound properties, note durations, dynamic symbols, frequency ranges, microphones, speaker drivers, and digital audio workstations.

Sound

A wave generated from a vibrating source traveling through a medium.

Medium

An object that causes vibration, serving as the origin of sound.

Musical Acoustics

The branch of acoustics that deals with the generation of sound by musical instruments and the transmission of sound to the listener.

Lovers' Telephone

A non-electrical acoustic communication device made of two tin cans connected by copper wire, invented by Robert Hooke between 1664 and 1665.

Frequency / Pitch

The property of sound describing the highness or lowness of a pitch, determined by how fast or slow an object vibrates.

Dynamics

The property of sound referring to loudness or softness, which depends directly on the size of the sound waves.

Fortississimo ($fff$)

A musical dynamic marking that directs the performer to play very, very loud.

Fortissimo ($ff$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning very loud.

Forte ($f$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning loud.

Mezzo Forte ($mf$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning a little loud.

Mezzo Piano ($mp$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning a little soft.

Piano ($p$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning soft.

Pianissimo ($pp$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning very soft.

Pianississimo ($ppp$)

A musical dynamic marking meaning very, very soft.

Crescendo

A dynamic marking that indicates music should gradually become louder.

Decrescendo

A dynamic marking that indicates music should gradually become softer.

Sforzando ($sfz$)

A dynamic marking that indicates a sudden accent or sudden force on a note.

Duration (Note Value)

The property of sound referring to the length of a specific sound, dependent on the length of the waves.

Whole Note (Semibreve)

A musical note that receives 4 beats.

Half Note (Minim)

A musical note that receives 2 beats.

Quarter Note (Crotchet)

A musical note that receives 1 beat.

Eighth Note (Quaver)

A musical note that receives 1/2 beat.

Sixteenth Note (Semiquaver)

A musical note that receives 1/4 beat.

Timbre

The property of sound describing its sound quality or unique tone color.

Reflected Sound / Echo

Sound waves that bounce back upon striking a solid surface.

Absorbed Sound

Sound waves that pass into a medium, resulting in decreased loudness.

Basic Equalizing Mixer

An audio technology device capable of adjusting loudness, adding echo, panning, or muting specific sounds.

Equalizer (EQ)

An audio tool that boosts, lowers, or neutralizes specific sound frequencies to improve listening quality.

Frequency

The number of vibrations, waves, or repeated events occurring in one second.

Hertz ($Hz$)

The unit of measurement used to quantify frequency.

Sub Bass

The lowest frequency range audible to humans, encompassing low-end instruments such as bass guitar, kick drums, tuba, bass drum, and low synths.

Bass Range

The frequency range that creates the foundation and depth of an audio track.

Low Mids

A crucial frequency range where most harmonic instruments, such as piano and guitar, produce sound.

Mids

The frequency range containing the fundamental frequencies of the human voice and instruments, providing clarity and presence.

Higher Mids

The frequency range to which the human ear is most sensitive, where instruments such as violins and trumpets are adjusted.

Presence

The frequency range that determines clarity and definition, adding warmth and sweetness to strings, synths, and orchestral music.

Brilliance

The highest audible frequency range where pitch is difficult to identify, used to control sounds like whistles and cymbals.

Dynamic Microphone

The oldest and most primitive category of microphone.

Condenser Microphone

A highly sensitive microphone popular for studio vocal recordings that captures a wide range of frequencies.

USB Microphone

A microphone that connects directly to a computer or laptop without requiring extra gear, making it ideal for beginners.

XLR Microphone

A traditional vocal recording microphone requiring an audio interface; commonly equipped on karaoke microphones.

Speakers

Audio output devices that convert analog electrical signals into acoustic sound waves.

Dome Driver (Tweeter)

A type of speaker driver designed specifically to produce high frequencies.

Horn Driver

A speaker driver that produces bright midrange frequencies and lacks bass output.

Cone Driver (Woofer)

A type of speaker driver built to reproduce low to mid frequencies.

Sub-Woofer

A box-like speaker driver designed to reproduce very low or sub bass frequencies.

Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

A software application installed on a computer or laptop that enables recording, editing, and producing music.

Functions of a DAW

The five core tasks of audio production software: record and edit audio, play virtual instruments, experiment with audio effects, mix and master audio tracks, and work on sound design and non-musical audio.