Introduction to Electronic and Computer Music

Homework: Acoustics. Answer the following questions.

1. We measure pitch with what unit (it represents the fq. of a sound)?

2. What, approximately, is the range of human hearing (pitch)? Is our hearing even through this spectrum?

3. Do most traditional musical sounds have a simple or complex wave shape?

4. If I play two pitches which are 3 octaves apart, and the lower pitch is 100 cycles per second, how many cycles per second is the higher one?

5. What do dBs measure? 1 dB is a convenient amount because it the smallest of something - what?

6. What primarily determines the timbre of a sound? (“Wave shape” is not a sufficient answer.)

7. What other factors determine timbre (list at least 2)?

8. What are formants?