Audio Engineering 001 -- 7 Important Characteristics

Amplitude

Definition: Height of a sound wave

• Define Volume
• Measured in decibels -- dB
• Boost -- increase amplitude, e.g. "boost that 3 dB" = +3 dB
• Cut -- decrease amplitude, e.g. "cut that 3 dB" = -3 dB

Examples:

0 dB – near silence

50–60 dB – whisper

60–75 dB – typical conversation

80–85 dB – a blender, optimum level to monitor sound according to the Fletcher–Munsoncurve

100 dB – baby crying

110 dB – leaf blower, car horn

120 dB – threshold of pain, can cause hearing damage

150–160 dB – jet engine

Frequency

Definition: Cycles per second (cps) of a sound wave

• Define Pitch
• Measured in hertz -- Hz
• Equalization -- boosting or cutting the amplitude of a frequency or range of frequencies

3 ranges of frequencies

1. Mid range is most heavily represented frequency
2. Low-mids, from around 200 to 700 Hz darker, hollow tones
3. Mid-mids, from 700 to 2 kHz more aggressive “live” tones
4. High-mids or upper-mids, from 2 to 5 kHz brighter, present tones

• 20 ~ 200 Hz: Low range, omnidirectional, provide power, make things sound bigger, and can be destructive if too much is present in a mix.

• 200 Hz ~ 5 kHz: Mid range, directional, make a sound appear “in your face,” or 
  
  add attack and edge. Less midrange can sound mellow, dark, or distant. Too much exposure can cause ear fatigue.

• 5 ~ 20 kHz: High range, extremely directional, makes sounds airy, bright, shiny, or thinner. Provides the weakest energy, add presence to a sound without the added ear fatigue. Lack of high frequencies will result in a darker, more distant, and possibly muddy mix or sound.

 Phase