Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Tight of Flabby Bass

OK, I think I'm starting to talk to myself on public boards. Not good.

From the article:

To me that says multiple fundimental waves with those in the attack being higer in the spectrum and (I'm guessing) with rapid decay.

Why, thank you for clearing that up for me Fred.

You are most welcome Fred.

No Fred, tell Fred that there's only one fundamental frequency in a musical note, but numerous harmonics, theoretically to infinity, but much weaker after the first few. It's the upper harmonics which make the attack of an instrument playing a note whose fundamental frequency is very low sound sharp and tight.

That Fred... Nice fellow, but very confusing.

Is this stuff written up in a nice neat package somewhere so I don't have to lurch about the internet picking up little bits here and there?

So if the fundimental is at 30hz, you would have harmonics at 90/120/150Hz that are very short in duration which characterize the initial attack?

No, wait, thats not it either. The harmonics will show the same rise in energy, including the initial attack, but its the re-enforcement of the initial attack in the harmonics that gives the sound its snap.

Do I win a prize or do I get sent to remedial classes?

Fourier analysis again... Just don't turn the sub up too high.

This is music. Math is inevitable and a confused Fred is the inevitable outcome...

Interesting discussion and an excellent analogy SRoode.

Fred,

I think you are pretty much on it here; but as you know it gets very complex fast. A piano, for instance, is a instrument that has strings that vibrate at a very precise frequency. It is not the strings you hear, however. When you strike Middle C, its the soundboard you hear, which is formed to generate a very complex (and pleasing) sound; its not just a 440Hz sin wave.

Remember that all sound is a wave, not just the fundamental.

Hi SRoode,

Thanks for your thoughtful comments--and everyone's posts-- and the excellent analogy. Just catching up to this thread, because I'be been writing newsletter pieces. . .

Regards,

Alan