2. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit1 Sound: Properties and Functions Technical Theatre I

3. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit2 Introduction to Sound Acoustics is the science that deals with the production, control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound; the study of sound The students will learn the properties of sound and its applications in theatre Understanding sound is essential to sound design

4. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit3 Properties of Sound (the Science) Sound is a vibration of a medium Medium – a material that transmits energy Speed varies depending on pressure, temperature 1129 ft/sec, 770 mi/hr in air, 4708 ft/sec, 3210 mi/hr in water 3.17 mi/sec in steel What we hear is based on perceived vibrations

5. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit4 Measuring Sound Sound travels in waves (sound waves), which are transferences of energy via rapid changes in the density of a medium Sound waves are measured by speed, wavelength, amplitude, and frequency

6. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit5 Measuring Sound (Wavelength) Wavelength (λ)– the distance between repeating units of a wave pattern; the distance from one crest to the next repeated crest, or one trough to the next repeated trough λ of a 10,000Hz sound –> 1.35 inches λ of a 188Hz sound –> 6 feet

7. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit6 Measuring Sound (Amplitude) Amplitude – (A) the distance of the crests and/or troughs of a waveform from the neutral line Amplitude in sound waves is representative of intensity, or Volume (loudness) Volume is measured in decibels (dB, or deci-Bells), a logarithmic scale <85 dB is considered harmful <95 dB can cause permanent damage if exposed for prolonged periods <125 dB can cause instant hearing damage

8. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit7 Measuring Sound (Frequency) Frequency – (f) the number of occurrences of a repeated event per unit of time; pitch Usually measured in occurrences per second, or Hertz (Hz) Human hearing is usually represented as being “20 to 20,” i.e. 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (or 20kHz) Our hearing is typically more like 22 Hz to 18kHz, and continues to decrease as people age

9. Frequencies (Do you hear what I hear?) 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit8 440 Hz 1000 Hz 1500 Hz 2 kHz 4 kHz 8 kHz 14 kHz 15 kHz 16 kHz 17 kHz 18 kHz 19 kHz 19.5 kHz

10. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit9 Adding Frequencies Adding two identical frequencies in the same phase reinforces the sound Adding two identical frequencies 180° out of phase cancels out the sound

11. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit10 Adding Frequencies (continued) Adding two different frequencies results in a different frequency, reinforced in some places & cancelled in others

12. Timbre and Harmonics Few sounds are pure tones; most sound is made up of a combination of frequencies and amplitudes Timbre - /tam’-bər/ a quality given to a sound by its overtones (harmonics) Harmonic – a frequency that is an integral multiple of the fundamental 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit11

13. Perception of Sound Distance – decreases the volume (the Inverse Square Law); air absorbs higher frequencies Loudness – humans hear 2k-4k Hz best, thus this range is perceived loudest Masking – one sound obscured by others; lower usually masks higher 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit12

14. 1/27/2016Tech I Lighting Unit13 Functions of Sound in Theatre Sound Effects – (FX) used to illustrate ideas in a play or establish ambience, i.e. radios, explosions, trees rustling in the wind, crickets at night, sounds of machinery in a manufacturing plant Underscoring – music used to establish or reinforce mood Live Reinforcement – microphones used to boost the loudness of existing sound(s)

15. 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit14 The Path of Sound Source – can be live or pre-recorded Microphones, pick-ups, synthesizers Or CD, tape, MD, mp3 or other computer file type, record, etc. Amplifier – adds power to source signal, boosts mic, instrument, or line level to speaker level Processor – can affect signals with effects or ehancements Output – either speaker or recording device

16. 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit15

17. Input sources: 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit16

18. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit17

19. Input sources: -Microphones 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit18

20. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit19

21. Input sources: -Microphones -Synthesizer 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit20

22. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit21

23. Input sources: -Microphones -Synthesizer -Computer 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit22

24. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit23

25. Input sources: -Microphones -Synthesizer -Computer -CD 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit24

26. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit25

27. Signal Processing: 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit26

28. Signal Processing: -Equalizer 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit27

29. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit28

30. Signal Processing: -Equalizer -Effects Processor 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit29

31. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit30

32. Signal Processing: -Equalizer -Effects Processor -Compressor 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit31

33. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit32

34. Signal Processing: -Equalizer -Effects Processor -Compressor -Delay 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit33

35. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit34

36. Signal Processing: -Equalizer -Effects Processor -Compressor -Delay -Crossover 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit35

37. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit36

38. Output Sources: 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit37

39. Output Sources: -Amplifier 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit38

40. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit39

41. Output Sources: -Amplifier -Loud Speakers 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit40

42. Patch Panel SynthesizerComputerCD Crossover Delay Compressor Effects Processor Equalizer Mixing Console Amplifier Microphone 1/27/2016Tech I Sound Unit41