Acoustics: Capturing Sound

Reverberation is caused by the direct signal reflecting off

surfaces.
 Fletcher Munson Curves
Equal-loudness contours
were first measured
by Fletcher and Munson
using headphones (1933).

In their study, listeners were

presented with pure tones at
various frequencies and
over 10 dB increments in
stimulus intensity.

For each frequency and

intensity, the listener was
also presented with a
reference tone at 1000 Hz.
The reference tone was
adjusted until it was
perceived to be of the same
loudness as the test tone.

Loudness, being a psychological quantity, is difficult to measure, so Fletcher Munson

averaged their results over many test subjects to derive reasonable averages.

The lowest equal-loudness contour represents the quietest audible tone and is also known as
the absolute threshold of hearing. The highest contour is the threshold of pain.
 Dynamic Vs Condenser

The two main types of microphones are Dynamic and Condenser.

They are both used for studio applications but have different
characteristics studio engineers should be aware of before
recording.
 Dynamic Microphones

- Robust

- Used for live applications

- Low Frequency response

- Usually Cardioid Polar Pattern

- Does not require external power

source

- Less sensitive to low level sound

- Handles high sound pressure levels

AKG D112
Condenser Microphones

- Used for studio applications

- Sensitive to high
frequencies

- Requires external power

source: Phantom Power

- Sensitive to low level

frequencies

- Easily damaged if dropped


Cross-Section of a Condenser
Microphone
Condenser microphones
use a pair of charged metal
plates, one fixed and one
movable (diaphragm),
forming a capacitor.
When a sound wave hits the
diaphragm, the distance
between the two plates
changes.
This produces a change in
an electrical characteristic
called capacitance.
It is the variation of the
spacing, due to the motion
of the diaphragm relative to
the back plate, which
produces the electrical
signal corresponding to the
sound picked up.
In a dynamic microphone,
sound waves hit a thin
metallic diaphragm that is
attached to a coil of wire.

The diaphragm vibrates the

coil in response to the sound
wave. A magnet that is
positioned inside the coil
produces a magnetic field.

It is the motion of the coil in

the magnetic field which
generates the electrical
signal. The principles are the
same as those used to
generate electricity.
Part of a microphones specification includes its Polar Pattern

Polar patterns indicate the area around

the diaphragm where sound is most
sensitive
Some frequencies within
the diaphragms range are
more sensitive than
others.

Studio engineers should

also be aware of the Proximity
Effect whereby there is an
increase of low frequency the
closer the sound source.
Another technical specification of a microphone will be its frequency
response. Some microphones will be more sensitive to certain
frequencies than others and it is this factor that determines which
microphone to use for certain applications.
The frequency response of the in-built microphone of different
makes of iPhones. The iPhone 3G has the best low frequency
response.
Frequency response for the AKG D112. This microphone is commonly used for kick drums
and low frequency instruments.
Frequency response for the Neumann U47. This microphone is
commonly used for recording vocals.
XLR Cables are the most common microphone cable. They are
Balanced, which allows them to carry Phantom Power.
 Balanced and Unbalanced
! Jack plugs.

Often they are called

TS (tip/ring) or
TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) plugs.

Female and Male ends to XLR

cables.
 FURTHER READING
! Modern Recording Techniques 7th Edition

! How Music Works by John Powell

! Sound on Sound (magazine/website)

! Music Tech magazine

! TeachMeAudio.com

! recordproduction.com
 Equalisation (EQ)
What is an equaliser?

A device, circuit or piece of software that lets us control the relative

amplitude of various frequencies within the audible bandwidth.

What does it allow us to do?

- Correct specific problems in a recorded sound (possibly to restore
a sound to its natural tone).
- Overcome deficiencies in the frequency response of a mic or in the
sound of an instrument.
- Allow contrasting sounds from several instruments or recorded tracks
to better blend together in a mix.
- Alter a sound purely for musical or creative reasons.
There are two main types of EQ: Bell (or Peak) EQ and Shelving EQ

Shelving EQ refers to a rise or drop in a frequency response at a selected

Frequency which tapers off to a preset level and continues at that level
until the end of the audio spectrum.
The Bell (Peak) EQ is the most common EQ. It is created by a peaking
filter and as its name implies a peak-shaped bell curve can either be
boosted or attenuated around a selected centre frequency.
A Semi Parametric EQ is a Bell (Peak) EQ without the Q (quality factor).
Therefore the bandwidth of the bell curve
will remain constant.

A Parametric EQ does have the ability to widen or narrow the selected

bandwidth.
Using the Q to widen the quality factor.
Using the Q to narrow the bandwidth.