Principles of Musical Acoustics focuses on the basic principles in the science and technology of music. Musical examples and specific musical instruments demonstrate the principles. The book begins with a study of vibrations and waves, in that order. These topics constitute the basic physical properties of sound, one of two pillars supporting the science of musical acoustics. The second pillar is the human element, the physiological and psychological aspects of acoustical science. The perceptual topics include loudness, pitch, tone color, and localization of sound. With these two pillars in place, it is possible to go in a variety of directions. The book treats in turn, the topics of room acoustics, audio both analog and digital, broadcasting, and speech. It ends with chapters on the traditional musical instruments, organized by family. The mathematical level of this book assumes that the reader is familiar with elementary algebra. Trigonometric functions, logarithms and powers also appear in the book, but computational techniques are included as these concepts are introduced, and there is further technical help in appendices.
This book, the first English-language translation of Acoustique des instruments de musique, Second Edition, presents the necessary foundations for understanding the complex physical phenomena involved in musical instruments. What is the function of the labium in a flute? Which features of an instrument allow us to make a clear audible distinction between a clarinet and a trumpet? With the help of numerous examples, these questions are addressed in detail. The authors focus in particular on the significant results obtained in the field during the last fifteen years. Their goal is to show that elementary physical models can be used with benefit for various applications in sound synthesis, instrument making, and sound recording. The book is primarily addressed to graduate students and researchers; however it could also be of interest for engineers, musicians, craftsmen, and music lovers who wish to learn about the basics of musical acoustics.
This book comprises twelve articles which cover a range of topics from musical instrument acoustics to issues in psychoacoustics and sound perception as well as neuromusicology. In addition to experimental methods and data acquisition, modeling (such as FEM or wave field synthesis) and numerical simulation plays a central role in studies addressing sound production in musical instruments as well as interaction of radiated sound with the environment. Some of the studies have a focus on psychoacoustic aspects in regard to virtual pitch and timbre as well as apparent source width (for techniques such as stereo or ambisonics) in music production. Since musical acoustics imply subjects playing instruments or singing in order to produce sound according to musical structures, this area is also covered including a study that presents an artificial intelligent agent capable to interact with a real ('analog') player in musical genres such as traditional and free jazz.
This book contains a complete and accurate mathematical treatment of the sounds of music with an emphasis on musical timbre. The book spans the range from tutorial introduction to advanced research and application to speculative assessment of its various techniques. All the contributors use a generalized additive sine wave model for describing musical timbre which gives a conceptual unity, but is of sufficient utility to be adapted to many different tasks.
Musician's Acoustics, by Scott Parker and Jamison Smith, is a "How things work" book for musicians covering the science of musical sound. The material and concepts presented in this book are of value to the practicing musician and to anyone interested in learning more about musical acoustics. The level is suitable for readers at the college level without much science background. Musician's Acoustics is concise and to the point. The book has 160 pages with 89 illustrations.
Digital sound synthesis has long been approached using standard digital filtering techniques. Newer synthesis strategies, however, make use of physical descriptions of musical instruments, and allow for much more realistic and complex sound production and thereby synthesis becomes a problem of simulation. This book has a special focus on time domain finite difference methods presented within an audio framework. It covers time series and difference operators, and basic tools for the construction and analysis of finite difference schemes, including frequency-domain and energy-based methods, with special attention paid to problems inherent to sound synthesis. Various basic lumped systems and excitation mechanisms are covered, followed by a look at the 1D wave equation, linear bar and string vibration, acoustic tube modelling, and linear membrane and plate vibration. Various advanced topics, such as the nonlinear vibration of strings and plates, are given an elaborate treatment. Key features: Includes a historical overview of digital sound synthesis techniques, highlighting the links between the various physical modelling methodologies. A pedagogical presentation containing over 150 problems and programming exercises, and numerous figures and diagrams, and code fragments in the MATLAB® programming language helps the reader with limited experience of numerical methods reach an understanding of this subject. Offers a complete treatment of all of the major families of musical instruments, including certain audio effects. Numerical Sound Synthesis is suitable for audio and software engineers, and researchers in digital audio, sound synthesis and more general musical acoustics. Graduate students in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or computer science, working on the more technical side of digital audio and sound synthesis, will also find this book of interest.
This beautifully illustrated volume takes the reader on a wide-ranging tour through music education facilities designed during the past 20 years, with a particular emphasis on the acoustical and architectural design of the locations. The book opens with a series of essays from key design team members, including an acoustical consultant, architect, audio/video systems consultant, and theatre consultant. The main body of the work consists of a rich array of contributions from acoustical consulting firms and music education facility designers from across the world on their recent innovative works in the area of music education facility acoustics. Each entry includes high-resolution photos and renderings, scientific data, and evocative descriptions of the music education facilities. Filled with beautiful photography and fascinating modern design, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in music education architecture, acoustical design, or musical performance. “This new publication on design of music education facilities is highly welcomed. Not only does it present many acoustically interesting projects, it also gives an up-to-date introduction to the scientific knowledge and design practice in this field. The book also helps the reader to understand why it is so important to ensure good acoustic conditions in music education facilities: to nourish students at all levels to achieve their goals as musicians.” - Anders Chr. Gade, Ph.D., senior consultant at Gade & Mortensen Akustik and author of Acoustics in Halls for Speech and Music (chapter in Springer Handbook of Acoustics) “This book ensures the reader will see the full vocabulary of elemental solutions to broad challenges. The expected concert halls, rehearsal spaces, and practice rooms are joined by newer, essential components: recording studios, control rooms, vocal booths, beat labs, and more. This media-rich publication enables detailed study while motivating big picture, interdisciplinary thinking. This new book curates and beautifully structures a deep store of outstanding architectural achievements that are sure to kindle the creation of future successful music education facilities.” - Alex U. Case, Associate Professor of Sound Recording Technology at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and author of Sound FX – Unlocking the Creative Potential of Recording Studio Effects “This book is a wonderful collection of music education facilities. The narratives and images provide a wealth of information for the casual reader, student in acoustics, architect, owner/educator, and acoustician. Primary schools through universities are not often studied and reviewed. Finding a thorough collection of these space types is rare. This book is recommended for anyone who is studying, designing, or enjoys reading about music education facilities.” - Jason Duty, P.E., Vice President at Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc.
