Recording Audio Sound Basics and Intro To Acoustics

Sound

Sound is the movement of air in a space. It’s the compression and rarefaction of millions of air molecules. It’s the vibrations that soar through the air and resonate through our ears and are perceived as sound in the brain.

Vibrations

In its most basic form, a sound is a series of vibrations in the air. We hear these vibrations as different frequencies, altering with the wavelength of each wave. A smaller, tight wavelength produces a high pitch while a longer, stretched wavelength produces a lower tone. A repetition of these waves at a regular speed is called oscillation.

Amplitude

Amplitude is the vertical measurement of the sound wave oscillation. The amplitude is equivalent to volume, intensity, or loudness. The greater the height of the sound wave, the greater the volume.

Environment

As sound travels around a room, the waves constantly bounce off the surrounding environment. Waves with different wavelengths and amplitudes reflect at different rates. This study of sound and how it reacts in a environment is called the study of acoustics.

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