M U L T I M E D I A S T U D I E S 1 7 2

A U D I O I N M U L T I M E D I A

WAVEFORMS

This assignment requires six short audio clips demonstrating the six different properties of sound, with corresponding details and observations for each clip.

(*The succeeding waveform images follow this order.)

PITCH. I sang one note (low frequency) and another on an octave higher (high frequency). The lower frequency (photos 1, 2, on the left, & 3) has more distance between sound waves, as compared to the higher frequency (photos 1, 2, on the right, & 4) which looks more rigid and compact, because the higher the frequency, the faster the sound waves (i.e. 'fast forward' makes audio high-pitched).

LOUDNESS / AMPLITUDE. I recorded the word 'loud' with more vocal projection than the word 'soft'. Higher amplitude (photos 1,2, on the left, & 3) produces taller wave height, versus lower amplitude (photos 1, 2, on the right, & 4) with shorter height. This is because more volume means more vibration - the air molecules have more displacement which creates taller sound waves.

TIMBRE. Although there are many colors to explore (i.e. soprano, alto, etc.), I recorded the same note with a guitar string and with my voice, to keep it simple. With the guitar (photos 1,2, on the left, & 3), we can see that the waves move in a slower, more straightfoward pattern (up, down), while my voice (photos 1, 2, on the right, & 4) demonstrates a faster complex pattern. I believe this is due to the fact that the guitar emulates a flatter sound, with a slightly lower frequency due to more bass compared to my voice's relatively brighter timbre.

DURATION. I recorded table knocks with a slow tempo, then switched to a faster one. With longer duration (photos 1,2, on the left, & 3), the knocks have a bigger gap between them as compared to a shorter duration (photos 1, 2, on the right, & 4). This is simply because longer durations take more time in between wave movement. Since there's also less time gaps with faster duration, the waveform is slightly more compact (but more or less similar to the slower variation).

ARTICULATION. I recorded my voice in two of many articulation types - staccato and legato. Staccato's (photos 1,2, on the left, & 3) initial wave displacement has a higher visual height, with bigger gaps in between the notes. Legato (photos 1, 2, on the right, & 4) has a slower initial descend and smaller time gaps in between. This is because Staccato has sharp, short, (i.e. sudden rise of wave height) and detached notes (i.e. bigger time gaps), as compared to legato with sustained and connected sounds.

(**Audio converted to Stereo; top half for left channel, bottom half for right channel.)

DIFFUSION.** Using my DAW's audio pan settings, I set 'left' to L75 and 'right' to R75. 'Left' has shorter wave height on its bottom/right channel, while 'right' showed the opposite (photos 1 & 2). With left panning, the right channel volume decreases, accommodating more sound on the left side and vise versa. I also included the words, 'far' and 'near' (photos 3 & 4, respectively), adjusting vertical distance. The far audio has shorter wave height due to more space for vibration (less volume), as compared to the opposite.