TRANSIENTS IN WOOD-WIND AND BRASS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
Abstract
Development work on a new electronic musical instrument revealed that the sound output of an electronic audio oscillator includes a characteristic click sound when the oscillator makes an abrupt frequency change. The click sound is loud when the frequency change is as large as an octave, and barely perceptible when the change is as small as a semitone. An explanation is given for the click sound in Fourier terms. The question naturally arises: How do the traditional wind instruments avoid this click. The answer is surprising: They must avoid it by means of an amplitude interruption automatically synchronized with the frequency change. When they do not make this amplitude interruption, the frequency change is accompanied by a click or knock sound. When the amplitude interruption occurs, it is not perceived by the ear as an interruption. The reader can verify this last statement by playing a tape recording obtainable from the author. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0607857
Entities
People
- Herbert M. Neustadt
Organizations
- United States Naval Academy