Sound and hearing - Posted on 2017-06-17 by Dylan Shoemaker

Frequency in terms of a waveform characteristics refers to the perceived pitch of a sound. Timbre refers to the harmonic frequency content that makes up the sound of a specific instrument. Fundamental frequency is the primary frequency of a sound, the sound may have overtones or lower harmonics present however the primary frequency is called this. ADSR stands for Attack, Decay, Sustaine, Release. Sound travels at around 740-770 MPH. The Tympanic membrane also known as the eardrum is a flap of skin like material that acts as a diaphragm receiving sound pressure waves and transmitting them to the three bones in the inner ear. The Cochlea is a snail shaped orgen that contains reed like fibers connected to hair follicles that vibrate at a resonant frequency. Acoustic beats occurs when two sounds close in frequency are played together, the result is an audio phase interaction. Auditory masking happens when one sound affects the perception of another sound by our brain either through amplitude or frequency based content. Psychoacoustics is the study of how sounds are perceived by the brain.