Know More..

Category Sound

Why is the introduction of the phonautograph a turning point?

            The phonautograph was perhaps the first device in history that could record sounds. It was patented by French inventor Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville in 1857.

            Phonautograms or phonautograph recordings made in 1857 were the earliest known recordings of the human voice. They consisted of sheets of paper with sound-wave-modulated white lines created by a vibrating stylus that cut through a coating of soot as the paper passed under it. That means the recordings were visual representations of the sound.

           The earliest known recording of intelligible spoken words is the phonautogram containing the opening lines of Torquato Tasso’s pastoral drama ‘Aminta’. It is believed to have been recorded in April or May, 1860.

           Luckily, a few recordings have been recovered over the past few years. The phonautogram of Au Clair de la Lune, a French folk song made in 1860 was played as sound for the first time in 2008. 

Why is the phonograph an important invention?

          Invented in 1877 by Thomas Edison, the phonograph was a device meant for the mechanical recording and reproduction of sound.

          The significance of this device was that it was the first to reproduce a recorded sound. Till then, other inventors had produced devices that could only record sounds.

          Edison’s phonograph originally recorded sound on to a tinfoil sheet wrapped around a rotating cylinder. He patented it in 1878. The invention became popular across the globe very soon. Over the next two decades, the commercial recording, distribution, and sale of sound recordings became a new international industry.

          The next important invention was the gramophone disc. The waveform of sound vibrations were recorded as corresponding physical deviations of a spiral groove engraved into the surface of a rotating cylinder called the ‘record’.

          To recreate the sound, the surface was similarly rotated. Then, the playback stylus would trace the groove, and start vibrating. As a result, the recorded sound would be faintly reproduced. 

How do human beings make sound?

               From the very moment of birth, we, humans are capable of making sounds. First in the form of cries, then as incomplete words, and finally, as clear speech. There are many parts in our body that help us speak, or produce sounds.

              One of the main parts is the voice box, or larynx. It is a lump that remains close to our throat, and has two vocal cords stretching across it. They are the source for speech production in our body. That is, when air is exhaled from the lungs, it causes the vibration of the vocal cords. This in turn results in the production of sounds.

               However, there are other parts as well, that help in the process. The mouth and the nostrils are two of them. Yet another organ is the tongue. It plays a vital role in speech by moving into different shapes. Then there are the lips and the teeth, which help in the better expression of sounds. 

Why is it said that the ear plays a wonderful role in receiving sounds?

            The human ear is a wonderful organ that performs some of the most important functions in the body. It detects and analyzes sounds, and also maintains the sense of balance.

            Structurally, the external ear is created in a peculiar way. It has many twists and folds that help in enhancing certain sounds up to 100 times.

            Designed in a way as to make the skin maintain its funnel shape, a healthy ear enables the capturing of even the tiniest vibration.

            In addition, the ear can help determine sound direction. It can also decide the range of sounds we hear. However, as we grow old, we become less sensitive to sounds, and may not be able to hear high pitched sounds like the squeaking of a bat. But this could be picked up by a child. It has been found that a normal human can detect frequencies between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. 

Why is it said that echo is one of the aspects to be taken care of?

                The concept of echo must be familiar to most of us. While standing in an empty space, if you let out a loud shout, you can hear a faint sound coming back after a few seconds. This reflected wave of sound that resembles the original is called the echo. It can be experienced when you are standing on top of mountains, in remote places, in big and empty rooms, in caves etc.

                The term echo is derived from the Greek word meaning sound. There are many factors influencing the creation of echoes. Typically, the sound waves can bounce off only if the objects they hit are smooth and hard. It is like a rubber ball bouncing off the ground. If the waves meet a soft surface, for example a cushion, they will be absorbed, and hence, no echo will be created.

                         There are multiple uses for echoes. They can be used to measure distance, velocity, and the shape of objects. It is to be noted that an improper arrangement of echoes will result in unclear sounds.

Why is it said that Ali Qapu is a place to hear the magic of sound?

            Ali Qapu is a famous palace of the Persian Empire’s Safavid Era. It was built in the early 17th century and is now situated in Iran. The palace is a 48 metre tall, six-storey building constructed during the reign of Shah Abbas I.

            What makes it unique is the acoustic wonder of the Music Hall on the sixth floor. It was where royal receptions and parties were hosted by the kings.

            Let’s see what makes the sounds here special. Along the four sides of the upper half of the Music Hall walls and within the mini muqarnas – a form of ornamented vaulting ceilings, there is a double-walled design. It features a unique pattern of plaster niches that are cut out in the shapes of vases, pots, and other vessels. They absorb echoes and create a special sound system. That is, if one stands in the Music Hall and claps, he will hear no echo, in spite of the huge size and volume of the room.

            One should not forget that it was constructed long before the advent of electric power transmission.

What makes Tvisongur an acoustic wonder?

            Tvisongur is a site-specific sound sculpture located on a mountainside above the town of Seydisfjordur in Iceland.

             Created by German artist Lukas Kuhne, it looks like five different-sized mushrooms that are interconnected with door openings. But in fact, the work is made of concrete, and consists of five interconnected domes. It was built to pay homage to the Icelandic music tradition. Specifically, each dome is designed to amplify resonance distinct from each other and, as a result, the overall space echoes the Icelandic musical tradition of five-tone harmony.

            According to Lukas Kuhne, the work is dedicated to space and frequency. Anybody who wishes to enjoy the natural five-tone harmony is welcome, as the structure is always open to the public.

Why are the forest megaphones of Estonia considered as an acoustical wonder?

            Forests are often cherished for the peaceful, natural sounds they offer. Imagine how beautiful it would be if these sounds are heard louder! That is exactly what a few students did in a deep forest of Estonia. The giant timber megaphones that they built amplify the natural sounds of the Estonian Voru forest.

            Created by the students of interior architecture at the Estonian Academy of Arts, the three wooden structures or ‘ruup’, as they are called in the local language, are installed in the Pahni Nature Centre near the Latvian border.

            The main purpose of these installations is to act as amplifiers of the natural sound of the forest, like the chirping of birds, resulting of leaves etc. but the megaphones are so huge that they also serve as lounging spots for travellers inside the forest. Each structure, conical in shape, has a diameter of three metres.

 

Why are the sound mirrors in Denge unique?

            Sound mirrors or acoustic mirrors are huge concrete structures that were designed as an early warning system for Britain. The purpose behind this magnificent creation was to detect enemy aircraft. Three designs of 6 metres, 9 metres, and 60 metres were made and all of them can be seen in Great stone, located in the north east side of the Dungeness Nature Reserve. They were developed by Dr. William Sansome Tucker.

            Also called the ‘listening ears’, the mirrors were helpful during wars. Built during the late 1920s, the sound mirrors were part of the British national defence strategy. They did work well, and detected slow moving enemy aircraft before they came into sight. In fact, they were able to give a fifteen-minute warning of an approaching aircraft.

            However, sound mirrors were outdated with faster flights coming into use. Later, radars were developed. Today, they remain as preserved monuments with many visitors throughout the year.

What makes the Ekko, Denmark wonder?

            The Ekko is a man-made work that exploits the possibilities of sound to produce a magnificent experience. At first glance, it is a circle of concrete pathway with wooden frames of incrementally different dimensions surrounding it.

            We could call it a snaking tunnel made of wood. As you walk on the pathway that is inside the work, you experience a unique sound. This is caused by the footsteps and voices in the corridor which are collected by the microphones hidden within the wooden beams. These sounds are remixed by a computer and played back as distorted echoes through tiny speakers.

            The brilliant work is installed in hjallerup, Denmark. Created by Thilo Frank, Ekko offers a special walking tour and sound experience. There were around 200 wooden frames used for the work. Each of them is angled slightly, so the construction turns in on itself along a 60-metre corridor.