Understanding Sound Production: Exploring the Capabilities of One Component

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In summary, sound is produced in nature by a variety of things, from the wind to the human larynx. All of these sounds can be reproduced by a speaker, which can accurately reproduce complex waveforms. This is achieved by vibrating at a frequency higher than the sound being produced and matching the waveform through voltage and movement of the diaphragm. The speaker does not vibrate at all the different frequencies, but rather produces a composite frequency that creates the same effect as listening to multiple sounds at once. This can be further understood through the study of Fourier Analysis.
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physior
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hello!

can you explain me please in few simple words, how are we capable to produce sound?

in nature, a great variety of different things produces different sounds

from the wind on the leaves of the trees, to the huma larynx, a complex organ with numerous muscles

yet, all of these sounds, can be produced from your speakers

what exactly component is able to produce all these billions of sounds?

is it a membrane that gets hitted with different areas of it? or specific properties electricity runs through it?

but how can ALL sounds be produced from that single component?

thanks!
 
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Look at this diagram for a second.
adding_sines_figure4.1.jpg

Pretend the top left wave is a lion's roar, and the bottom left wave is a bird's chirp.

These two waves add to each other, and are equivalent to the right wave.

If a speaker can accurately reproduce the right wave, we will hear a lion's roar and a bird's chirp at the same time.
You can add as many waves together as you want. (such as a 100 piece symphony)

Here are some more examples of additive wave synthesis:
Diag_AdditiveSynthesis.png


additivesynthesis.jpg
 
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DaveC426913 said:
If a speaker can accurately reproduce the right wave, we will hear a lion's roar and a bird's chirp at the same time.
You can add as many waves together as you want. (such as a 100 piece symphony)

Here are some more examples

how can a speaker reproduce so many (billions) of different waves? (not at the same time)
 
  • #4
physior said:
how can a speaker reproduce so many (billions) of different waves? (not at the same time)

As long as the speaker can vibrate at a frequency higher than the bird's chirp (maybe 5,000Hz), the speaker can represent that sound. (though if it needs to represent rich sounds faithfully, it will need to be able to vibrate higher)

It simply vibrates to exactly match the waveform on the right. How it does so is directly a result of how much voltage it is given over time.
So, that right waveform is an actual graph of the voltage passed to the speaker magnet over time.
It also happens to be an actual graph of the position of the speaker diaphragm (in very small distance units) as it moves in and out, making sound.
 
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physior said:
how can a speaker reproduce so many (billions) of different waves? (not at the same time)
I think you are missing the point that the speaker doesn't vibrate at all those different frequencies, it vibrates at a COMPOSITE frequency and produces exactly the same thing that you ear gets when it is listening to all those things happening at the same time.

To expand: The human ear hears a lion roar and a bird chirping at the same time. These events separately cause sound waves but when they impinge on the ear, what they create is a composite waveform. You only have one ear drum on each side after all. The speaker just produces that composite waveform from a single source rather than from multiple sources, but it is still one waveform, it just has the composite characteristics of multiple waveforms.

When you study Fourier Analysis, you'll learn more about this.
 
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physior said:
how can a speaker reproduce so many (billions) of different waves? (not at the same time)
The sound that a microphone picks up is just a variation of pressure. This is a single quantity, varying in time which, to suit Engineers and Scientists, can be analysed in terms of the sum of many pure sinusoids at different frequencies. A loudspeaker, fed with exactly the same signal that the microphone picks up, will produce the identical sound by making the air move in exactly the same way. It is only necessary that the speaker cone can be made to move as required. It has to be light and rigid enough and to be driven with the appropriate force (from the coil and the magnet). It doesn't 'know' that it is emitting all those separate waves because that's just a way of looking at it.
The Time Domain and the Frequency Domain are just two ways of describing the same complex signal.
 

FAQ: Understanding Sound Production: Exploring the Capabilities of One Component

What is sound production?

Sound production is the process of creating sound waves through the vibration of an object or medium. This can be done through various means such as vocal cords, musical instruments, or electronic devices.

How does sound production work?

Sound production involves the conversion of energy into vibrations, which then propagate through a medium as sound waves. The vibrations can be caused by the movement of air molecules, the vibration of strings or other objects, or the electrical signals in electronic devices.

What is the purpose of exploring the capabilities of one component in sound production?

By exploring the capabilities of one component, we can gain a deeper understanding of how sound production works and how different factors affect it. This knowledge can be applied to improve sound production techniques and technologies.

What are some examples of one component in sound production?

One component in sound production could be the vocal cords in human beings or the vibrating strings of a guitar. Other examples include the diaphragm in a microphone, the speaker cone in a speaker, or the reed in a woodwind instrument.

How can understanding sound production benefit society?

Understanding sound production can lead to advancements in various industries such as music, communication, and healthcare. It can also help us create more efficient and effective sound production techniques, leading to better quality sound in everyday life.

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