Using an Audio Analysis System

Introduction
When listening to a band or orchestra, a frequently asked question is: Why do different instruments that play the same note sound different? In this laboratory activity, you will have the opportunity to use an audio analysis system to study the frequency spectrum of different sounds, which will help you answer the above question.

Analyzing the same note played by different instruments will generate different frequency spectra, all with the same fundamental note or pitch but with different harmonics [multiples of the fundamental note]. The microphone and A/D conversion equipment capture the sound and digitize it. The FFT, a computer software, is programmed to carry a Fast Fourier Transform to determine the frequencies and loudness of each frequency that makes up the complex sound wave.
Next Objective