Stereo audio has been a dominant format for analog and digital audio for decades, particularly in the music industry. It’s a relatively simple format that does a good job of emulating the way we naturally hear the world around us (so long as we’re monitoring it appropriately). And while it has its drawbacks, it’s still…
Volume and level controls are among the most used in audio playback systems. The proper listening volume varies wildly depending on the set and setting. For example, a rock concert will be much louder than a guided sleep meditation. Understanding listening levels is important for whatever we choose to listen to. What volume should audio…
The decibel is a rather confusing concept to fully comprehend in the world of audio. It seems just as we begin to understand decibels, we learn something else about them that confuses us even more than we were previously. Fear not, this article has all the details you’ll need to fully understand decibels. What are…
Amplifiers can be found all around us if we choose to look for them. They’re in our phones, televisions, entertainment systems, vehicles, shopping malls, and many other places. Though we may think of active amps when we think of amplifiers, there are also passive amplifiers that are common enough in our daily lives. What is…
If you’ve ever cranked up the volume of your favourite songs in the car, you may have noticed audible speaker distortion. The speakers may have even been distorting without you noticing at all. Why do speakers distort at high sound/audio levels? There are two main reasons why a loudspeaker would distort at high levels. The…
If you’re like the many people that use headphones each and every day, you’ve likely wondered how they produce sound. In this beginners’ guide, we’ll discuss the inner workings of headphones simply before diving into the more technical details. How Do Headphones Make Sound? Headphones act as transducers and convert audio signals (electrical energy) into…
When EQing an audio signal or choosing a microphone based upon its frequency response, known the frequency range of the sound source is important. Though it’s easy to find out the range of possible notes in an instrument, it’s a bit trickier to under the fundamental frequencies and harmonics of the sound source to truly…
When dealing with microphones and other audio/sound equipment, the terms “sound” and “audio” are commonplace. Knowing the difference between these two terms will help to understand professionals in the field while also allowing you to communicate more effectively when using microphones and other sound/audio equipment! What is the difference between sound and audio? The key…
We’ve likely all heard the sound from a microphone amplified through loudspeakers. This often happens at all sorts of events and performances. A speaker or singer will project their voice into a microphone, and their voice is sent through speakers at a much higher volume. How is this audio amplified? Does a microphone amplify sound?…
We’ve likely all heard ourselves in a recording before and thought, “do I really sound like that?” How we hear ourselves speak is often vastly different from the way our voice actually sounds. Does a microphone change your voice? Microphones, like all audio equipment, will alter the sound of your voice. Some microphones capture voice…
