What are the Elements of Audio and Why Do They Matter?

Whether you’re editing a track after a session in the recording studio or you’re trying to make sure that you get a clean, high-quality recording, good sound design is crucial. Poor audio is one of the most immediately noticeable flaws with any form of media. 

The Elements of Audio: 

Frequency (Pitch)

The frequency (or pitch) of a sound is the one that’s most readily distinguishable to the human ear. High notes and low notes can each have their own variety of emotional impacts, whether it’s the low end, such as the bass of a song carrying the melody effortlessly or a singer hitting an impressively high note. How the frequency of different instruments relates to one another is just as important. If the frequency of any one aspect of a song is recorded incorrectly, it sounds out of tune to most listeners. The frequency of a sound event is often distinguished by octaves. This is a particular distinguishing of notes that are two pitches apart from one another. In notation, these notes are called by the same letter, such as C, C sharp, or C, flat, but they can be measured in Hz as well.

Amplitude (Dynamic)

Amplitude, or dynamic, is typically described as whether a sound is loud or soft. It’s a way of describing the decibels on a sound, a measurement of the energy in its soundwave. The dynamic of any given part of the music also depends on the other elements, as a sound of 50 dB might sound loud by itself, but if it’s against a backdrop of sounds at 40 or 45 dB, it becomes less easy to pick apart.

Waveform (Timbre)

The waveform or timbre of the music is the distinct audial signature that it has. Instruments of the same frequency and dynamic can still be told apart, whether it’s a guitar, voice, piano, or otherwise, and it’s because of the waveform. Different instruments have different complexities of waveform. A flute is a simpler style, closer to what we call a sine wave, while string instruments, like the viola, have a more complex waveform. With digital technology, we can easily create and manipulate perfect sine waves, as well.

Duration

The simplest audio element to understand the duration of the sound event is how long it lasts. Shorter sound events don’t last as long; longer sound events last longer. An easy-to-understand concept, the duration or length of each note or sound wave is what typically creates the rhythm of the music.

Work with Professionals in Santa Monica for Your Next Recording

Understanding and manipulating the above elements of audio can ensure that you’re able to master the emotions of any piece of music, the audio component of video, or otherwise. Good sound design and editing can help with this, and recording with professional sound experts like those at lmnl studios can meet those needs.