What to use for graphing sounds of instruments

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the analysis of sound frequencies produced by musical instruments, specifically focusing on comparing notes played on a guitar. Participants explore methods for measuring beats between different notes and seek software solutions for sound analysis.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, Will, describes a project involving the comparison of sound frequencies from guitar notes, specifically looking at the beats produced between a "c natural" and a "c sharp".
  • Will expresses difficulty in using the Datastudio program to analyze sound frequencies and seeks alternative software recommendations.
  • Another participant suggests using a calculator and a frequency chart to find the difference between the frequencies of the notes, emphasizing the importance of integer ratios over the number of beats.
  • There is a mention of "Just Intonation" as a contrasting tuning system to the western tempered scale.
  • A later reply recommends using Audacity for capturing and analyzing sound frequencies, highlighting its features for frequency analysis.
  • One participant proposes that if Datastudio records waveforms, it may be possible to calculate the difference between recorded sound waves using its calculator function.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple approaches and software options for sound analysis, indicating that there is no consensus on the best method or tool to use. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the effectiveness of Datastudio versus other software like Audacity.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the functionality of Datastudio and the nature of sound wave recording may not be fully explored. The discussion also touches on different tuning systems, which could influence the analysis but is not deeply examined.

330s
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Hello,

For my physics EEI I am wanting to look at sound frequencies. What I plan to do is to get a guitar and play a note, let's say a "c natural". Then I want to play a "c sharp" and then compare the two notes. I want to be able to find the amount "beats" over a duration of say 1-2 seconds and then compare to something that is more pleasant sounding. ie. a "c" and a "g" . And find how many beats there are over 1-2 seconds. I want to find if more beats are better or less beats.

Now my problem is that I have a program, Datastudio which can pick up me playing my instrument through my computers microphone. However I can not figure how to use the program or if there is a program function that allows me to go | F2 - F1 | = Fb F being frequency, 2 and 1 being different notes of different frequencies.

Any other programs out there that can do what I am requiring please tell me about. But if there is a way to work Datastudio please help, I can't work it out.

Thanks, Will
 
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You don't need any thing but a calculator and this chart:
http://www.seventhstring.com/resources/notefrequencies.html
just subtract the frequencies of the two notes ... it's not so much the number of beats but the integer ratios. Also, the western tempered scale fudges all the notes such that they don't quite match up anyway, compare it with "Just Intonation".

But you may be interested in an audio spectrum analyzer. I don't remember if Audacity has one, but a quick search might find some free candidates.
 
330s said:
Hello,

For my physics EEI I am wanting to look at sound frequencies. What I plan to do is to get a guitar and play a note, let's say a "c natural". Then I want to play a "c sharp" and then compare the two notes. I want to be able to find the amount "beats" over a duration of say 1-2 seconds and then compare to something that is more pleasant sounding. ie. a "c" and a "g" . And find how many beats there are over 1-2 seconds. I want to find if more beats are better or less beats.

Now my problem is that I have a program, Datastudio which can pick up me playing my instrument through my computers microphone. However I can not figure how to use the program or if there is a program function that allows me to go | F2 - F1 | = Fb F being frequency, 2 and 1 being different notes of different frequencies.

Any other programs out there that can do what I am requiring please tell me about. But if there is a way to work Datastudio please help, I can't work it out.

Thanks, Will
Assuming that Data Studio records the waveform of the sound and stores it as a data run (which is probably what it does), you can use the calculator dialog to define a calculated value which is the difference between your two recorded sound waves. The Calculator button is up at the top, toward the center of the toolbar, if I remember correctly.
 

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