Capturing and Reproducing Sounds
捕捉与重现声音/Bu3 Zhuo1 Yu3 Chong2 Xian4 Sheng1 Yin1
n/a
CHEARS: False
EARS: False
CMT: False
EARS2 Encyclopedia: False
CHEARS:
EARS:
EARS 2:
If sound is caused by vibrating objects, and every object vibrates in its own unique way, then how are headphones or loudspeakers able to play back such a diversity of sounds?
How Can Headphones and Loudspeakers Create So Many Different Types of Sound?
The secret is in the recording process, and the way in which Microphones and Loudspeakers work.
Microphones come in many shapes and sizes, but in each case their job is to translate the vibrations in the air into information that can be stored.
With computers this information about sound wave vibration is stored digitally.
Sound In -> Microphones
Microphones work by sensing sound wave vibrations in the air and converting these into electrical information.
Inside them they have a sensitive diaphragm that moves in response to the sound (much like the ear drum).
This movement is converted into electrical signals which can then be stored or sent to loudspeakers.
The pattern of movement will be different for each different sound wave. Microphones are sensitive to a wide range of different sound wave patterns and so can record many sounds.
Fact
Nearly all recording today uses the properties of electricity. Electrical currents can become stronger and weaker and this property can be used to record the fluctuating pattern of sound wave vibrations.
Electrical energy (power) is usually stored in the form of direct current because an alternating current would mean that devices would repeatedly turn off and on.
Audio signals tend to be alternating currents because they have to store information about sounds, which are back and forth (alternating) vibrations.
Sound Out -> Loudspeakers
To reproduce sounds we need to be able to reproduce the soundwave vibrations made by the original object. When we imitate sounds with our voice this is exactly what we do (for example: if we imitate the sound of a passing car, or an animal).
But to recreate sounds accurately we need to be able to reproduce the soundwave vibrations in detail. Loudspeakers receive electrical signals and convert them into soundwave vibrations.
The higher the quality of the loudspeaker, the more detail of the sound wave can be recreated and therefore the better the quality of sound reproduction.
Fact
The loudspeaker takes electrical information (the alternating current that is produced through the process of capturing sounds) and converts it into sound wave vibrations.
It produces sound wave vibrations by moving a cone back and forth (in much the same way that an object vibrates to produce sounds, see ‘Where Do Sounds Come From?‘).
And Headphones?
Headphones are actually a special type of loudspeaker.
Instead of being on the desk or a stand in front of you, the two headphone loudspeakers are positioned directly next to your ears (one loudspeaker for each ear).
Keywords:
Amplification, Headphones, Listening, Loudspeaker, Microphone, Recording
参看其它/See Also
术语翻译/Terms Translator
术语校对/Terms Proofreader
术语顾问/Consultant to terminology
参考文献/Bibliography
讲座/Lecture
评论/Comments
发表评论(预先注册)/Add comment on this term(members ONLY)