Fun Acoustics

Posted on 7 February, 2012 by odo

It’s too bad we can’t directly see what’s going on with sound waves when they interact with each other and the obstacles they encountered while traveling through a medium, but with the aid of some controlled experiments we can. I’ve found a few interesting articles and videos that show and explain wave behavior. The first link points to some reading material on the subject, but I’d suggest you watch the videos and animations before you read. Having the visual in mind helps to understand the verbal. You may be asking, why fill your brain with this stuff? Because it relates to the logic behind the Parallel Audio Project. It clarifies the how & why physics directed the system’s development instead of blindly following conventional assumptions. You see, good sound starts with good physics.

A slew of short articles about various aspects of sound, waves, and acoustics. Each neatly explains a single topic. Go through them in order or pick and choose as desired : [Sound Waves and Music]

Although this video was made decades ago, it’s still a good illustration of the way waves interact. This shows how the size, number and spacing of sound source(s) effect wave propagation : [Interference Patterns]

This series of five short videos succinctly demonstrates the properties of waves similar to the previous video, yet going into greater detail : [More Interference]

To good sound and happy ears : [ParallelAudio]

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I’m Bored

Posted on 31 January, 2012 by odo

Bored with controversy. No, not with honest debates about unsettled matters or a genuine exchange of ideas through considerate listening and weighing the validity of someone else’s thoughts. No, what I’m bored with is bipolar, uncompromising, argumentative, contrarian grandstanding for the sake of controversy. I’m bored with inane, pointless, stubborn, inflexible attitudes, with the refusal to admit wrong or examine the value of the other’s opinion. And most of all, I’m bored with intractable opinions. All opinions are wrong; they are short on facts, they miss the target. Despite this, opinions usually do contain some truth. They are never completely wrong, never completely correct. That’s what makes them opinions and what makes them dangerously slippery. A good opinion is malleable and open to adjustment as new facts and alternate views come to light.

Facts, on the other hand, are the same for everyone, everywhere. They do not change. Difficulties emerge when facts and opinions get blurred, when established facts are denied or when people refuse to revise their opinions as new evidence presents itself. Arguing facts is boring. There’s nothing to debate.

I love an argument when it involves an openminded dialog, a free-trade of opinions and facts not limited to simply two polarized extremes. A dialog where concession and exception are recognized, relished and relinquished. Controversy is productive only when antithetical opposites are surrendered, a middle ground is admitted, and the possibility of consensus is conceded.

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