Week 2: Audio Lab 1

Task 1:

The file as it looked at the start:

The file as it looked zoomed in and then zoomed out:

Zoomed In: In this representation of the track we have zoomed in. The length of the track has exceeded the boundaries of the screen and now the the units of measurement have now changed to 0.10 seconds from 1.0 seconds and so on and so forth. The amplitude of the track is visibly less compressed in the zoomed in form as we are now able to actually see the crests and troughs in the sound wave separate from one another more clearly. The amplitude and wavelength of the track are now much more obvious. 

Zoomed Out: In this representation of the track we have zoomed out. The length of the track has shrunk drastically in the display and the units of measurement have changed to state that the entire visible bar is 15 seconds long without any increments between 0 and 15. The amplitude of the track has visibly compressed exponentially and now it is even harder to differentiate between the different crests and troughs. Rather than being stretched out the wavelength is visibly compressed inwards.

Task 2:

The file with different effects applied: Fade in and Fade out with Phaser in the middle. Displayed with no zoom. 

The fade in and fade out at the end visibly and physically alter the sound wave. You can see the amplitude starting off very small and building to the standard the rest of the track plays at only to then degrade back down as the track fades out, gradually getting quieter for the last few seconds. The phaser identifies certain tones in the middle of the track and both changes them in two ways. The amplitude raises and lowers depending on some characteristics and the wavelength stretches and compresses in suite. In doing this it adds a more electronic sound to the track.

Task 3:

Analysed and Plot Spectrum:

Here is the track following the selection of analyze and plot spectrum. Instead of viewing the wave form represented with time you now see the wave form represented with it's Hertz and Decibel measurements. If we change the axis from linear to log frequency the Hz measurements on the bottom axis change drastically moving to the hundreds rather than thousands. The shape of the wave also starts very rounded. Decibels are the measurements we use to measure the amplitude of a signal. Hertz is the value for the frequency.

Task 4:

Applying Reverb: Small Room Reverb:

When the reverb is set to settings of a small room the general amplitude of the track seems to lower and the wavelength seems to stretch a little in most parts. Though the overall sound seems to be unchanged bar what appears to be a small increase in sound.

Large Room Reverb:

When the reverb is set to settings of a large room the general amplitude seems to lower once more and there seems to be less of a gap between moments where little sound is present. The overall track once again seems unchanged bar from another small increase in sound.

Task 5: Other effects and features of Audacity -
Change Tempo - This effect allows you to change the tempo of a track or selection without actually changing the pitch. Doing this can lengthen or shorten the track/selection in seconds or change the BPM (beats per minute).

Echo - This effect repeats the selected track/selection over and over getting more quiet each time. There is no pause between the repeats so as to simulate a realistic echo.

Truncate Silence - This effect automatically finds any silences in the track and removes/eliminates these silences.