Re: [microsound] Re: microsound Digest 10 Apr 2001 23:40:59 -0000 Issue 296

[Jeremy Tolsma <ccws@xxxxxxxx>]

>
> nah, I don't smoke,
> there is a difference between pure sine wave (i.e. one single frequency)
> generators and 'machines' that use sine waves in the synthesis, the sound
> that comes out is no longer a pure sine wave but a harmonically more
> complex signal, and thus acoustically much more efficient.
>

the only difference is the bass drum samples from an 808 fade in very
quickly (attack), then fade out (decay) over a longer period.  They are pure
sine waves though, all you have to do is open a sound editor and look at the
waveform.  Modulations afforded to those machines alter the sine wave very
slightly.  If it wasnt very close to a pure sine wave it wouldnt produce
those shuddering booms.  Perhaps you need to recognize that good sound is
not always 'efficient'.  Certainly if you run a crappy soundsystem in a club
and you dont want anyone to notice, you might encourage only the use of
sawtooth waves, square waves, etc, or you'll mash the sine waves into square
waves with a compressor.  Because those waves will produce enough harmonic
distortion to mask the fact that your soundsystem isn't really up to the
task.

So before you call my sine waves inefficient, take a look at your own
amplifier and speakers!  And if your system can't handle my sinewaves at a
particular volume, just turn it down.  As long as I've got stage monitors
I'm fine.  I'd rather have the sound guy turn my volume down than try to
move my sound out of the 'danger zone' with an EQ notch, filter cut-off or
compressor.  That is, unless the sound guy is part of my band in which case
it'd be ok.

Banning sinewaves from a nightclub is not a solution.  Sine waves are used
to calibrate and test equipment, if you can't handle one you probably
shouldnt even be operating the equipment at all.