[microsound] ear pixels

[Derek Morton <derek@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>i know this may sound like a ridiculous question, but how many pixel per
?minute of audio is processed in real time?

The pixel analogy makes for an interesting metaphor. Remember that a pixel 
doesn't represent computer processing. Thinking of a pixel in terms of 
number crunching is a little misleading. I think I know what you mean 
though. The smallest block of information that your computer treats as a 
discrete unit? Some people forget that what they hear in the analog world 
is a slightly dumbed down version or lower resolution of what their 
computer is actually doing in real time depending on your digital/analog 
converters. For instance the computer may process information at 24bit but 
only playback 16bits resolution.

 i>'m not talking visual
>waveforms here, but rather 'pixels' of sound (as in the smallest measure
>of computer detail in the visual realm).

maybe you are talking about a sample? If you are, each sample is defined by 
a measure of time with a specified bit resolution... how many ones and 
zeros it can contain to approximate the wavefore it is trying to recreate.

>comparisons. similes.
>analogies. there are filters on photoshop that operate either in real
>time or you have to render.

I dont know if I agree with you here. I dont know many people that describe 
Photoshop as a realtime performance application. Sure some filters are 
faster than others when they render their desired effect but Photoshop is 
not optimized so that it can process data for live applications.  Maybe a 
performance video app like Jitter could fit into your analogy better.


>in graphics terms, we could speak of a pixel
>per minute progressing rate for live manipulation of binary visual data.
>do our computer monitor
>resolutions actually inform or impede are quest for subatomic musical
>particles in music... so many quarks form a quail... can with think of
>music as pixels this way?

I think you are onto something that I have often thought about but in a 
different way. Rather than try to equate sound pixels to samples or blocks 
of information why not think of them as sources of sound or windows in 
which the sound emanates from. Most folks experience their audio work in 
stereo by pumping audio through 2 monitors which may have 2 or more 
specialized speakers, a tweeter, woofer, etc.  These cabinets are placed 
somewhat apart to help create a spatial sound field.

More and more artists are beginning to experiment with 6 or more speakers 
since the DVD medium affords multi-channel playback. This means you can 
pump more than 2 discrete tracks of music to speakers or "sound pixels" in 
different locations further simulating an acoustic space. As we see with 
that computer monitors are getting more sophisticated perhaps are listening 
spaces can follow. Imagine developing a room with the same pixel dimensions 
of most nice LCD monitors. (1280x1024). I wonder what kind of audio 
interface could handle 1,310,720 discrete tracks!

-Derek




---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: microsound-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
For additional commands, e-mail: microsound-help@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
website: http://www.microsound.org