Musical Terms (updated 10/13/15)

Hertz (Hz) a measurement of cycles per second.
Human hearing can extend from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (20,000 Hz)
The pitch A is at 440 cycles per second (440 Hz).
An uncompressed audio file (WAV file) is about 10 MB per minute, and when it is compressed (squeeze the pitches to only those frequencies that are within our usual range of hearing), it is about 1.5 to 2 MB per minute. It sound muffled and softer, with less detail.
MIDI: Musical Instrument Digital Interface. 1. a language that musical instruments use to communicate, 2. the hardware components of this communication (ports, cables, etc.), 3. actual computer files that are created and modified from this protocol. Cell phone ringtones are typically MIDI files ending in .mid.


Auto Tune
Auto-Tune is an audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies.
Alters pitch in vocal and instrumental recording and performances.
It was originally intended to disguise or correct off-key inaccuracies.
The processor slightly blends pitches to the exact pitch of the nearest tone.
Auto-Tune can also be used as an effect to distort the human voice when pitch is raised or lowered significantly.
The overall effect to the discerning ear can be described as hearing the voice leap from note to note stepwise, like a synthesizer.
Earliest commercial use: Cher "Believe"


Currently, Auto Tune is used in many popular songs, as a desired effect. Two or three years from now, this sound will be considered very out of style. But don't worry, something else will take its place!

Used in Zane Matsko's song "Tesseract" as the background vocal.
Two other of Zane Matsko's songs:
"Lifeboats & Anchors"
"Wake Me Up"
Bed Intruder Song Original news story Auto Tune version


Ain't Nobody Got Time For That
Original News Story
Decibels - Amount of air (or water) pressure caused by a sound wave. See chart for decibel levels.

Which frequency range is a guitar typically in (200Hz - 900Hz)
What would be the Sound Pressure Level (decibel range) of an acoustic classical guitar? 20-60 dB