Analyzing Timbres of Various Musical Instruments Using FFT and Spectral Analysis

Authors

  • Ellen Jannereth Carrollwood Day School
  • Lisa Esch Carrollwood Day School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i1.1292

Keywords:

Physics, FFT, spectral analysis, frequency spectrum, music, timbral analysis, quantitative timbral analysis, fourier transform, forward fourier transform

Abstract

A sound’s unique timbre is based on the various harmonic frequencies present within its waveform. Through Fast Fourier Transform software, waveforms can be easily decomposed into their component frequencies and a spectral analysis of frequency can be conducted as a method of quantitatively describing timbral characteristics of a sound. In this investigation, the range of frequencies present in a spectrum as well as the average intensity of the first 10 overtones in a sound will be used to classify the timbres of various instruments relative to one another. This will be done by generating a Range-Intensity graph of harmonic frequencies present in sound samples of each instrument.

The results of this investigation reveal that it is not only possible to quantitatively analyze instrumental timbre by generating and mapping out the harmonic frequency data of a specific sound, but that such a quantitative analysis is also incredibly useful. Unlike the traditional, qualitative method of describing timbre, a quantitative analysis would allow for timbral qualities to be transformed into information that can be understood by computers. Today, timbral classification and the decomposition of waveforms has many applications in science and sound engineering. By refining methods for quantitative timbral analysis, it becomes possible to further enhance timbre recognition software and apply such methods to a wider range of technological developments.

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Author Biography

Lisa Esch, Carrollwood Day School

M.Phil., Astrophysics, Yale University
M.S., Astrophysics, Yale University
B.A., Physics and Astronomy, Northwestern University

Upper School Physics teacher at Carrollwood Day School. Lisa attended Green Farms Academy in CT before completing her BA in Physics and Astronomy at Northwestern University. She went on to pursue her PhD in Astrophysics at Yale, leaving after completing two masters degrees, an MPhil in Astrophysics and an MS in Astrophysics. Prior to coming to CDS, she was an Adjunct Professor at Pasco-Hernando State College.

 

Published

03-31-2021

How to Cite

Jannereth, E., & Esch, L. (2021). Analyzing Timbres of Various Musical Instruments Using FFT and Spectral Analysis. Journal of Student Research, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i1.1292

Issue

Section

HS Research Articles