If memory serves, how well frequencies "travel" has to do with their size (wavelength) relative to the obstacles they encounter on their journey. The longer the wavelength (and therefore the lower the pitch) in relation to the obstacle, the better it "gets around" whatever might be in its way. That's why, e.g., curtains and other furniture, even human bodies and clothing, tend to "absorb" higher frequencies while not disturbing the lower ones as much.
Again, if memory serves, how far a frequency will travel unobstructed before it dissipates into inaudibility is also related to how long the wavelength is, although it also depends on the medium through which the sound is traveling and how well that medium "matches up" to the frequency in question, e.g., putting your ear to the ground to listen for a train in the distance you otherwise can't hear just by standing and listening "in the air." In short, a complex issue. Me, I try to sound as little like a sick moose as possible when heard close up (no small task in my case), and let the sound waves propogate where they may! :) -S- Jerry Houston wrote: > James Ray Crenshaw wrote: > >> The high frequencies travel much better > > > > As an analogue, consider cordless phones and wireless networking > > technology. > > Raising the broadcast frequency REALLY ups the "bandwidth," or the > > ability to move the data. However, all other things being > equal, the > > higher frequencies don't carry as well, and are easier > "absorbed" by > > walls and the like. The lower frequencies won't carry as much data, > > but travel through walls better. > > > > What am I missing? > > Makes sense to me. When a 20-something car goes down the > street past my house, all I can hear is the whompf ... whompf > ... WHOMPF ,,, whompf of the bass frequencies. Whatever > treble there might be seems to be absorbed by the vehicle > itself, but the bass rattles my house, even with all the > windows closed. > > Maybe we really need to ADD those treble overtones in order > to end up with a nicely rounded sound by the time it gets to > an audience? So our deep cups, and large bell throats might, > in fact, be turning our music into <dare I say it?> RAP??? > > _______________________________________________ > post: horn@music.memphis.edu > unsubscribe or set options at > http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/steve%40fridaysc > omputer.com > _______________________________________________ post: horn@music.memphis.edu unsubscribe or set options at http://music.memphis.edu/mailman/options/horn/archive%40jab.org
