Acoustics through Information Technology, Music, Architecture and Engineering - What's the Difference
Published on 25 June 13
Jenny0
Acoustic music is produced using acoustical instruments; electronic and electric instruments are not included in this group. So, where the piano, violin and drum kit would all be classified as acoustic - the electric guitar, microphone and synthesizer would not be able to fall under the same category. Different to this, acoustics looks into how sound is produced, affected and received. In the modern day music industry, there are a whole variety of acoustic engineers who work alongside acoustic musicians in a technological environment in order to enhance the audial experience from a listener’s perspective. However, it is important to remember that acoustics is used in all kinds of situations where sound is used; not just in music. This article looks into the different types of acoustics and how engineering, technology and programming can differ.
Architectural Acoustics and Technology
This type of acoustics is what comes first to mind when the average person is asked to think about the acoustics of sound. Architectural acoustics looks at how sound reacts with the environment of a building; inside and out. External unwanted sounds are minimalized, where the distribution of desirable sounds throughout the building is thoroughly looked at. An expert in architectural acoustics may be utilised when orchestras play in churches; placing certain instruments in certain places and directions to get the richest sound possible. In the modern world that we live in however, many now resort to digitalising this process and use digital devices to program sound rather than use raw architecture; the iPad music apps are on the rise but which will live on to engineer the best sound is the question. With new courses emerging in the modern world traditional courses like architecture may get lost in sound. Students love the option to a study creative music technology course that can offer them a career in a creative IT professional role. With these types of courses you can study not only the acoustics of sound but compose and perform them leading to a career in production technology.
Acoustical Engineering and Information Technology
When it comes down to Acoustical Engineering, students who undertake acoustical engineering at university have proved their ability in maths and physics which is no easy subject. Engineering acoustics looks into measuring the sound from instruments, and even transducers. A transducer is a device that has the ability to transform sound into a different kind of energy. For example, a microphone converts sound into electric energy. Apart from music, engineering acoustics can deal with communications, medical diagnosis, seismic surveying and other problems using sound. There is so much you can learn about sound and vibrations in acoustical engineering, how computer programming can link with automations and fluid mechanics; a fascinating topic that could potentially change the way the world operates in the future.
But how does technology combine well with this? Information Technology and engineering combined produces a path for many opportunities in jobs in construction, IT, distribution, and sustainability. For students who want less maths equations and natural science then a Bachelor of Information Engineering Technology is the way forward for you. The program concentrates on database, networking, programming, web applications and computer security practical skills. With such a combination you can learn and create acoustics in ways you never knew; technical communication with project management.
The Control of Noise
As long as sound exists, noise will always be a problem. As the population of the world rises, so does the pollution of water, air and even noise pollution. It’s a fact that noise keeps us up at night. If you live in a densely populated city like London, your bedroom at night will be flooded with the noise of people shouting, cats fighting and even police sirens wailing. Using knowledge of the noise’s source and the receptors, an acoustic expert can recommend a plan of action. However much of the time the sound is a product of more than just the source (the police car using the siren), it is a product of social and political behaviours which affect community (the people breaking the law).
Underwater Acoustics
Have you ever thought about underwater acoustics? How sound waves behave underwater is very different to how they behave when passing through air above the surface. The characteristics of water allow sound waves to be transmitted over hundreds of miles, making sound a vital tool for not only military purposes, but commercial too. Underwater acoustics can be used to map the ocean, to ‘see’ objects that are not possible otherwise. Sound waves are generated and flung across the ocean; vibrations giving indications of where different objects or pathways are. With so much still to discover about the ocean, underwater acoustics is a growing area of study.
As you can see from this small selection, there are plenty of ways sound can be studied and utilised. An acoustic musician might have the voice to win a million hearts over, but without the right acoustic engineer or the programmed information technology their performance will fall flat. Studying acoustics takes not only a great ear for sound, but brains and qualifications also, so get exploring the world of engineering!
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