From the course: Mixing and Mastering with Pro Tools

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Understanding the mechanics of sound

Understanding the mechanics of sound - Pro Tools Tutorial

From the course: Mixing and Mastering with Pro Tools

Understanding the mechanics of sound

Before we can dig in into equalization and how it relates to the mixing process, it is important to review the basis of sound waves and frequencies and how they relate to instruments and the musical concept of pitch. So what is sound? In nature, sound exists and travels as mechanical vibrations in the air. It can also travel in things like water or drywall, but an audio, we are generally thinking of something like a speaker or an instrument sort of propagating these vibrations, positive and negative changes to atmospheric pressure, which are in term perceived as variations and pressure against eardrums and subsequently processed by the brain into what we perceive as "sound". So frequency as it relates to sound is the speed at which the sound wave oscillates or increases or decreases like waves in the ocean and is usually measured in cycles per second or hertz. Now on the other end, amplitude is the power at which the sound waves vibrate. So if you think about the Y in the graphs…

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