Audio Production and Critical Listening, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1Listening

1.1 Everyday Listening

We are exposed to sound throughout each moment of every day regardless of whether we pay attention to it or not. Sound waves that reach our ears tell us about not only the sources producing the sounds, but also about our physical environment, such as the objects, walls, and other physical structures that may reflect, absorb, or diffuse sound. Unless we find ourselves in an anechoic chamber, reflected sound in our environment tells us much about the physical properties of our location. Our surrounding environment becomes audible in a sense, even if it is not creating sound itself, through patterns of sound reflection and absorption. Just as a light source illuminates objects around it, sound sources allow ...