2.2- Erica

2.2 Applications

2.2.1 Ear Testing and Training

I really liked the way this section began, stressing the paramount importance of developing the ear. However, I would have liked to see this process of identifying frequencies/the direction of sounds connected somehow to musician's ear training (being able to recognize intervals, scale types, etc.). Even though these processes are not the same by any means, they are definitely similar. I feel like this would be a good bridge to some information in Chapter 3 and would appeal to the music students who might be feeling a little discouraged at this point.

2.2.2 Tools for Analyzing Frequency

I thought this section was incredibly interesting. As a musician and avid theater participant, I am usually the one producing the sound, so it was really neat to understand the processes occurring on the other side. I especially enjoyed the descriptions of the tools at work. However... I did feel like this section went on for too long, especially in the sections focusing on the signal dependent/independent sound analysis systems and their respective advantages/disadvantages. I started to lose interest and really questioned the relevance of these sections. Other than that, I thought this section was a great introduction to the worlds of those working behind the sound board.

2.2.3 Sound Propagation

2.2.3.1 The Effects of Time Delay

I also thought this section was interesting, although I'm starting to get a bit frustrated with the "more information on _____ can be found in Chapter ______" strategy of this book. While I understand that not all the information can be given at once, I'm not a huge fan of this format. I would prefer for the information to just be given later, once I've learned everything necessary to understand the concept in its totality. In my opinion, briefly introducing a concept with a diagram and a few sentences, then immediately putting it off to another chapter interrupts the flow of the reading/learning process . Instead of introducing the Hass effect, then putting it off to Chapter 3, why not just introduce it in Chapter 3 and ask students to refer back to 2.2.3.1 if they need to refresh? There are so few sentences on the precedence/Hass effect here- I don't think it would make much of a difference.

Additionally, even after multiple read-throughs of this section, I still found myself struggling with the concept of comb filtering (which I know is a crucial component of sound and design work.) I'm not exactly sure what's missing here... Perhaps simply accompanying this section with a lecture would get rid of the confusion.

2.2.3.2 The Effects of Temperature, 2.2.3.3 Resonance in Three-Dimensional Space

These were my favorite sections in 2.2. I really liked the way they connected real world examples to the topics discussed earlier in Chapter 2. I wouldn't change a thing here!