Monday, April 27, 2009

Instruments Frequency Ranges and Hearing Test

This is a twofold post,one,what instruments fall into what frequency ranges,and two, testing your hearing!
Instruments frequencies is a good thing to know when recording and mixing.Noise is easily created by adding EQ to an instrument on a track that is not even in that instruments EQ range!Look at the charts to see the frequencies of the instruments,and use it for a guide in EQing your mixes.
And,when was the last time you tested your hearing?I know i have personally damaged my hearing.The test your hearing links here will help you find out the damage you have done to your own personal hearing.And in addition will hopefully raise your awareness on just how important hearing can be for the musician!
The first link/hearing test is,to me,the best one.It covers from 20Hz to 20 Khz,and also allows for volume adjustment.Where as the YouTube link has problems with compression in the higher frequencies.
My test revealed i could not hear beyond 13 Khz.And i was surprised i could hear all the way up to there,from 20 Hz!If you are using speakers and not headphones,your speakers will obviously have to cover all the frequencies played!Headphones of a decent quality usually cover from 20 Hz to 20 Khz.And be very,very careful on the amount of volume!!!Just doing the test can damage your hearing!!!

http://www.recordingeq.com/EQ/req0400/OctaveEQ.htm

http://deafness.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=deafness&cdn=health&tm=15&f=00&tt=12&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/hearing.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G60hM1W_mk

Source of Sound Frequency Range (Hz)
Acoustic Guitar 82 to 880
Bass Guitar 41 to 300(4 string)
Bass, Standup 41 to 261
Bass Guitar, 5 String, with Low B String 32 to 300
Bassoon 62 to 525
Clarinet 160 to 1750
Electric Guitar 82 to 1050
Flute 260 to 2600
French Horn 82 to 1000
Oboe 260 to 2600
Piccolo 525 to 4200
Pipe Organ 27 to 4200
Trumpet 160 to 1000
Tuba 45 to 240
Violin 200 to 3100
Middle C (C4), Hi-C (C6) 261.63, 1046.52 Hz
Octave around middle C (A3 - G4) 220-415.4
Piano A0 - C8 27.5-4186

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