Explaining microphones and loudspeakers in a musical acoustics course for non-scientists

Abstract

Contemporary courses in the field of musical acoustics rely upon basic audio engineering components such as acoustical transducers: microphones, accelerometers, and loudspeakers. Most students are very aware of the practical use and behavior of such devices, but they seldom have a useful understanding of the physical and engineering principles behind the design of these essential components. This paper presents a lesson example explaining microphones and loudspeakers for a general-interest undergraduate college course entitled “The Science of Sound.” The lesson includes a descriptive lecture component, examples and discussion, and a hands-on demonstration.