Tuning fork sound waveform and spectral analysis

[youarelackluster]

This was a fun watch. Could you do one where you make one tuningfork ring and put it next to another tuningfork and get it to respond by starting to ring by itself? Also, d'you reckon you can then record the original signal and get the second fork to ring by replaying the recorded signal?

[DrDaveBilliards]

@youarelackluster

I'll add this to my list ... but no promises.

[youarelackluster]

@DrDaveBilliards Thank you :)

[Nabo00o]

I'm pretty sure that the beat is caused by the fact that a tuning fork consists of two oscillators, one at each end, and, since it is 'very' hard to make them exactly equal in length and quality, one will have a pitch slightly lower or higher than the other, creating the beats you recorded.

Also, of topic that Audition program looks like a ripoff of CoolEditPro....

Great video btw!

[DrDaveBilliards]

@Nabo00o

That's a good idea, but I don't think that's what's going on (although, I'm not sure). See my other videos dealing with the tuning fork. In the super-slow-motion video clip, the tines clearly seem to be perfectly in sync. If the tines were out of sync, the motion would no longer be balanced and it would damp out quickly (due to motion of the handle). The beating could have been an issue with the microphone, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for the comments!

[DrDaveBilliards]

@Nabo00o

I think any beat frequency resulting from slight differences in the tines would be extremely small (very low frequency). The beating observed is much too fast to be explained by small differences in tine vibration, IMO.

[Gameboygenius]

@Nabo00o Adobe bought Syntrillium in 2003, so Audition is literally Cool Edit Pro. The first version was just a rebrand, while later versions have been further developed. I personally prefer v 1.5.

[Nabo00o]

@Gameboygenius

It was a great editor, me and my cousins had so much fun time playing with it ; )

[TheWhisperingCactus]

This video is great! I commend you for making such a simple, accurate and well-presented vid on a topic that is genuinely interesting when explained well. The world needs more minds like yours.

[DrDaveBilliards]

@TheWhisperingCactus

Thank you very much for your supportive comments.

Dr. Dave

[three0234]

i've been looking around again for an automatic tuning fork vibrator. i remember something battery operated & small. do you know what site i can find one at?

[DrDaveBilliards]

Sorry, but I feel uncomfortable recommending a commercial source for vibrators. ;) !

... just kidding.

Sorry, but I have not seen those.

[three0234]

@DrDaveBilliards - lol but hey i just had an idea...i'll pull the vibe motor from an old cell phone of mine & set it up so the fork fits in just above the motor still in a small tube.

[groomcw]

Informative video.

What is the name of the software package you use during the analysis?

[DrDaveBilliards]

"Adobe Audition" for the waveform visualization and spectral analysis.

Pro-Mechanica for the FEA modal analysis.

[aguystudio]

my nuts itch.

[DrDaveBilliards]

I recommend scratching. It works every time.

[aguystudio]

I have no hands.

[DrDaveBilliards]

Do it like a bear ... find a tree!

[aguystudio]

I don't think I can wheel myself out to find a tree.

[DrDaveBilliards]

That's a tough problem!

Maybe you should try transcendental meditation, religious prayer, or pagan Itching-Idol worship.

[aguystudio]

I think I will go with the pagan nut-itch idol gig. Good idea. I have use of my mouth and nose and can spray rum on the left globus, as a test, lighting it with a candle like those voodoo guys in the islands. If i have to put the fire out quickly, all I have on is a hook. Do you think this is dangerous? Please advise. My nuts itch.

[DrDaveBilliards]

Ah ... I love all of the sophisticated and intellectual discourse on teenager-infested YouTube.

[aguystudio]

I am a 54 year-old, classically trained phrenologist who happened to have fallen into a cotton gin as a child. But we all have our little histories. I don't dwell on mine and hope to remain an inspiration to all migraine sufferers who are victims of early childhood farming accidents, all across the middle South. Do you realize how hard it is to peck out a coherent message with this damn, cheap Dell keyboard and a hook? I have a pencil taped to my nose...that is worse! And my nuts itch!!!

[Syahin001]

Dr. Dave.

I own a Tuning fork, and when I hit the tuning fork, from a distance I can hear a high pitched sound, and when I brought it close to my ears, I realized that it was a low pitched sound. Can I get the reason for this? Thanks.

Btw. sorry for my bad english.

[DrDaveBilliards]

Check out all of my videos on this topic. I show and describe this effect. The high pitch sound dies away (gets damped out) fast.

Dr. Dave

[MarcusRoper171]

Dave, your pitch descriptions are an octave out. The tuning fork is C5, not C4, i.e. the octave above middle C. Similarly, the high-pitched G-G# is an octave higher than the one you played on the piano. Interesting video nevertheless!

[DrDaveBilliards]

Thank you for pointing this out.

[jaroslorenc]

People are deaf? Two close frequencies creates tremolo.

[DrDaveBilliards]

This is covered in my "beat frequency" video, but we weren't exactly sure of the cause here. Are you suggesting the two tines of the fork were vibrating at slightly different frequencies?

[dbxdigi]

Hello Dr. Dave, this video was very interesting. Why are tuning forks used to tune instruments? From what I saw in the video, tuning forks generate overtones as well as the fundamental note. Wouldn't it be more accurate to use sine waves generated by a signal generator? Also, do you know much about dc offset? I am trying to find out why they occur. Also, do you know if the dc offset occurs to the compression part of the wave or the rarefaction? Does it affect the db level. Sounds like.Example?

[DrDaveBilliards]

A sine wave function generator with a speaker would also work, but it is a lot more expensive, requires power, and is not as portable.

I wouldn't think a small dc offset would be noticeable in the sound output. Also, dc offsets can easily be removed from a signal.

Dr. Dave

[ruan228]

nice vid!!!!!

[DrDaveBilliards]

Thanks.

If you haven't seen them yet, I have 3 other videos on this topic.

Dr. Dave

[IchorRipper]

Cool examples.