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Audio frequency
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Sound measurements

Characteristic Symbols

Sound pressure p, SPL

Particle velocity v, SVL

Particle displacement

Sound intensity I, SIL

Sound power P, SWL

Sound energy W

Sound energy density w

Sound exposure E, SEL

Acoustic impedance Z

Speed of sound c

Audio frequency AF

Transmission loss TL

v
 t

An audio frequency (abbreviation: AF) or audible frequency is characterized as

a periodic vibration whose frequency is audible to the average human. The SI unit of audio
frequency is the hertz (Hz). It is the property of sound that most determines pitch.[1]
The generally accepted standard range of audible frequencies is 20 to
20,000 Hz,[2][3][4] although the range of frequencies individuals hear is greatly influenced by
environmental factors. Frequencies below 20 Hz are generally felt rather than heard,
assuming the amplitude of the vibration is great enough. Frequencies above 20,000 Hz can
sometimes be sensed by young people. High frequencies are the first to be affected
by hearing loss due to age and/or prolonged exposure to very loud noises.[5]

Frequencies and descriptions[edit]

Frequency
Octave Description
(Hz)

The lower human threshold of hearing, and the lowest pedal notes
16 to 32 1st
of a pipe organ.

2nd to
32 to 512 Rhythm frequencies, where the lower and upper bass notes lie.
5th

6th to Defines human speech intelligibility, gives a horn-like or tinny

512 to 2048
7th quality to sound.

8th to
2048 to 8192 Gives presence to speech, where labial and fricative sounds lie.
9th

8192 to Brilliance, the sounds of bells and the ringing of cymbals

10th
16384 and sibilance in speech.

16384 to Beyond Brilliance, nebulous sounds approaching and just passing

11th
32768 the upper human threshold of hearing

MIDI Frequency
Description Sound File
Note (Hz)

N/A (fundamental
C-1 8.18 Lowest organ note
frequency inaudible)
 Lowest note for tuba, large pipe N/A (fundamental
C0 16.35 organs, Bsendorfer Imperial Grand frequency inaudible under
Piano average conditions)

C1 32.70 Lowest C on a standard 88-key piano. MENU

0:00

C2 65.41 Lowest note for cello MENU

0:00

C3 130.81 Lowest note for viola, mandola MENU

0:00

C4 261.63 Middle C MENU

0:00

C5 523.25 C in middle of treble clef MENU

0:00

Approximately the highest note

C6 1046.50 reproducible by the average MENU
female human voice. 0:00

C7 2093 Highest note for a flute. MENU

0:00

Highest note on a standard 88-key

C8 4186 MENU
piano.
0:00

C9 8372 MENU
0:00

Approximately the tone that a

C10 16744 typical CRT television emits while MENU
running. 0:00

See also[edit]
Absolute threshold of hearing
Loudspeaker
Musical acoustics
Piano key frequencies
Scientific pitch notation
Whistle register

References[edit]
 1. Jump up^ Pilhofer, Michael (2007). Music Theory for Dummies. For Dummies. p. 97.
2. Jump up^ "Hyperphysics". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
3. Jump up^ Heffner, Henry; Heffner, Rickye (January 2007). "Hearing Ranges of Laboratory
Animals". American Association for Laboratory Animal Science. 46 (1): 20. Retrieved19
September 2014.
4. Jump up^ Rosen, Stuart (2011). Signals and Systems for Speech and Hearing (2nd ed.).
BRILL. p. 163. For auditory signals and human listeners, the accepted range is 20Hz to
20kHz, the limits of human hearing
5. Jump up^ Bitner-Glindzicz, M (2002). "Hereditary deafness and phenotyping in
humans.". British medical bulletin. 63 (1): 73
94. PMID 12324385. doi:10.1093/bmb/63.1.73.

GND: 4171844-6

NDL: 01007662
Categories:
Acoustics
Sound
Sound measurements
Physical quantities
Audio engineering
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This page was last edited on 2 February 2017, at 00:15.
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