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Measuring Good Vibrations

Posted by timothy on from the practical-upshot dept.

Chris writes "A laser vibrometer finds its first application analyzing the vibrations in a guitar when different strings are plucked. The laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) measures displacement and vibration speeds at 16 separate points simultaneously. The first application of the XVI is musical, analyzing the vibrations produced in a guitar when its E-string (the fattest string) was plucked. Analysis of this kind could prove useful for enthusiasts and manufacturers trying to replicate the sound made by old musical instruments in their new designs. They want to know what made these old instruments sound so good."

3 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. Question by aster_ken · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could this technology be used in helping to determine what made violas made by Stratavarius so pleasing to the ear? I know that MRI scans have been done to determine composition of the instruments, but perhaps these types of non-destructive testing could also prove useful.

  2. Let's fall for nostalgia for once... by pruneau · · Score: 2, Interesting
    They want to know what made these old instruments sound so good.

    Well, let me see. In the ol'(which maybe was not so good) time, instruments where done by people who where master of their art, which in turn took years to produce.
    They were respected for their unique knowledge, and made apprentice of young people that wanted to learn it. Of course, since making a "proper" instrument was a revered art, it took time as well.

    But as time passed, this apprenticeship business losed its appeal for the young generations.
    Why ? Because after all it was hard, masters tended to be harsh, brutal and extremely demanding. And they wanted their "secrets" to be closely kept too.
    This was eventually replaced by mass industrialisation: producing always cheaper goods with far less dedication and quality, but for everybody to access.

    The difference here is clear: current instrument maker simply do not have the same goal and values as past ones.

    Is it good, or is it bad ? Who knows, and I'm not the one to start the debate.

    But even if they manage to find why a stradivarius is a stradivarius, will they simply be willing to reproduce it truly, and not a scaled-down version of "process" ? I doubt it. Because it might take something that is not only technical. Or maybe those instruments are going to be an elite-thing again.

    And in my opinion, there we lose the interest.

    --
    [Pruneau /\o^O/\ warranty void if this .sig is removed]
  3. Computer cases by awerg · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How about putting this thing on a computer case and determining how to make it _not_ vibrate?

    Then we could get closer to a silent PC without haveing to go to extreme measures.

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    -- Andy