UIUC Physics 406
Acoustical Physics of Music/Musical Instruments
NSF Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students/UIUC Senior Thesis Students: Their Research Projects, Presentations and Final Reports:
NSF Summer 2014 REU:
Annelise ("Pi") Roti Roti (University of Wisconsin, Platteville) carried out a series of phase-sensitive frequency-domain measurements of the
acoustical properties of the Alto Horn and the Euphonium. Patrick Barry (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) investigated 1/f noise in carbon composition
and thick-film resistors for his UIUC Senior Thesis research work, carried on into Fall Semester, 2014.
Pix of Patrick and Annelise - Summer, 2014:
Annelise Roti Roti's NSF Summer REU Final Report:
Patrick Barry's Senior Thesis:
NSF Summer 2013 REU:
Kristin Holz (Abilene Christian University, Texas) carried out a series of acoustical measurements of her Buffet R13 Bb clarinet
- phase-sensitive harmonic analyses of recorded notes, measurements of the input and output specific acoustic impedances of her clarinet
as a function of frequency, several bore scans of the specific acoustic impedance of her clarinet at fixed frequency/fixed notes, and also
investigated the longitudinal mechanical vibrational properties of her clarinet as a function of frequency. Additionally, Kristin
used Comsol Multiphysics software to model the acoustical properties of "ear-bud" type graphite and graphene electrostatic loudspeakers.
We also built and tested several such devices and to compared their measured performance properties with Kristin's Comsol Multiphysics predictions.
Pix of Kristin Holz and Prof. Errede, looking at Kristin's Comsol Multiphysics simulations of ear-bud type graphene electrostatic loudspeakers:
Kristin Holz's NSF Summer REU Final Presentation:
Kristin Holz's NSF Summer REU Final Report:
NSF Summer 2012 REU:
During summer 2012, Meredith Powell (UC Davis, California) carried out various acoustical measurements of her 2004 Eastman viola
- phase-sensitive harmonic analysis of recorded notes of the viola, measurements of string decay time(s),
the absorption coefficient of wood, measuring the mechanical modal vibrations vs. frequency
and carrying out near-field acoustic holography measurements of various modal vibrations of the viola.
Pix of Meredith Powell:
Meredith Powell's NSF Summer REU Final Presentation:
Meredith Powell's NSF Summer REU Final Report:
NSF Summer 2011 REU:
NSF Summer 2010 REU:
NSF Summer 2009 REU and Fall Semester, 2009 Senior Thesis Reports:
Fall Semester, 2008: Brendan Sullivan's Senior Thesis: Near-Field Acoustic Holography
During the Fall Semester 2008, Brendan Sullivan continued his Senior Thesis research with Prof. Steve Errede
on phase-sensitive measurements the modal vibrations of drum heads using near-field acoustic holography techniques.
Pix of Brendan with the Modal_Vibes DAQ Setup:
Brendan's Senior Thesis:
Brendan's Physics 499 Talk:
NSF Summer 2008 REU Reports:
During summer 2008, Nicole Pfiester (Purdue University), Marguerite Brown (University of Chicago) and Brendan Sullivan (UIUC)
worked with Prof. Steve Errede on several Physics of Music/Musical Instrument-related research projects.
Building on the phase-sensitive accomplishments of the previous year's NSF Summer REU program (see below),
Nicole measured the harmonic content, the complex acoustic impedance and sound intensity vs. frequency of a wooden oboe and a plastic oboe for several notes;
Marguerite measured the harmonic content, the complex acoustic impedance and sound intensity vs. frequency of a wooden clarinet and a plastic clarinet for several notes,
while Brendan investigated the complex modal vibrations of tom drums and other vibrating surfaces, as part of his UIUC senior thesis research project.
These research activities were jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2008 Research Experience for Undergraduates
(Summer 2008 REU) program.
Pix of Nicole, Marguerite and Brendan in the UIUC Physics 498POM Physics of Music/Musical Instruments Lab:
Nicole and Marguerite's NSF REU Mid-Program Presentation:
Acoustic Impedance Measurements: Lunch-time Talk by Brendan Sullivan:
Nicole and Marguerite's NSF REU Final Presentation:
Nicole Pfiester's NSF REU Final Report:
Marguerite Brown's NSF REU Final Report:
Oboe Results: Complex Pressure, Particle Velocity, Specific Acoustic Impedance and Sound Intensity:
Loree Wooden Oboe:
Fox-Renard Plastic Oboe:
Clarinet Results: Complex Pressure, Particle Velocity, Specific Acoustic Impedance and Sound Intensity:
Buffet Wooden Bb3 Clarinet:
Vito Plastic Bb3 Clarinet:
Compare the above oboe and clarinet results with those e.g. of the tenor sax and the trumpet (see also NSF REU 2007 below):
Tenor Sax (All valves closed):
Bb Trumpet (All valves closed):
Fall Semester, 2007: David Pignotti's Senior Thesis: Impedance of a Bb Trumpet
NSF Summer 2007 REU Reports:
During summer 2007, David Pignotti (UIUC) and Chris Van de Riet (University of Missouri, Rolla, MO)
worked with Prof. Steve Errede on the development of tiny, but sensitive pressure mics and air particle velocity
transducer, which enabled them to measure the input impedance of Chris' tenor sax and David's trumpet.
We investigated and built various candidate air particle velocity sensors, built a standing wave calibration tube,
a variable standing wave tube, and developed an experimental set-up to accurately measure the free-air propagation speed of sound.
These research activities were jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2007 Research Experience for Undergraduates
(Summer 2007 REU) program.
Pix of David and Chris in the UIUC Physics 199POM/498POM Physics of Music/Musical Instruments Lab:
David and Chris' NSF REU Mid-Program Presentation:
David and Chris' NSF REU Final Presentation:
David and Chris' NSF REU Final Report:
NSF Summer 2005 REU Reports:
During summer 2005, Eric Larson (Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI),
Ross Maddox (University of Michigan) worked with Matt Winkler (UIUC M.Sc. Student)
and Prof. Steve Errede on the development real-time time-domain pitch tracker using
wavelets - specifically fast-lifting wavelet transforms, developed in Matlab and C++.
We also spent time developing a PC-104 based, fast Single-Board Computer for general-purpose,
stand-alone data acquisition purposes. We also investigated the complex acoustic
mechanical vibrational properties (as a function of frequency) of several ukuleles
and mandolins using a dedicated PC-based DAQ system used for such purposes in the
UIUC Physics 199/498POM courses. These research activities were jointly supported by
the UIUC Physics Department and the National Science Foundation's (NSF's)
Summer 2005 Research Experience for Undergraduates (Summer 2005 REU) program.
Pix of Eric, Ross and Matt in the UIUC Physics 199/498POM Physics of Music Lab:
Pix of the Diamond-Systems PC-104 Single Board Computer Setup:
Pix of Ross Maddox measuring the complex acoustic mechanical vibrational response of a cigar-box ukulele:
Pix of Ross Maddox's cigar-box ukulele:
Eric and Ross' 2005 NSF REU final report on the development of their pitch-tracker program
and other research activities are available below:
NSF Summer 2004 REU Reports:
During summer 2004, Joe Yasi (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY)
worked with Prof. Steve Errede on the development of a MATLAB-based software package
to analyze periodic waveforms - extracting frequency, amplitude AND phase information.
The development of this research tool will be of great use/benefit for analyzing waveforms
from all kinds of musical instruments and sounds in general, as well as many other potential
applications, such as frequency-modulated Atomic Force Microscopy (FM-AFM), analysis of
gravitational wave data e.g. from the soon-to-be-operating Ligo/Virgo Gravitational Wave Experiments,
and e.g. cosmology associated with evolution of the early universe - dark energy/dark matter!
This research activity was jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2004 Research Experience for Undergraduates
(Summer 2004 REU) program.
The following pix shows Joe hard at work developing his MATLAB-based waveform analysis
software in the UIUC Physics 199POM/498POM Physics of Music Lab:
The following pix shows Joe recording sounds from his Bach Bb trumpet, which he subsequently
analyzed with the software he developed:
Joe's NSF REU final report on the development of his MATLAB-based waveform analysis
software package is available below:
NSF Summer 2003 REU Reports:
During summer 2003, Eric Macaulay (Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL)
worked with Prof. Steve Errede and Nicole Drummer on measurement of acoustic properties of
tom drums and the effect of tom drum shell bearing edges on acoustic properties of tom drums.
Dennis Stauffer of Phattie Drums kindly donated three 12" diameter x 6" deep single-head
tom drums, each shell cut with a different bearing edge - one with a single 45-degree,
another with a rounded-45 degree, and a third with a double 45-degree bearing edge.
These activities were also jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department
and the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2003 Research Experience for Undergraduates
(Summer 2003 REU) program.
The following pix shows the setup Eric used to investigate the properties of these drums:
Eric's NSF REU final report on his investigative work on tom drum shell bearing edges is available below:
NSF Summer 2002 REU Reports:
During summer 2002, Adam Kempton (John Carrol University, Cleveland, OH)
and Eric Moon (Baker University, Baldwin City, KS) worked with Prof. Steve Errede
on developing two independent methods for investigating the mechanical vibrations of acoustic and electric guitars,
one using a PC-based DAQ system, and another using a Dynamic Signal Analyzer.
These activities were jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2002 Research Experience for Undergraduates (Summer 2002 REU) program.
The following pix shows Eric (left) and Adam (right) with an early version of this test setup:
Adam's and Eric's NSF REU final report(s) on this work are available below.
During summer 2002, Ted Argo IV (University of Oregon, Eugene, OR)
also worked with Prof. Steve Errede and Nicole Drummer on developing methods for measuring and investigating
mechanical resonances in percussion instruments - e.g. various kinds of drums and cymbals,
using a PC-based DAQ system. Ted also helped with developing several LabView-based plotting programs that
enable us to put plots of data obtained from various of our experimental DAQ setups - e.g. guitar pickup
impedance, and vacuum tube measurements. These activities were also jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department
and the National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2002 Research Experience for Undergraduates (Summer 2002 REU) program.
Here is a pix of Ted working on the development of a LabView program that plots the 3-D surface associated with
measured cathode current vs. applied grid voltage and plate voltage, e.g. for 12A*7 dual triode tubes
and also for octal power tubes that are commonly used in guitar tube amplifiers:
The following pix shows the setup Ted used to investigate vibrations of one of Nicole's Tom-Toms from her Gretsch Drum Kit:
Ted's NSF REU final report on his work on the acoustics of drums is available below:
Ted also investigated the phenomenon of musical consonance and dissonance, using 4 function generators and a
4-channel analog mixer, and compared his results with Leonhard Euler's theory of musical consonance and dissonance.
This work is summarized in the paper below:
NSF Summer 2001 REU Reports:
During summer 2001, Matthew Fisher (Goshen College, Indiana) worked with Prof. Steve Errede
on expanding and improving the existing P398EMI course's PC-based triode tube performance measurement DAQ system
to also be able to measure the performance characteristics of
various popular power tubes (e.g. 6L6/5881, 6V6, EL34/6CA6, 6550, 6BQ5/EL84, 7868, etc.) as well
as various popular vacuum rectifier tubes (e.g. 5Y3, 5AR4/GZ34, 5R4, 5U4, 5V4, etc.).
These activities were again jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2001 Research Experience for Undergraduates (Summer 2001 REU) program.
The following pix shows Matthew at the controls of this DAQ setup:
Matthew's NSF REU final report on this work is available below.
NSF Summer 2000 REU Reports:
During summer 2000, three undergraduate students -
Dustin Lindley (UIUC), Nishant Parulekar (Grinnell College, Iowa) and Noam Pikelny (UIUC)
worked with Prof. Steve Errede on the development of various experiments for the UIUC Physics 398EMI labs
in preparation for the fall 2000 semester teaching of this course.
These activities were jointly supported by the UIUC Physics Department and the
National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Summer 2000 Research Experience for Undergraduates (Summer 2000 REU) program.
Dustin and Nishant worked on the development of a versatile fuzz-box, which Nishant named "Dr. Strangefuzz".
They also developed a PC-controlled data acquisition system to measure the current-voltage relation for
any type of diode, or diode pair, that would be used in this fuzz-box.
Pix of Dustin and Nishant in the UIUC Physics 199/498POM Physics of Music Lab:
Pix of the Dr. Strangefuzz distortion box:
Their NSF REU final report on this work is available below.
Noam Pikelny worked on the development of PC-controlled data acquisition system that maps out the triode characteristic
curve(s) and computes the parameters gm, mu, Rp associated with triode-type vacuum tubes,
such as 12A*7/ECC8* type tubes. We had actually begun this work the previous spring semester, working with
another UIUC undergraduate student, Mary Anderson. At that time we did not have a HV power supply that could be
controlled via a computer. We purchased such a power supply, Noam modified the existing DAQ code for this experiment
to control a new, programmable power supply to map out the triode characteristic curves.
With this triode tube-testing setup, we can compare the performance properties of
various brands of NOS (New-Old-Stock) 12A*7/ECC8* type triodes with those associated with
brand new 12A*7/ECC8* triode tubes that various tube manufacturing companies are making today,
to see how well they compare, and then to try to corellate these results with how such tubes actually
sound in an amp.
Noam also worked on the development of another PC-controlled setup that enables us to study/measure the
properties of a "standard" triode voltage amplifier, e.g. as a function of signal amplitude and frequency.
Noam's NSF REU final report on this work is available below.
Examples of PC-Based On-Line Data Acquisition System for Measurement of Triode Tube Parameters -
Using National Instruments LabWindows/CVI C-Based Software and LabPC+ DAQ Card:
Since Noam was here at UIUC, he's become a world-class banjo player and recording artist,
playing with many people, and various notable bands such as Leftover Salmon, Punch Brothers... Check out his website at:
www.myspace.com/noampikelny
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