Help... What Frequency?

[seang]

When I go into system settings and it asks what frequency do I want the sound to come out it says something like 440.0 hz

what should I set this to? 440.1 hz? 444.1? leave it? or what is this?

[PauloF]

You should leave it as 440.0 Hz, which corresponds to the Middle "A" note

[seang]

thanks!

[scradge]

on a seperate note, (just for historical facs) A wasnt always 440.0 hz

and some countrys are showing a shift to higer frequencies.

just something a learnt the other day although typical me I cant remember the details :S

[dbijoux]

I find it surprising that most people don't know more about this. 440hz is standard concert pitch, it's actually relatively new standard.

What's really amusing is that 440hz became the modern standard not because of musicians, composers, or instrument makers, but because scientists like the maths!?

Also interesting that we have all these amazing electronic machines with such possiblities of microsound and alternate tuning, but these features seem always hidden and hardly explained or made easy, if possible at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/440hz

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pitch_standards...

[Artemiy]

we have all these amazing electronic machines with such possiblities of microsound and alternate tuning, but these features seem always hidden and hardly explained or made easy

Possibly because they make very little sense in real world. To most people, these non-standard tunings sound unpleasant to the ear and maybe even irritating. I do understand the charm of asian scale, but not wholly, and don't get anything beyond that. I admit though I haven't listened to a lot of examples.

If something looks beautiful in terms of math, doesn't mean the human brain will accept it as something pleasant to listen to. Octaves, tones, semitones were not invented by scientists - they are built in us by nature.

[dbijoux]

You might surprise yourself about alternatives being nonpleasant, it's hard to say. I think you're right about 'most' people in this regard - they have less than likely heard anything beside standard concert 440hz pitch.

What's funny about you bringing up tones and semitones is that those are all based on twelve tone equal temperament tuning. Another example where compromise was made between the mathematicians, instrument makers, and the 'natural' ratios or frequencies of just intonation.

I don't think there is really an answer, so to say, but still I'm surprised this area, atonality, serialism, alternate tunings, is not explored more; especially when so many musics have already been done. Not to mention, most everyone is using these synthesizer things today.

It's lot more than just spanish phrygian or asian scales. At any rate, I suppose it's mostly a discussion for the textbooks and, of course, we all would like to play in tune.

Here's some more links for those so inclined.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equal_temperment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_intonation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonality

[PauloF]

@seang,
Now you know also all about the reasons why 440.0 Hz ;-D