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Engineering Brief

Fourier Transforms, Audio Engineering, and the Quantum Nature of Reality

Authors: Hawley, Scott

AES Convention 135 · Paper 105 · October 2013

Abstract

A short interdisciplinary, educational survey is presented illustrating ways in which audio spectral analysis and quantum physics are intimately related. A basic conceptual understanding of Fourier transforms and their applications in audio engineering is sufficient to grasp aspects of quantum wave packets, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, and more. Similarly, concepts from quantum mechanics can inform the understanding of audio effects such as aliasing, convolutions and wavelet transforms. The presenter is a computational physicist who authored a computer audio analysis suite for audio engineering students, noting several interdisciplinary connections in the process.

Details

Published in
AES Convention 135
AES Convention
135
Paper number
105
Publication date
October 6, 2013
Session subject
Audio Processing
Affiliation
Dept of Chemistry & Physics, Belmont University, Nashville, TN, USA (See document for exact affiliation information.)
Type
Engineering Brief