First lab


Experiments with a single sinusoids in matlab


Lab notes


To run the experiments right now you just need the following:
1) Download the following files:
limits.fig
limits.m
sinelimit.m

lengthsin.fig
lengthsin.m
sinelength.m

distancesin.fig
distancesin.m
sinedist.m
woodenv.m
2) run matlab from the command line (with the GUI)

First experiment: find your frequency range of hearing

The frequency range of hearing varies greatly among individuals, although the ``rule of thumb'' audible range is 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Find out what the highest and lowest frequencies you can hear are. You might want to start where the frequency is still audible and then decrease (or increase) the frequency of the oscillator until you can't hear any sound. Remember that the ear is not equally sensitive to all frequencies, so try increasing the volume when you reach this point.

To run the experiment: -download the limits.fig file from the web site
Type: >limits
in matlab
The default frequency is now 100 Hz
Click on the button PLAY to hear the 2 seconds sinusoids
Decrease the frequency until you can hear it
Increase your frequency until you can hear it.
Report the minimum and maximum frequency you can hear.

Second experiment: test your pitch versus length perception

In this experiment you will play again a single sinewave.
Which is the length of the minimum length of the sinewave that allows you to hear its pitch?

To run the experiment:
Type: >lengthsin
in matlab
modify the length and click on the play button.

Third experiment: test your discrimination perception

In this experiment you will hear two clicks.
The goal is to find the minimum time in seconds that makes you perceive the two clicks as a single click.
To run the experiment:
Type: >distancesin
in matlab
decrease the distance and click on the play button.