Volume

[Buckle-meister]

All,

As I'm sure you are no doubt aware, loudness is a function of sound pressure; the greater the pressure, the louder a sound is percieved to be. Why, then, is loudness referred to as 'volume'? What is the origin of the word 'volume' in this context?

Just a thought.

 

[Adam]

Robbie,

From my brief read of articles on the internet, I believe that volume is a function of sound pressure (actually, "intensity" is) and "loudness" is a perception of that volume. For instance, what is "loud" to me may not be to you, although the sound would be at the same level of intensity for both of us.

I haven't read all of the way through these, but they might be interesting to some here:

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

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

Adam

 

[no. 5]

Perhaps the adoption of 'volume' in that context was because of a simplistic similarity between the two uses; an increase or decrease in volume means about the same thing in either context: that being an increasing or decreasing in amount, be it loudness or amount of space.

Or, perhaps I am too lazy to look up the origin of the word in that context....

 

[Dolby CP-200]

Had this rather interesting conversation last night on MSN messenger via voice and he sent this link to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

 

[Sheep]

Had this rather interesting conversation last night on MSN messenger via voice and he sent this link to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gmex_4hreQ

Great link.

I'm going for the professional recording arts program for schooling. I'll be dealing with stuff just like that. Hopefully I will have full control over everything I work with.

I'll tell you this though, if someone wants a compressed track, they'll be fighting me to the bitter end.

SheepStar

 

[Dolby CP-200]

I don’t mind loudness or volume, just as long as it doesn’t end up masking the centre or centre masking the left and right or the surrounds masking the centre and so on, other than that I can deal with the volume providing it doesn’t wonder off over 85dbA.

 

[Leprkon]

if you don't mind annoying all the proper electrical engineers out there (I'm a materials engineer myself, so I feel free to indulge), but, in very very simplistic terms, the "volume" control is little more than a variable resistor or potentiiometer, and could be considered to control the flow, or "volume" of electrons flowing into the speakers. the more volume of electrons, the more sound pressure that could be created.

rather than try to explain some of the more complex electrical processes, the early radio guys established "volume" as something people would understand being "more" of.

 

[davo]

The term volume refers to the space inside of a three dimensional area. The 'volume' on your amp could be refering to how much the sound fills this area. 'Filling' this area with sound would depend on how much it dominates the area or other sounds.
For example, ambient music in an elevator doesn't dominate the area, so you wouldn't say it was filling the area, where as if you are testing a new amp, chances are you are going to be 'filling' the area with sound, in that it dominates all other sound in the area including any thoughts in your head as well. Thats when the volume would be full.

Just my spin on an interesting thought.

 

[Buckle-meister]

Thanks for the links Adam. I read them but am more or less already familiar with the information from having (mostly) read an Acoustics book I have.

...the "volume" control is little more than a variable resistor or potentiometer, and could be considered to control the flow, or "volume" of electrons flowing into the speakers...Rather than try to explain some of the more complex electrical processes, the early radio guys established "volume" as something people would understand being "more" of.

Why go through the above thought process to arrive at 'volume' when they could simply have called the 'volume' control the 'loudness' control? No sleight-of-hand is needed to arrive at 'loudness', 'loudness' is, as far as I can see, more correct than that of 'volume' and the lay person implicitly understands the term.

Besides, aren't electrons discussed typically in terms of their mass as opposed to their volume?

The term volume refers to the space inside of a three dimensional area.

Careful with your terminology there Davo; there's no such thing as a 3-dimensional area.

The 'volume' on your amp could be refering to how much the sound fills this [space].

A few things come to mind.

1. Even if a sound doesn't dominate in a given space it still must fill it, though not necessarily evenly.
2. Even though I myself have just used the word, is it strictly correct to talk of sound 'filling' a space/volume? Is it not more correct to talk of the sound pressurising that space/volume?
3. Thus, could 'volume' actually be a shortened version of 'pressurised volume'?

 

[davo]

Careful with your terminology there Davo; there's no such thing as a 3-dimensional area.

Ah, you got me on that one. What I probably meant to say was 'object'.

Maybe the word 'volume' is a misappropriation for what it is describing. When you say "Turn up the volume on the stereo", what are you really asking for?

 

[Buckle-meister]

Maybe the word 'volume' is a misappropriation for what it is describing. When you say "Turn up the volume on the stereo", what are you really asking for?

I agree entirely. 'Turn up the volume' (turn up the volume, turn up the volume, dance, dance ) doesn't appear to make any sense. 'Increase the pressure' (presha! ) would be far better.

 

[avaserfi]

I agree entirely. 'Turn up the volume' (turn up the volume, turn up the volume, dance, dance ) doesn't appear to make any sense. 'Increase the pressure' (presha! ) would be far better.

Plus it would sound way cooler