Acoustics and Psychoacoustics
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing students with fundamental concepts of acoustics, with specific reference to musical and architectural acoustics, together with the necessary propedeutic elements of mathematics, measure theory, and physics. In parallel, the course also aims at introducing the fundamentals of psychoacoustics and the perception of sound and music, with specific reference to such psychophysical attributes as pitch, loudness, directionality, masking effects.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student shall be able to master the main concepts related to the mechanisms of production and propagation of sound waves, as well as the related measurement tools and methods. Moreove, the student will understand the main aspects of the anatomy and physiology of the human auditory system, as well as auditory and musical perception. Finally, the student will master theoretical and computational models of auditory perception.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Acoustics
- Fundamentals of wave mechanics: elastic media, wave propagation, characteristic parameters of sound, characteristics of propagation
- Physical models of wave phenomena: free and forced harmonic oscillator, free and fixed-end string, impedance and admittance, transmission and reflection coefficients, vibration modes
- Frequency analysis: periodic and non-periodic phenomena, Fourier analysis, acoustic spectrum, filters, analysis bands
- Acoustic pressure: acoustic pressure, effective pressure, logarithmic scale, SPL, acoustic power, acoustic intensity, directivity
- Acoustic measurements and phonometry: phonometer, condenser microphone, microphone properties, time constants, equivalent level
- Relationships between environment and sound pressure: types of source, acoustic field, energy density, field symmetries, propagation in outdoor environments (ISO 9613 point 2)
- Propagation within environments: absorption, reflection, transmission, diffusion, reverberation, critical distance, Sabine and Sabine-Eyring formulas, subjective and objective descriptors
- Sound absorption and sound insulation: lateral and direct transmission, sound insulation power, law of mass, sound absorbing materials and treatments, Helmoltz resonator, vibrating panel
- Physics of musical instruments: vibrating element, resonator, impedance adapter, classification of musical instruments, modeling
Psychoacoustics and music perception
- Music language: languages, spoken language, biological bases of music, consonance and dissonance, intervals and scales, intensity, rhythm, harmony, complex structures, patterns - acoustic examples
- Anatomy, physiology and neurophysiology: external, middle and internal ear, O.M. impedance, neural system, evoked auditory potentials, functioning models, neurophysiological bases of auditory and musical perception
- Psychoacoustics: general concepts of psychophysics, perception of pitch, perception of intensity, perception of complex sounds, melody and harmony, binaural effects, noise - examples, demonstrations, exercises and Sound Tests, localization and spatialization, masking
- Acoustic perception: Analysis of the auditory scene, overtones, musical instruments, scales, orchestra, complex structures
- Music perception: intervals, consonance and dissonance, scales, melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, singing, orchestration, complex structures, linguistically significant elements
- Cognitive and music neuroscience: distributed model, areas involved, plasticity, role of music education, performance
- Information reduction: redundancies and significant parameters, main compression techniques and algorithms
- Fundamentals of wave mechanics: elastic media, wave propagation, characteristic parameters of sound, characteristics of propagation
- Physical models of wave phenomena: free and forced harmonic oscillator, free and fixed-end string, impedance and admittance, transmission and reflection coefficients, vibration modes
- Frequency analysis: periodic and non-periodic phenomena, Fourier analysis, acoustic spectrum, filters, analysis bands
- Acoustic pressure: acoustic pressure, effective pressure, logarithmic scale, SPL, acoustic power, acoustic intensity, directivity
- Acoustic measurements and phonometry: phonometer, condenser microphone, microphone properties, time constants, equivalent level
- Relationships between environment and sound pressure: types of source, acoustic field, energy density, field symmetries, propagation in outdoor environments (ISO 9613 point 2)
- Propagation within environments: absorption, reflection, transmission, diffusion, reverberation, critical distance, Sabine and Sabine-Eyring formulas, subjective and objective descriptors
- Sound absorption and sound insulation: lateral and direct transmission, sound insulation power, law of mass, sound absorbing materials and treatments, Helmoltz resonator, vibrating panel
- Physics of musical instruments: vibrating element, resonator, impedance adapter, classification of musical instruments, modeling
Psychoacoustics and music perception
- Music language: languages, spoken language, biological bases of music, consonance and dissonance, intervals and scales, intensity, rhythm, harmony, complex structures, patterns - acoustic examples
- Anatomy, physiology and neurophysiology: external, middle and internal ear, O.M. impedance, neural system, evoked auditory potentials, functioning models, neurophysiological bases of auditory and musical perception
- Psychoacoustics: general concepts of psychophysics, perception of pitch, perception of intensity, perception of complex sounds, melody and harmony, binaural effects, noise - examples, demonstrations, exercises and Sound Tests, localization and spatialization, masking
- Acoustic perception: Analysis of the auditory scene, overtones, musical instruments, scales, orchestra, complex structures
- Music perception: intervals, consonance and dissonance, scales, melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, singing, orchestration, complex structures, linguistically significant elements
- Cognitive and music neuroscience: distributed model, areas involved, plasticity, role of music education, performance
- Information reduction: redundancies and significant parameters, main compression techniques and algorithms
Prerequisites for admission
Since this is a first-year course, there are no specific prerequisites other than those required for admission to the Programme.
Teaching methods
Lectures with the use of multimedia supports and interactive simulations.
Teaching Resources
Teaching notes: will be made available online at the end of each cycle of topics
Texts
- S. CINGOLANI, Acustica musicale e architettonica, Torino, Città Studi Edizioni, 2008
- A. FROVA, Fisica nella musica, Bologna, Zanichelli, 2000;
- R. SPAGNOLO, Manuale di acustica applicata, Torino, Città Studi Edizioni, 2008;
- ROEDERER, JG, Introduction to the Physics and Psychophysics of Music 2nd Edn., Heidelberg Science Library (2008)
- D. HOWARD - J. ANGUS : Acoustics and Psychoacoustics - Focal Press, Media Technology
- B. C.J. Moore : An introduction to the Psychology of Hearing - ELSEVIER - Accademic Press
- D. J. Levitin : Fatti di musica - CODICE - 2008
Texts
- S. CINGOLANI, Acustica musicale e architettonica, Torino, Città Studi Edizioni, 2008
- A. FROVA, Fisica nella musica, Bologna, Zanichelli, 2000;
- R. SPAGNOLO, Manuale di acustica applicata, Torino, Città Studi Edizioni, 2008;
- ROEDERER, JG, Introduction to the Physics and Psychophysics of Music 2nd Edn., Heidelberg Science Library (2008)
- D. HOWARD - J. ANGUS : Acoustics and Psychoacoustics - Focal Press, Media Technology
- B. C.J. Moore : An introduction to the Psychology of Hearing - ELSEVIER - Accademic Press
- D. J. Levitin : Fatti di musica - CODICE - 2008
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written and oral tests.
FIS/01 - EXPERIMENTAL PHYSICS - University credits: 6
M-PSI/01 - GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY - University credits: 6
M-PSI/01 - GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 96 hours