Comic Discussion > QUESTIONABLE CONTENT
(CW/TW: Abuse) WCDT strips 3731-3735 (30th April to 4th May 2018)
Case:
--- Quote from: pwhodges on 03 May 2018, 07:07 ---A = 440Hz is the basis of standard tuning (since 1939); it's also the note to which an orchestra tunes before playing.
I guess the real performance is about to start!
--- End quote ---
For the interested nerd who'd like to know how high the a1 at 440Hz is, but who lacks perfect pitch as well as sufficient motivation to dig for an oscillator-app: The a1 is also used in many nations' call-progress tones - the dialtone of German phones is a continuous sine-wave at 440Hz (wouldn't be surprised to learn its the same in Austria). In the US, the low-frequency ringtone and the high-frequency dialtone are tuned to 440Hz. Other nation's call-progress tones are in a similar pitch-range (e.g. 425Hz)
--- Quote from: Cornelius on 03 May 2018, 06:37 ---I hadn't noticed that either. 440Hz shouldn't be a problem, I think, but perhaps someone with a better understanding of this kind of thing will disagree?
--- End quote ---
I haven't memorized resonance frequencies of common building materials (and common sense dictates that engineers would try to suppress susceptibilities in those materials that actually have resonances, even those well outside human vocal range) - but since most libraries have contained telephones for quite a while now I guess that if there ever were ones that had a problem with 440Hz, they've been subjected to un-natural selection by now ... :laugh:
440Hz is also pretty comfortably within most humans' vocal range, which again would pose a problem for libraries that aim to bring humans into close proximity with the books therein.
TL;DR - No, it's not.
Edit: Not only is the a1 within human's vocal range (singing voice), but 440Hz is roughly the first harmonic (octave) of many womens' fundamental voice frequency - the frequency around which our speech is modulated. Libraries prone to take damage due to female speech sound ... improbable.
de_la_Nae:
oh wow, i forgot all about erfworld.
man i was pretty invested for a minute in high school.
oh nooooooooooo i'm gonna binge it aren't i
theMarc:
--- Quote from: Zebediah on 02 May 2018, 18:21 ---Be kind and generous to all people, even imaginary people who only exist in a webcomic, because that’s good practice for the real world.
--- End quote ---
This is the most profound thing I've read all year. Possibly all decade. Gonna hafta sig this.
Cornelius:
--- Quote from: Case on 03 May 2018, 07:53 ---Other nation's call-progress tones are in a similar pitch-range (e.g. 425Hz)
--- End quote ---
Yep, that's us.
--- Quote from: Case on 03 May 2018, 07:53 ---440Hz is also pretty comfortably within most humans' vocal range, which again would pose a problem for libraries that aim to bring humans into close proximity with the books therein.
--- End quote ---
Thanks for the clarification. So, it won't be a problem for the building - but librarians might be another kettle of fish. Although, in this case, oversight by Tai... No, not a problem at all. She might come and contribute some more noise herself.
awgiedawgie:
--- Quote from: zisraelsen on 03 May 2018, 05:56 ---
--- Quote from: Cornelius on 03 May 2018, 01:09 ---Not to mention the danger to the structural integrity of the building.
--- End quote ---
I hadn't even considered that, and actually looking back I realized jeph gave us her Panic Frequency as the title of the strip! What do you figure the harmonic frequencies of Smif Library are?
--- End quote ---
I figured the "440 Hz" as the title was in reference to the note Marten was whistling in the first panel. I don't think even Tool videos had people shaking that fast.
It's not a frequency that would do any harm to the building or its occupants. As others have already kind of mentioned, it's the A above Middle C. Long before I ever owned a musical instrument, I knew that from computer programming back in the '80s. There was no fancy music software readily available to the general public. If you wanted to make the computer make sounds resembling "music", you had to program the frequencies you wanted it to play. I've long since forgotten all the other ones, but now that I own a bass guitar, 440 stays fresh in my memory because it's always displayed on the tuner when I turn it on.
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