The purpose of the paper was to publish the methodology and results of measuring as accurately as possible the sensitivity of the human ear in relation to loudness and frequency. The two are commonly and incorrectly used as synonymous. In their paper, the acoustic research duo developed the concept of what came to be known as the equal-loudness contour, a grouping in which their original curve is but one sub-set. and the accolade of being known as the father of stereophonic sound.membership in countless scientific societies.contributing to experiments that earned a Nobel Prize for Physics.creating one of the earliest hearing aids.Harvey Fletcher, an American physicist born on Septemand perished on July 23, 1981, had an illustrious career in acoustics, music, television, and many other scientific and engineering disciplines. Munson published their seminal paper in the Journal of the Acoustic Society of America entitled “Loudness, its definition, measurement and calculation.” It all began when lead researcher Harvey Fletcher and Wilden A. The History of Fletcher & Munson’s Loudness Curves He then launched one of the earliest studies in psychoacoustics ever. The aforenamed scientists considered the problem on a higher order and measured the influence the human ear has on perceiving volume, pitch, and the relative loudness level of each frequency range compared to one another. With all of the focus on the frequency response of diaphragms and mechanisms that reproduce sound, such as speakers and acoustic environments, nobody considered the biological organs that perceive sound. These contours are visual diagrams displaying the effect that loudness and frequency has on human hearing. The Fletcher Munson Curve is the first of several measurements that came to be called equal-loudness contours. Let’s jump in and get a quick history on the development of these perceived loudness curves and then take a look at how it should impact our mixing and mastering workflow to help us produce higher quality results for our artists and fans.įirst, let’s define what this curve is and represents, then dig into the history of this insightful discovery: What is the Fletcher Munson Curve? The groundwork they laid in 1933 led to further investigation on the topic and to eventual international standards used in the manufacturing and research of audio-related products and studies. Then two physicists stepped into the game and changed everything.įletcher and Munson disrupted the recording industry and home stereo and entertainment system industries in such a way that we still talk about the impact and implications 84 years later. Untold hours and billions of dollars have been spent in research and development in these industries alone. They reduce the possible variation our listener’s will hear due to their own stereo systems, equalization preferences, and the influence of their listening rooms. Working with studio headphones and monitors that feature the flattest frequency responses is important.
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