title: Wind-instrument reflection function measurements in the time domain.
abstract: Theoretical and computational analyses of wind-instrument sound production in the time domain have emerged as useful tools for understanding musical instrument acoustics, yet there exist few experimental measurements of the air-column response directly in the time domain. A new experimental, time-domain technique is proposed to measure the reflection function response of woodwind and brass-instrument air columns. This response is defined at the location of sound regeneration in the mouthpiece or double reed. A probe assembly comprised of an acoustic source and microphone is inserted directly into the air column entryway using a foam plug to ensure a leak-free fit. An initial calibration phase involves measurements on a single cylindrical tube of known dimensions. Measurements are presented on an alto saxophone and euphonium. The technique has promise for testing any musical instrument air columns using a single probe assembly and foam plugs over a range of diameters typical of air-column entryways.
authors.affiliation: Systematic Musicology Program, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Keefe
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009146:Music