Intro to Resonance

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Gallopin’ Gertie

One of the first acoustics topics most physics classes cover is resonance. Often, physics teachers will show the video clip below of the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (also known affectionately as “Gallopin’ Gertie”) to demonstrate the potential effects of resonance.

While the rippling motion of the bridge seems unreal, the physical principle of resonance is quite real. Gaining an ...

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Preamplifiers: Do I Need One?

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What is a Preamp?

A preamplifier (preamp or just “pre” for short) is an electronic component used to condition signals from a microphone or pickup. The output signal from a microphone is generally weak and noisy. If you plugged a microphone directly into an audio interface, the sound would come out distorted and garbled. Not exactly the result you want from your audio system. That’s where preamps come in.

Preamplifiers boost the strength of a signal without significantly degrading its signal-to-noise ratio ...

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