Analyzing and Creating Sounds with Coding

We can hear and interpret the sound signals in the world. Computers can do the same, using signal processing to analyze sounds. In this course, we will code algorithms that let us visualize and reproduce the frequencies, noises, and even hidden messages in sound signals. First, we will cover the basics of digital audio and python programming. Next, we will review trigonometry to understand how sinusoids can generate and represent waves of sound. Next, we will study the mathematics of the discrete Fourier transform; this will let us efficiently analyze all the sound frequencies that we can hear in music and speech. Throughout the course, students will code a spectrum analyzer, allowing them to visualize and interpret the frequencies of sounds they hear in the real world (like music and speech). Students will learn hands-on basic computer programming applied to sound. Following this course, student's skills will include sound frequency analysis in their favorite music, understanding of frequency content in digital signals, and applying mathematics to analyze sound signals. To participate, students should have a good understanding of middle-school trigonometry and intuition about (or interest for) computer programming.