SOUND EVENT

A sound or sound sequence in its spatial and temporal context as part of a SOUNDSCAPE. Whereas the SOUND OBJECT is abstracted from its original context and exists only as an acoustical object for study, the sound event acquires its meaning through its social and environmental context, as well as from its own acoustic characteristics.

Therefore, an acoustic description of the sound event includes its AMBIENCE, its relation to that ambience (see HI-FI, KEYNOTE, LO-FI, SOUND POLLUTION), as well as other environmental features (including REVERBERATION), ACOUSTIC SPACE and RHYTHM. Sound events may be classified according to their semantic, symbolic or structural functions or qualities (see MORPHOLOGY, TYPOLOGY).

Compare: SOUND EFFECT, SOUND SIGNAL.


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