Sound synthesizer, after Helmholtz; 8 resonators and forks — Teylers Museum

Sound synthesizer, after Helmholtz; 8 resonators and forks

1865

This electric sound synthesizer after the design of the German researcher Herman von Helmholtz (1821-1894) is a forerunner of the modern synthesizer. Helmholtz made the device to get more insight in the structure of music and speech. The composite sound is created by combining the individual sounds of the eight different resonators. Thus Helmholtz could prove that the difference in timbre is a result of the fundamentals of the sounds involved. An electrically driven tuning fork stands before each resonator, but the fork produces not much sound. When the keyboard is pressed, however, the hole before the corresponding resonator is opened and that particular tone is amplified enormously.

Administration name

Fysisch Kabinet

Title

Sound synthesizer, after Helmholtz; 8 resonators and forks

Translated title

Sound synthesizer, after Helmholtz; 8 resonators and forks

Creator

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Dating

[{'start': '1865', 'end_precision': u'', 'end': u'', 'start_precision': u''}]

Measurements

[{'notes': u'', 'part': 'voet', 'type': u'', 'value': '1040', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'voet', 'type': u'', 'value': '794', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'grootste resonator', 'type': u'', 'value': '218', 'unit': u''}, {'notes': u'', 'part': 'grootste resonator', 'type': u'', 'value': '177', 'unit': u''}]

Object number

FK 0248

Inscription

[{'content': u'RUDOLPH KOENIG \xc0 PARIS', 'type': u''}]

Reproduction reference

[{'reference': '..\\images\\Fysisch\\Gekoppelde afbeeldingen\\FK 0248.jpg'}]

Order image