[Dixielandjazz] Re: A 440--never mind

[Dan Augustine]

Bob and DJML--
     Never mind.  I mis-read 'C' as 'A'.  Middle C is indeed 261.63 cps or Hz.
     However, on the web i did find a page 
purporting to tell one how to convert from cps to 
Hz:

"In the mid-60's, The world converted to 
frequency measurements in Hertz. Abbreviated, it 
is Hz.  The change was to honor Heinrich Hertz. 
If you still have magazines and books describing 
frequency in Cycles per Second or Megacycles, you 
will want to convert those numbers to Hz (Hertz) 
or MHz (Megahertz). To do that, use the chart 
above that was graciously provided by long time 
ham, Jim Barry WØIRE. To do it mathematically, 
multiply the frequency in cycles per second by 
cycles per second and then take the square root 
of the result."
     (http://www.brainerdham.org/Tips/CPS_to_Hz_conversion.html)

     Eh, wot?  Why not just measure your tibia and divide by two?

     Dan (going back to sleep now)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 17:08:04 -0600
>To: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>From: Dan Augustine <ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Re: A 440
>
>Bob and DJML--
>     What?  Middle 'C' (whether on a piano or 
>not) is customarily played at 440 cycles per 
>second (or frequency), which is the same as 440 
>Hz ('Hertz').   Aren't 'frequency', 'cps', and 
>'Hz' different terms for exactly the same thing?
>     Or i'm not understanding you.  What's this number "261.63 Hz"?
>
>     Dan
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>From: "Robert Smith" <robert.smith at mitransport.no>
>>Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] 1 Hz Hi Fi Woofer
>>Date: Sat, 5 Nov 2005 21:03:13 +0100
>>
>>'Middle C' on the piano has a frequency 
>>(according to the present standard) of 261.63 
>>Hz, based on A=440. This is the fundamental 
>>frequency, and the overtones are not 
>>standardised, thus allowing piano manufacturers 
>>to generate their own timbre. This is the 
>>reason some pianos are regarded as being better 
>>than others, and also being the reason Victor 
>>Borge could say: "The Steinway people have 
>>asked me to announce that this is a Bechstein 
>>piano".
>>
>>Cheers
>>
>>Bob Smith

-- 
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**
**  Dan Augustine  --  Austin, Texas  --  ds.augustine at mail.utexas.edu
**      "Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?"     
**            -- Charlie McCarthy  (Edgar Bergen, 1903-1978)         
**--------------------------------------------------------------------**