sound spectrograph

instrument

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

A sound spectrograph is an instrument that analyzes complex sounds into their component elements. It produces a sound spectrogram, which is a visual representation of sound. This spectrogram displays time on the horizontal axis, frequency on the vertical axis, and intensity indicated by varying shades of darkness. Essentially, it's an electronic device that creates a time-frequency-intensity analysis of sound. This analysis is recorded, often on paper, allowing for a detailed examination of the sound's characteristics.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

sound
The sound spectrograph
A sound that changes in time, such as a spoken word or a bird call, can be more completely described by examining how the Fourier spectrum changes with time. In a graph called the sound spectrograph, frequency of the complex sound is plotted…
Read More
A sound that changes in time, such as a spoken word or a bird call, can be more completely described by examining how the Fourier spectrum changes with time. In a graph called the sound spectrograph, frequency of the complex sound is plotted…
Read More

phonetics
Instruments for acoustic phonetics
…acoustic phonetic studies is the sound spectrograph. This device gives a visible record of any kind of sound. In a spectrographic analysis of the phrase speech pictures, time of occurrence of each item is given on the horizontal scale. The vertical scale shows the frequency components at each moment in…
Read More
…acoustic phonetic studies is the sound spectrograph. This device gives a visible record of any kind of sound. In a spectrographic analysis of the phrase speech pictures, time of occurrence of each item is given on the horizontal scale. The vertical scale shows the frequency components at each moment in…
Read More

voice identification
A sound spectrograph is employed to record these waves in the form of a graph that may be compared to graphs of other individuals and differentiated. Though voice graphs (or voiceprints) have been used in courtroom proceedings, the accuracy of this technique in identifying individuals is…
Read More
A sound spectrograph is employed to record these waves in the form of a graph that may be compared to graphs of other individuals and differentiated. Though voice graphs (or voiceprints) have been used in courtroom proceedings, the accuracy of this technique in identifying individuals is…
Read More