General Help

Basic Concepts

Post-Ut is a web-based ear-training application. All new users must first create a user account. As Post-Ut keeps track of your progress and exam scores, creating an account and logging-in are necessary first steps. Be assured that your personal information will never be sold or solicited.

After logging in, the user is presented with a menu of available actions, including starting a training session or a new exam, resuming an unfinished exam, viewing user rankings, and editing user preferences and settings.

Users are also permitted to create any number of reports. Reports are a collection of completed exams grouped under a single name, and given a public URL to permit others to view the report without logging-in to Post-Ut. A report may be used, for example, to provide proof to an instructor that a certain set of exams have been completed within a particular time range.

When using Post-Ut the user selects an exam from various types; exams are simply a series of multiple-choice questions about a sound file. Some exams may always produce the same series of questions; other exams may produce unique sequences of questions each time the exam is initiated. When answering a question, the user is presented with an audio file in an integrated, embedded audio player, and is provided with multiple answer choices.

Required Software and Hardware

Post-Ut should function properly in any browser on any platform on any computer, with or or without javascript and cookies enabled. When not using either the integrated Flash-based MP3 player or QuickTime, users may download MP3 files directly with the provided link.

High quality speakers are recommended for listening to audio examples. Some audio examples may be beyond the frequency response range of inexpensive or built-in computer speakers. If headphones are used, be sure to carefully adjust the audio volume to a comfortable level.

FreeSound Project Audio Files

Post-Ut employs processed (creatively transformed) sounds drawn from The Freesound Project. These sounds are used under the terms of the Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 license, where the following links serve as attribution for the original source sounds.

Violoncello Pizzicato, Violoncello Bowed, Bamboo Flute, Bamboo Flute, Celtic Flute, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Snare Drum, Snare Drum, Saxophone Multiphonic, Saxophone Multiphonic, Saxophone Multiphonic, Saxophone Multiphonic, Saxophone Multiphonic, China Cymbal, China Cymbal, Crash Cymbal, Djembe, Djembe, China Cymbal, China Cymbal, Electric Bass, Electric Bass, Electric Bass, Finger Cymbals, Snare Roll, Splash Cymbal Bell, Splash Cymbal Bell, Drum Set, Drum Set, Drum Set, Drum Set Toms, High Hat, High Hat, Ride Cymbal Bell, Ride Cymbal Bell, Crash Cymbal, Drum Set, Drum Set, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Solo, Splash Cymbal, High Hat Cymbal, High Hat Cymbal, Sizzle Cymbal, Cymbal

Value Specifications

Frequency

Hertz (Hz): Frequency is a measure of cycles per second. In the context of sound, a frequency may measure the rate of air displacement (acoustical sound), the change in a voltage (an analogue signal), or a change encoded in a digital signal. The ideal human ear can generally hear between 20 and 20,000 Hertz. Natural, acoustic sounds never generally consist of a single, isolated frequency, but rather numerous frequencies. The sine wave, a perfect, single frequency, is thus not often found in nature, but provides a very precise representation of frequency.

Dynamic Range

Decibels (dB): Dynamic range is a measure between a minimum and maxium amplitude value, where amplitude values are measured in digital Decibels full scale.

Time Interval

Milliseconds (ms): A millisecond is one-thousandth of a second. When the time between events is less than 30 milliseconds (33.33 Hz), the human ear begins to no longer distinguish between discrete events. At room temperature (22 degrees celsius) sound travels at 344.82 meters per second (772.4 mph), or, said another way, in 1 millisecond sound travels 0.345 meters (1.13 foot).

Spectral Component Density

components (components): A spectral component is a part of a complex sound, and is sometimes called an overtone, harmonic, or partial. Sinusoidal (or nearly sinusoidal) spectral components may have frequencies in harmonic or inharmonic arrangements. Harmonic spectral components all have frequencies that are integer multiples of a fundamental frequency. Inharmonic spectral components have no specific relation to a fundamental frequency.

Pitch Interval

semitones (semitones): A semitone, or half step, is in equal-temperament 1/12th of an octave, or 100 cents. Fractional semitone values can be used to express microtones. Thus 2.5 semitones, for example, is a is a quarter tone sharp of a wholetone.

Exam Types

Frequency Identification of Mixed Sources

This exam randomly selects six frequency selection questions, using both noise and sine waveforms, and using two-octave, octave, and half-octave bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Sines within a Double Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using sine waveforms and two-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Sines within a Triple Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using sine waveforms and three-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Noise within a Double Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using low pass noise and two-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Noise within a Triple Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using low pass noise and three-octave selection bandwidths.

Time Interval Identification of Low Pass Noise within a Half Second

This exam provides ten time interval selection questions, using low pass noise and half-second selection intervals.

Time Interval Identification of Low Pass Noise within a Quarter Second

This exam provides ten time interval selection questions, using low pass noise and half-second selection intervals.

Spectral Density of Mixed Sources within Three Components

This exam provides ten spectral density questions, using both harmonic and inharmonic components. The user must identify the count within three spectral components.

Spectral Density of Mixed Sources within Five Components

This exam provides ten spectral density questions, using both harmonic and inharmonic components. The user must identify the count within five spectral components.

Spectral Density of Harmonic Sources within Five Components

This exam provides ten spectral density questions using harmonic components. The user must identify the count within five spectral components.

Spectral Density of Inharmonic Sources within Five Components

This exam provides ten spectral density questions using inharmonic components. The user must identify the count within five spectral components.

Dynamic Range Identification of a Noise Burst within Ten Decibels

This exam provides ten dyanmic range questions using noise bursts. The user must identify the dynamic range within ten decibels.

Dynamic Range Identification of a Noise Burst within Five Decibels

This exam provides ten dyanmic range questions using noise bursts. The user must identify the dynamic range within ten decibels.

Frequency Identification of Filtered Noise within a Double Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band-filtered noise and two-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Filtered Noise within a Triple Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band-filtered noise and three-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Filtered Noise within One Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band-filtered noise and one-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Sines within One Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using sine waveforms and one-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Band Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within One Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band filtered acoustic waveforms and one-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Band Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within a Double Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band filtered acoustic waveforms and two-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Band Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within a Triple Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using band filtered acoustic waveforms and three-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within One Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using low pass filtered acoustic waveforms and one-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within a Double Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using low pass filtered acoustic waveforms and two-octave selection bandwidths.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveforms within a Triple Octave

This exam provides ten frequency selection questions, using low pass filtered acoustic waveforms and three-octave selection bandwidths.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Melodic Intervals within One Quartertone

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within one quartertone.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Melodic Intervals within Three Quartertones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within three quartertones.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Melodic Intervals within Five Quartertones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within five quartertones.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Harmonic Intervals within One Quartertone

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within one quartertone.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Harmonic Intervals within Three Quartertones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within three quartertones.

Pitch Interval of Quartertone Harmonic Intervals within Five Quartertones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic quartertone intervals. The user must identify the count within five quartertones.

Pitch Interval of Semitone Melodic Intervals within One Semitone

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic semitone intervals. The user must identify the count within one semitone.

Pitch Interval of Semitone Melodic Intervals within Three Semitones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic semitone intervals. The user must identify the count within three semitones.

Pitch Interval of Semitone Harmonic Intervals within One Semitone

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic semitone intervals. The user must identify the count within one semitone.

Pitch Interval of Semitone Harmonic Intervals within Three Semitones

This exam provides ten pitch interval questions using melodic semitone intervals. The user must identify the count within three semitones.

Question Types

Frequency Identification of Band-Filtered Noise within One Octave

This question presents a single audio example of band-filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Band-Filtered Noise within Half Octave

This question presents a single audio example of band-filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Band-Filtered Noise within a Double Octave

This question presents a single audio example of band-filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Sine Waveform within One Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a sine waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Sine Waveform within Half Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a sine waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Sine Waveform within a Double Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a sine waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Band-Filtered Noise within a Triple Octave

This question presents a single audio example of band-filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Sine Waveform within a Triple Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a sine waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within One Octave

This question presents a single audio example of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within Half Octave

This question presents a single audio example of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within a Double Octave

This question presents a single audio example of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within a Triple Octave

This question presents a single audio example of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Time Interval Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within a Half Second

This question presents a single audio example of a pulse stream of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the time interval, in milliseconds, between pulse amplitude peaks.

Time Interval Identification of Low Pass Filtered Noise within a Quarter Second

This question presents a single audio example of a pulse stream of low pass filtered noise. The user must identify the time interval, in milliseconds, between pulse amplitude peaks.

Spectral Harmonic Density within Three Components

This question presents a single audio example containing harmonic spectral components. The user must identify the number of spectral components.

Spectral Inharmonic Density within Three Components

This question presents a single audio example containing inharmonic spectral components. The user must identify the number of spectral components.

Spectral Harmonic Density within Five Components

This question presents a single audio example containing harmonic spectral components. The user must identify the number of spectral components.

Spectral Inharmonic Density within Five Components

This question presents a single audio example containing inharmonic spectral components. The user must identify the number of spectral components.

Dynamic Range Identification of a Noise Burst within Ten Decibels

This question presents a single audio example of a noise burst waveform. The user must identify the dynamic range between loud and soft bursts.

Dynamic Range Identification of a Noise Burst within Five Decibels

This question presents a single audio example of a noise burst waveform. The user must identify the dynamic range between loud and soft bursts.

Frequency Identification of a Band-Filtered Acoustic Waveform within One Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a band-filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Band-Filtered Acoustic Waveform within Half Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a band-filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Band-Filtered Acoustic Waveform within a Double Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a band-filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Band-Filtered Acoustic Waveform within a Triple Octave

This question presents a band-filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Low-Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveform within One Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a low-pass filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Low-Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveform within Half Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a low-pass filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Low-Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveform within a Double Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a low-pass filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.

Frequency Identification of a Low-Pass Filtered Acoustic Waveform within a Triple Octave

This question presents a single audio example of a low-pass filtered acoustic waveform. The user must identify the frequency band within which the example is found.