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Octave (electronics)

What is octave (electronics)? A clear definition from the acoustics, audio engineering and sound section of our glossary, with 12 related terms, tools to try and further reading.

Definition of Octave (electronics)

In electronics, an octave (symbol: oct) is a logarithmic unit for ratios between frequencies, with one octave corresponding to a doubling of frequency. For example, the frequency one octave above 40 Hz is 80 Hz. The term is derived from the Western musical scale where an octave is a doubling in frequency. Specification in terms of octaves is therefore common in audio electronics.

Along with the decade, it is a unit used to describe frequency bands or frequency ratios.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Octave (electronics)?

In electronics, an octave (symbol: oct) is a logarithmic unit for ratios between frequencies, with one octave corresponding to a doubling of frequency. For example, the frequency one octave above 40 Hz is 80 Hz.

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