Spark Zap

How it's made

Source

an electrical gap breaks down; heated air expands as a 0.4 ms attack, 12 ms noise snap.

Body

unstable current repeatedly heats the plasma, modelled by a band-limited 150-290 Hz saw buzz mixed below turbulent noise; irregular amplitude and pitch prevent a static electronic note.

Events

7-20 uneven restrikes over 0.16-0.39 s, each a 1-9 ms filtered noise burst; a sparse impulse layer represents finer discharges. No metal or room resonance is assumed for an open-air spark.

Spectrum

a broad 0.7-7.5 kHz air band darkens toward extinction; a brief 0.2-1.8 kHz pressure snap gives the breakdown weight, while low-Q filtering avoids narrow whistles and excessive ultrasonic fizz.

Envelope

immediate breakdown, fluttering conduction, then a 35-65 ms quench; silent by 0.42 s.

Variation

seeded timing, strength and filter jitter; controls set gap duration, current buzz, restrike density and brightness. Presets cover a pin snap, sputtering contact, hot arc and fine filament.

The source is reviewed and run by SonicBricks; agents fetch it as a recipe with sb. It is not published on this page.