Calculus actually doesn't help as much as a good set of ears. I'm not sure I know what particular technique or effect you are refering to but harmonic accoustic effects are a primary factor in recording quality. Some shapes have a tendency to give a harmonic overtone when vibrated at the sympathetic frequencies. This can be good and bad. You know how when you sing in the shower there is one note that seems to vibrate the room? Well that amplification is a byproduct of the root note and occurs at half and double the frequency, in other words in every octave.
I'm no accoustics expert but there are many great books on this subject.
I'm sure someone will come dazzle us any second now...
