ccc_ldo@waikato.ac.nz (Lawrence D'Oliveiro, Waikato University) (08/07/90)
I have personally experienced an even more extreme case of the "missing fundamentals" effect. I was playing around with a Yamaha electronic organ one day, trying different mixes of 8', 4' and 2-2/3' flute sounds. It got to the point where I'd turned off the 8' (fundamental) completely, and I was still hearing the tune playing at the same pitch! Next I turned off the 4' as well (leaving just the 2-2/3') and I could still hear the tune playing at its original pitch. As far as my ear was concerned, it was just an extreme version of the timbre you get with a mix of 8' and 2-2/3'. I didn't try 1-3/5', but I suspect that with a bit of effort, I could have done it. I think things would get harder as the harmonic ratios involve higher and higher prime factors. I guess what this means is that, if you're in the right frame of mind, you can hear almost anything... Lawrence D'Oliveiro fone: +64-71-562-889 Computer Services Dept fax: +64-71-384-066 University of Waikato electric mail: ldo@waikato.ac.nz Hamilton, New Zealand 37^ 47' 26" S, 175^ 19' 7" E, GMT+12:00
jgk@osc.COM (Joe Keane) (08/09/90)
The same thing happens with pitch shifters. If you listen to a guitar with a note added one octave below, it often sounds like only the lower note is playing. You essentially lose the original note, although it does modify the timbre. With a two-octave shift, it sounds like two separate notes. This can be changed by the amount of distortion.