Acoustics and Psychoacoustics, 5th Edition

Chapter 5

Hearing Timbre and Deceiving the Ear

Chapter Contents

• 5.1  What Is Timbre?
• 5.2  Acoustics of Timbre
  • 5.2.1  Note Envelope
  • 5.2.2  Note Onset
  • 5.2.3  Steady State
• 5.3  Psychoacoustics of Timbre
  • 5.3.1  Critical Bands and Timbre
  • 5.3.2  Acoustic Cues and Timbre Perception
• 5.4  The Pipe Organ as a Timbral Synthesizer
• 5.5  Deceiving the Ear
  • 5.5.1  Perception of Pure Tones
  • 5.5.2  Masking of One Sound by Another
  • 5.5.3  Note Grouping Illusions
  • 5.5.4  Pitch Illusions
  • 5.5.5  Assorted Auditory Illusions
• References

5.1 What Is Timbre?

Pitch and loudness are two of three important descriptors of musical sounds commonly used by musicians, the other being “timbre.” Pitch relates to issues such as notes on a score, key, melody, harmony, tuning ...