![]() ![]() While there is some efficiency in characterizing such sources in terms of their overtones, it is always possible to characterize a periodic waveform in terms of harmonics - such an analysis is called Fourier analysis. Some musical sound sources have overtones which are not harmonics of the fundamental. For sustained tones, the most important of these is the harmonic content, the number and relative intensity of the upper harmonics present in the sound. ![]() The primary contributers to the quality or timbre of the sound of a musical instrument are harmonic content, attack and decay, and vibrato. ![]() It is suggested that it takes about a 4 dB change in mid or high harmonics to be perceived as a change in timbre, whereas about 10 dB of change in one of the lower harmonics is required. Some investigators report that it takes a duration of about 60 ms to recognize the timbre of a tone, and that any tone shorter than about 4 ms is perceived as an atonal click. Timbre is mainly determined by the harmonic content of a sound and the dynamic characteristics of the sound such as vibrato and the attack-decay envelope of the sound. Timbre is then a general term for the distinguishable characteristics of a tone. ![]() Sound "quality" or "timbre" describes those characteristics of sound which allow the ear to distinguish sounds which have the same pitch and loudness. Sounds may be generally characterized by pitch, loudness, and quality. ![]()
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