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From: ccc_ldo@waikato.ac.nz (Lawrence D'Oliveiro, Waikato University)
Newsgroups: comp.music
Subject: Re: missing fundamentals
Message-ID: <1172.26bf0526@waikato.ac.nz>
Date: 7 Aug 90 06:15:02 GMT
References: <10133@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
Lines: 22

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