Re: question about overtones

[Luis Gustavo Martins <lmartins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Tom,

The relative amplitude of the overtones (i.e. harmonics) of a speech or a
musical instrument sound is mainly defined by the resonant frequencies of
the vocal tract (for the speech case) or by the musical instrument
construction parameters (size, shape, materials, etc). This has an impact on
the perceived timbre of a sound. 

These spectral resonances (also known as the peaks on the sound's spectral
envelope) are known as formants, and they have an important influence on the
timbre and "quality" of the sound (e.g. The first two formants of a speech
signal have a big impact on the production of the different vowels, while
higher order formats determine the register or the timbre quality of the
voice).

Hope it helps,

Cheers,

Gustavo

---------------------------------------
Luis Gustavo Martins
lmartins@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.inescporto.pt/~lmartins
INESC Porto
Portugal
www.inescporto.pt 
---------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: AUDITORY Research in Auditory Perception
> [mailto:AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Lee
> Sent: quinta-feira, 17 de Novembro de 2005 0:59
> To: AUDITORY@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [AUDITORY] question about overtones
> 
> Dear list,
> 
> Does anyone have information about the amplitude
> relation between a tone and its overtones? What I mean
> is, if I have some frequency and I want to generate
> its natural overtone series, how loud do I make the
> overtones in relation to the fundamental? Thanks in advance!
> 
> -Tom
> 
> Live by the foam sword; die by the foam sword!
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> 
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> 
> 
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