Subject: Re: Bates's question about claps From: Alexandra Hettergott <a.hettergott(at)wanadoo.fr> Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 22:23:28 +0200Eckard Blumschein replied : >Asynchronous clapping is a noise >that largely lacks spectral features. [...] >Don't believe that quality of clapping cannot be judged. [...] >whicker, whimper, whine, whirr, whisp, whist, whistle, whizz ... Excuse me, this is but a contradiction : to what, in your opinion, (the impression of) 'quality' is due, if not to spectral features, in addition to temporal ones ...? John K. Bates wrote : >there seems to be a certain level at which our auditory systems >decide that the number of clappers (or voices or raindrops) >becomes a single applauding crowd... Well, as for (assuming a) 'group response' -- the temporally organized noise of (multiple, simultaneous) single clapping merged into that of a group (as a whole ...) -- one should perhaps differentiate as to the (variable) nature of the problem : so clapping / applause might be temporally highly non-correlated yet more homogeneous in its spectral composition as compared to a crowd of (individual) speakers, where, depending on acoustic circumstances / surrounding, and with the potential aid of (visual) localization, a (partial) segregation might yet be possible (cocktail party), which again might apply also to a (given) orchestra (potentially) showing higher synchronicity / homogeneity within, while being less synchronous / heterogeneous between single instrumental groups ... :ah