Klarinet Archive - Posting 000231.txt from 2001/02

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] Organs and combination tones
Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2001 17:55:01 -0500

On Wed, 7 Feb 2001 14:24:32 -0800 (PST), Bilwright@-----.net said:

> ....anyway, the confusion between 'difference tone' and 'interference'
> is this: When two waves add (or subtract), they are merely combining
> their amplitudes to create larger and smaller amplitudes as they drift
> 'into phase' and then 'out of phase'. They are not creating a new
> frequency component. They are only reinforcing or cancelling
> existing peaks and valleys.
>
> When we hear the rise and fall of amplitude (fluctuating loudness), we
> say that we hear a 'beat'; but this is only a change in volume or
> loudness, not a new frequency component. So long as the two
> frequencies are close enough together, we don't believe that we hear a
> new frequency, only a rising and falling volume. And when the
> frequencies *do* get far enough apart, then we begin to hear separate
> notes (perhaps in harmony or discord) and the sensation of 'beat'
> begins to fade.
>
> What does this have to do with the reading on a tuner? Not much
> except that unless some part of the tuner responds in the same way as
> the ear does, then something else besides 'difference tone' is
> happening that accounts for the discrepancies that someone asked about
> in the beginning of this thread.

I think that's very clearly said.

I don't know enough about how tuners work to comment on the phenomenon
that started the thread.

But I'll (mildly) try to find out.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN artist: http://www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... Every little BYTE helps

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