Klarinet Archive - Posting 000164.txt from 2002/11

From: b5w@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: RE: [kl] Tuners
Date: Sun, 3 Nov 2002 14:58:06 -0500

<><> Karl=A0Krelove rote:
I have the Benade and didn't see the kind of overtone distribution
graphs Pyne shows.

It's true that Benade has only diagrams (line drawings), not photos of
actual graphs. But if you read the text that accompanies the
diagrams, he makes the various points that you are discussing.

I once discussed with Mr. Pyne how much money would be required to
duplicate his graphs (hardware + software) because I wanted to try it
myself. At the time, his answer was "upwards of $10,000". I'm sure
the number has gone up by now, and I suspect there may be hidden costs
that he didn't figure into his estimate.

In the final analysis, there's just too much information in an accurate
spectral graph to analyze.

One 'bucket of cold water' that Mr. Pyne dumped on me was his own
uncertainty that modern electronics can synthesize all of the detailed
information that contributes to human perception of music in the first
place. Therefore, if you attempt to devise a repeatable experiment in
order to prove something about pitch or 'sound character' perception ---
and since humans never play exactly the same way twice, electroncs seems
to be the next best way --- the experiment wouldn't begin with relevant
data in the first place!

I've posted several times that experiments should start out much
simpler, such as a 'tube wrapped with lead tape' experiment, rather than
starting with a full scale musical performance.

Cheers,
Bill

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