Physically equal spacing only yields subjectively uniform rhythm for steep-envelope bursts

Evidence

It is frequently assumed that sound bursts of equal temporal spacing elicit the sensation of a subjectively uniform rhythm. However, this simple rule holds only for very short sound bursts with steep temporal envelopes. Sound bursts with a more gradual rise in the temporal envelope often require systematic deviations from physically uniform temporal spacing, in order to produce a subjectively uniform rhythm. — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 1497

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes physical uniform spacing from subjectively uniform rhythm, a key conceptual distinction in psychoacoustics of time perception.