Timbre depends on staggered harmonic entry times and spectral extent

Evidence

The staggered times of entry of the higher harmonics form part of the acoustic timbral characteristic of that particular stop, the trompette having all harmonics present up to the 4 kHz upper frequency bound of the plot, the hautbois having all harmon­ ics up to about 2.5 kHz, and the regal exhibiting little or no evidence (at this amplitude setting of the plot) of the fourth or eighth harmonics. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1475

Categorization

• XREF: Supports the earlier chapter’s core claim that onset transients, not steady-state spectra, carry much of timbre identity — here shown concretely with organ stops.