Timbre perception can be analyzed through component-to-component masking interactions

Evidence

The masking effect of individual components in musical sounds, which are complex with many spectral components, can be determined in terms of the masking effect of individual components on other components in the sound. — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1645

Categorization

• DEFINE: Frames a method: decompose complex musical timbres into individual masking interactions between spectral partials.
• XREF: connects to: Masked spectral components do not contribute to perceived timbre — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1645; Instrument timbre differences stem from harmonic spectra that shape masking breadth — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 449; Spectral variations inside one critical band alter perceived timbre — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 962 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Instrument timbre differences stem from harmonic spectra that shape masking breadth #expands (0.85) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 449
• Spectral variations inside one critical band alter perceived timbre #expands (0.82) — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 962
• Masked sound components are perceptually ignored within complex sounds #expands (0.80)
• Perceptual coders exploit masking to cut audio storage and bandwidth #exemplifies (0.78) — David Howard, Jamie Angus, coustics and Psychoacoustics, 1656
• Tonal maskers create distinct audible regions beyond simple masking #complicates (0.72) — Professor Dr.-Ing. Hugo Fastl, Professor Dr.-Ing. Eberhard, Psychoacoustics- Facts and Models, 434