Posted by Mark in Ohio on May 09, 2001 at 11:56:42:
In Reply to: Bass vs. Tonal color posted by Matt G on May 09, 2001 at 09:41:10:
They're goin for the color.
Especially the movie soundtrack composers; as you've pointed out, synths have provided all the fundamental anyone could want for quite some time now. One could also digitally create a fat fundamental from a dry studio-mic'ed tuba track. I like that idea better!
The human ear/brain really DOES fill in the missing fundamental, however, if the intervals between overtones (or between players in an ensemble) are all in exactly the right relationship in terms of pitch, balance, etc. In an ensemble setting, however, this is rarely achieved to the degree required for the psycho-acoustic event to truly occur. (Believe it or not, it's the choice "impurities" in overtones that give top players their signature sounds.)
The true effect is best experienced w/ a couple sine wave generators that don't have to breathe, listen, or discuss who gets to play the bottom note :) Set'em at 110 & 165 hz & adjust levels 'till you hear it (you'll hear a tone (AT) 55 hz), even with mini-speakers that can't put out (AT) 55Hz!. Try again w/ 165 & 220 hz.
The rest of the time, in real playing, we just get the gist of the effect, but still don't really percieve a fundamental.
Mark "Love 'em for color & no synth can do that yet" Mazak