Why Filtering Out Higher Harmonics Makes It Easier to Carry a Tune

Authors

Griselda Acosta, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Eric Freudenthal, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Eric Smith, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow
Vladik Kreinovich, The University of Texas at El PasoFollow

Publication Date

8-2019

Comments

Technical Report: UTEP-CS-19-83

Abstract

A recent patent shows that filtering out higher harmonics helps people sing in-tune. In this paper, we use the general signal processing ideas to explain this empirical phenomenon. We also show that filtering out higher harmonics is the optimal way of increasing the signal-to-noise ratio -- and thus, of making it easier for people to recognize when they are signing out of tune.