Eli5: How is it that our voices are distinct enough to be captured by a recording instrument and replayed accurately

Question

For example, say 100 people each read / sang an identical passage into a recorder. It seems as though the frequency, amplitude etc that is captured wouldn’t anywhere near specific/precise enough the be accurately represented when played back. I.e what variables are at play that allow us to easily discern the 100 distinct voices when replayed? Thanks!

In: 5

Answer 1

Recording and playing back sounds accurately isn’t the amazing part of this by a long shot. The human ear and the brains ability to process sounds are pretty impressive. I believe I read somewhere that an average human outperforms the best computers and algorithms in being able to distinguish / separate sounds mixed together – examples being hearing a single speaker in a crowded environment and individual instruments in an orchestra. Unexplainably so, and exceeding theoretical limits.