This is actually question my daughter posed and I’m pretty stumped. She asked how, if two people with (let’s say) perfect pitch sing a song, how is it possible that we can still tell who is singing when the notes would be identical?
Note: I know absolutely nothing about music, but figured this was the best place to ask for her.
Edit: Wow, many of these answers are incredible! I had no idea this would receive such in depth and thoughtful feedback. I have learned a huge amount. I was not exaggerating above when I said I know nothing about music (I don’t even know what pitch is – just quoted my daughter on that) and I’m grateful to those of you who took the time to help me learn.
In: Biology
Oh cool something I know a little about from my past in audio recording.
The top answer is totally right. But interesting thing that happens when you’re recording vocals or any other instrument for that matter. You can duplicate tracks so you have two sound files playing the exact same pitch and timbre. Everything is exactly the same. To the listener, all it will sound like is as if the original track got louder. But take the exact same singer or instrument and record a brand new take playing the same thing, the minute differences, even from the exact same instrument/player/singer is enough to give the listener the perception of layers rather than just being louder.
Also fun fact, if you simply move the second duplicate track off by milliseconds, it doesn’t give it the same “layered” sound of a new take, but instead creates the “chime-y” like sound effect called “chorus” (or swirly sound called “phaser”/“flange” depending on the amount of milliseconds delay).
TL; DR – In theory, if two voices could be so identical in timing, pitch, timbre, and everything, you definitely couldn’t tell them apart. But only computers or recordings can be so precise. So anything performed by humans, there are so many small imperfections in performance that your brain can tell the difference.
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