Listener detection of segmentation in computer-generated sound : an exploratory experimental study

The controlled manipulation of digitally generated sound in computer music affords new opportunities to investigate the cognitive accessibility of musical features additional to pitch and rhythm. Experiments investigated listeners' detection of segments in computer-generated material, ranging from obvious (Experiment 1) to more subtle and undetectable segmentation (Experiment 2). Experiment 3 compared segment detection using headphones to using loudspeakers. Results indicate that listeners not selected for musical expertise can detect segmentation efficiently, but complex individual algorithmically generated segments were interpreted as comprising multiple segments. In addition, an increase in sonic texture was better detected than a decrease of the same magnitude.