Audio Common Fate

Isolating a sound source involves grouping harmonics or partials making up the sound.

Since harmonics/partials tend to move together, in both frequency and amplitude, grouping, and isolation, is done by the principle of common fate.

Examples of auditory common fate include:

• common onset time;
• common amplitude and frequency modulation: partials tend to move in ensemble, in both amplitude and frequency;

Examples:

• isolating the voice of a speaker;
• isolating a solo instrument in an ensemble.