Psychoacoustics: a branch of science dealing with hearing,
the sensations produced by sounds.
A basic distinction must be made between the perceptual attributes
of a sound and measurable physical quantities:
Physical Quantity
Perceptual Quality
Intensity
Loudness
Fundamental Frequency
Pitch
Spectral Shape
Timbre
Onset/Offset Time
Timing
Phase Difference (Binaural Hearing)
Location
Many physical quantities are perceived on a logarithmic scale
(e.g. loudness). Our perception is often a nonlinear function
of the absolute value of the physical quantity being measured
(e.g. equal loudness).
Timbre can be used to describe why musical instruments sound
different.