If you play a bunch of sine waves in ratios 1:2:3:4:5, it will sound to you like a single note. That perceptual fusion cannot be based on aligning overtones, because sine waves don’t have overtones.
The way I would explain this, is that when hearing real sounds it is very common that you hear a frequency and it’s harmonics. Almost all the time, if you hear 1:2:3:4:5 etc that is because a single note just sounded. So, if you hear a bunch of sine waves in that ratio (ex: a determined a group of people whistling) it sounds like one note.
The way I would explain this, is that when hearing real sounds it is very common that you hear a frequency and it’s harmonics. Almost all the time, if you hear 1:2:3:4:5 etc that is because a single note just sounded. So, if you hear a bunch of sine waves in that ratio (ex: a determined a group of people whistling) it sounds like one note.