Comments on: The Shepard Scale Auditory Illusion

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:36:55 +0000

Huh. I still don’t understand how this works. I followed the seemingly ascending pitch with my voice (and yes, I am a classically trained singer), and the pitch did indeed go up on the musical scale as far as my vocal mimicking was concerned. I have a three and a half octave range, but eventually I couldn’t follow it anymore! So that, to me, is the really interesting question. If it’s not actually ascending, then why is it that a reproduction of that scale, and one which at least SEEMS to be accurate to the ear, definitely and unmistakably DOES ascend in pitch?

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:03:11 +0000

Neat trick.

By: Ollie

Ollie — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 11:37:54 +0000

doesn’t work for me? I can only suppose that’s a good thing!

By: JC

JC — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:47:28 +0000

Sorry, my head is already messed.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 05:27:17 +0000

Protect the peaches!

By: CheeseDuck

CheeseDuck — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 02:36:25 +0000

Ugh. I tried to make my mind expect the original tone, but it doesn’t work! Stupid mind >=(

By: Woogie

Woogie — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:49:17 +0000

That is amazing!

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:22:42 +0000

wow…thats does mess with your head

By: steve

steve — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:27:27 +0000

very cool also try the zooming b&w tunnel effect displayed in the u tube video screen it really meeses with the eyes.wow

By: sparge

sparge — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 21:53:24 +0000

You can get the a similar effect by watching an auger turn (or even simpler, a screw).