Karl, 

A long answer to your first question...

> 1) highest partial anyone has used or seen used

Consider a pitch class, say A, and a sample rate, say 44.1kHz, and a 
mic w/ a response up to 22.05kHz.

If the A4 is played on a piano its cps value is 440Hz.  If you 
record this note you will find you can capture energy at the 50th 
harmonic.

Multiply 440Hz by 50 and you get 22kHz.  Harmonics 51 (22.44kHz) and 
above will not be picked up by the mic, and would be filtered out on 
the A/D conversion anyway.  (Frequencies above sr/2 can't be 
represented w/ digital.)  

Play A2 instead.  It's cps val is 110Hz.  The mic and A/D will be 
able to capture harmonic 200 this time.  (200*110Hz = 22kHz)

Play A1 w/ cps of 55Hz.  This time you can get 400*55Hz = 22kHz.

If you go to higher notes, you find that you get less harmonics 
represented in the audio chain.

Try A5 at 880Hz.  You'll find you get only 25 harmonics (25*880Hz = 
22kHz).

So for a short answer to your question, the lower the fundamental of 
your pitch is, the more number of harmonics you get.  The higher the 
pitch gives less harmonics.  Easy, huh??



Joseph L Anderson

Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Music Department
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
BIRMINGHAM, B17 0NY
England

phn:+44 121 414 5781
fax:+44 121 414 5781



Joseph L Anderson

Barber Institute of Fine Arts
Music Department
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
BIRMINGHAM, B17 0NY
England

phn:+44 121 414 5781
fax:+44 121 414 5781