Rhythmic Stability Evaluation

Perceptual Test Instructions: Rhythmic Stability

Hi! Thank you for your interest in participating in this perceptual study. 👂🧠
This research investigates rhythmic stability within a multi-meter context. 🥁

What is this about?  🥁

In this perceptual experiment, you will listen to a series of short audio examples containing pairs of rhythmic patterns played simultaneously.

We will ask you to rate how rhythmically stable each example feels.

A rhythm feels more stable when its timing relationships support each other and hold together as a single whole.

You will be using a 7‑point scale, ranging from very unstable (1) to very stable (7).

When listening to multiple rhythmic layers together, stability depends on how their timing fits:

• Very Unstable: The layers do not support each other well. The timing can feel less settled, or as if the layers work against each other.

Unstable example: 

• Neutral Stability: The layers complement. The rhythm does not simply line up, but the timings still support each other in a balanced way. The result feels coherent and often groovy, though less settled than very stable rhythms.

• Very Stable: The layers strongly reinforce each other. The rhythm feels grounded, clear, and settled, as if everything fits together naturally.

Stable example: 

• Intermediate numbers on the scale reflect degrees between these descriptions.

What you will hear? 👂

You will listen to three main groups of rhythms (question), where each group contains five short audio examples (subquestions).

Within each group, the examples share the same underlying timing structure (one of the rhythmic patterns stays the same across examples).

Each example lasts about 8 seconds.

The sounds are produced using woodblock and clavas only, and there is no melody or harmony — please focus only on the timing relationships.

How to respond? ✍️

For each example:

• Rate how stable the combined rhythm feels.
• Do not base your response on whether you like the sound.
• Do not judge the rhythm as simple or complex.
• Focus only on how well the timing of the layers holds together.

Listening conditions (important) 🎧

Please listen using high‑quality headphones or good speakers, in a quiet environment.

Clear sound reproduction is important for accurately judging timing relationships.

Thank you for your careful listening and evaluations.