AES Show 2024 NY

Fourier theory is quite ubiquitous in modern audio signal processing. However, this framework is often at odds with our intuitions behind audio signals. Strictly speaking, Fourier theory is ideal to analyze periodic behaviors but when periodicities change across time it is easy to misinterpret its results. Of course, we have developed strategies around it like the Short Time Fourier Transform, yet again many times our interpretations of it falls beyond what the theory really says. This paper pushes the exact theoretical description showing examples where our interpretation of the data is incorrect. Furthermore, it shows specific instances where we incorrectly take decisions based on such paradoxical framework.