The micro time scale spans from ~200 microseconds to ~100ms

The micro time scale is defined as the region from the threshold of timbre perception (approximately 200 microseconds, or several hundred microseconds at the practical limit) up to the duration of short sound objects (about 100 ms). This is the territory of transient audio phenomena and granular synthesis. Below the micro scale lies the sample time scale (individual samples), above it lies the sound object scale (notes and gestures). Grains typically occupy durations from 1 ms to 100 ms, placing them squarely within the micro time scale. Operations here include grain envelope shaping, microfiltering, and waveset distortion.

Examples

1ms grain = micro scale. 50ms FOF particle = micro scale. 200ms note = sound object scale (just above micro). A single sample at 44100 Hz = 22.7 microseconds = sample time scale.

Assessment

Define the micro time scale in terms of its lower and upper bounds. Name two synthesis techniques that operate primarily within this time scale.