http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=1162111


in reply to comparing two sound files - percent similiar

I would recommend saving those two snippets and loading them up side by side in a program such as Audacity.

They'll be similar looking from a distance, but then so will everything with about the same length.

Zoom in close, and you'll be able to see the signal going up and down. And the two waves will look nothing at all like each other. Exact phase, frequency and speed all make for a completely chaotic system almost instantly.

I would suggest looking into Fourier transforms to start, but this is an ocean of possibilities you're jumping into; if you're really interested and dive deep, it could keep you busy for decades.