Frequencies and the human response (brain fart?)

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Typo Szar
Member Since: Jul 04, 2002

I was just thinking as i sit here bored by my 9 to 5. I'm sure studies have been made that show some link to certain sounds and frequencies that have emotional reactions in humans, why do brite tones make us happy? Low tones soothe us? Anyhow, i dont know the science of it, but do you think when mixing down, one should consider these ideas along with the "sound" they want, try to envoke the songs emotion purely in its spectral niche. I was listening "Someone to call my lover" from Janet Jackson, and i realized that song is REALLY in the highs, the guitar riff they have is way up there in the k's. That song makes me feel happy, it sounds like a summers day seriously. Most people probably ending eqing in the frequences their song needs just because thats the sound that goes right with it, but wouldn't it be cool if we could take a more concious step to that?
Maybe pro eng's do this already what do i know haha

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 15, 2006 09:32 pm

I have used that kind of formula when doing sound track and ambient stuff. Especially when doing ambient music that will be used for say elevator music and background music in a store or the like.

And yes, there is some kind of data on the human response to certain timbre's when used correctly.

Typo Szar
Member
Since: Jul 04, 2002


Aug 15, 2006 09:44 pm

Makes me wonder if it possible to take it to somekind of sci fi extreme... black metal that makes you feel giddy? Pop ballads that make you angry (insert obvious joke here)?
I know ofcourse the human response is comprised of thousands of variables adn factors and probably cant be influenced by just the frequency of a sound, but wouldn't it be weird if we that were possible on some level.
I think i heard stories before, of ofice buildings having the hum of air conditioners hit that perfect spot where it just makes people completely aggrivated without them even knowing why.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Aug 15, 2006 11:47 pm

using sympathetic vibrations (ie having a an instrument tuned 5hz off from everything else) could be used to make an upbeat song put people to sleep...

all the reasearch I looked at seems chords determine emotion but power chords can only determine energy (ie awake or asleep)

... just don't call me out to cite any of that research because it's 1am and am so tired I'm probably making it up. :)

Member
Since: Nov 23, 2005


Aug 16, 2006 12:24 am

I have mad respect for people who can put out a mix that rides alot in the high end without being annoying. Its a real art cause then while injecting bass and low mids, just very sublte amounts below 500Hz can totally sway the vibe and stir emotional progression in the listener. A great example of that was Beck's last album Guero. The Dust Brothers came back to produce that one and it was truely mixed with great "emotional detail." Check it out, it always puts me in a pretty mellow, yet relaxed and cheery mood.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Aug 16, 2006 05:45 am

That theory is one of the basic thoughts in certain branches of metaphysics. Everything in the universe is vibrating, by vibrating at the same speed as something else you can "connect" with it so to speak. So in music, if you can find the vibrations which trigger giddyness and get the air to vibrate in that frequency or whatever, it could be seen as possible..

it's also 6am almost and I haven't been to sleep yet lol.

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Aug 16, 2006 12:12 pm

Minor keys are moody and there's loads of good songs using them,but if you do too many minor key songs live, by the end of the night half the audience has gone and the other half has hung themselves.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Aug 16, 2006 12:33 pm

D minor is the saddest of all keys...

just listen to "lick my love pump"

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Aug 16, 2006 12:34 pm

ROFLMAO

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Aug 16, 2006 02:21 pm

Or that sad song in Em "I love you so much I can't poo anymore".

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Aug 16, 2006 03:16 pm

funny you should mention, but there's talk about the 'brown' note, or, the freq that will make someone 'poo' themselves.

Originally, I was looking for the freq that is most 'joyful' to women, if you know what I mean, but couldn't find it. I found the brown note instead =/.

Anyway, i saw it somewhere that 35 or 40 hz (something like that) is the magic freq for women, whilst 15hz was the brown note.

They said you can't really tell on the brown note, because speakers can't go that low.

Oh well, probably not worth trying, even if it did work =).

now, the other freq . . . where's that subwoofer?

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 16, 2006 06:27 pm

With the proper system these can go pretty low.
www.magnepan.com/_mg201.php
It still wouldn't be audible, but you will sure feel it. I used to own a pair of these when they were still in the early days. It used to be cool to play Deep Purple Made in Japan and let Jon Lords organ ripple the hair on ones arms with the bass response these things have. More like the air they move I should say.

And indeed I have read somewhere about the brown note as well. I'll try to locate it when I have time.

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Aug 17, 2006 10:17 am

I had a pair of the small maggies, before the house fire. Mag has the best, most accurate image I've ever heard in speakers.

My uncle had a pair of the timpanys, wow, what a sonic stage that was. They took crazy amounts of power, and converted it to 'WOW' factor.

Awesome speakers. The missus is still interested in replacing the small set. I see magnepan is selling the small set again. I'm sure it's worth the 550 for a pair.

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Aug 17, 2006 11:42 am

The brown spot should be banned at festivals.The spot joyful to women is G.Make sure you dont mix them up.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Aug 17, 2006 12:21 pm

Quote: It used to be cool to play Deep Purple Made in Japan and let Jon Lords organ ripple the hair on ones arms with the bass response these things have.


It's always cool to listen to Deep Purple's Made in Japan. It should be mandatory!

I was watching "Mythbusters" the other week. They did a thing on the "brown note" and considered it a myth. However, I wasn't truly impressed by their speakers. Lots of 12" by the look of it. Possibly 15". Also, the 'guinea pig' was standing right next to the speakers. If a low E on a bass has a 28' wavelength (ever been at a gig next to the amp and thought, "oh better turn up a bit" only to find you've pinned the bartender to the wall...? No...Nevermind...), I'd have thought the 'brown note' would be much longer. Had the tester been set up at a proper distance from some 18" subs it might have worked.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Aug 17, 2006 12:42 pm

well I guess I should add that when I was installing the subs and processors in my church PA systems the subs started feeding back... the feedback was loud enough that I could hear the glass rattling in the windows...and the tapestry we had up at the time was flapping like someone was shaking dust off of it... and with the subs at $1K each ...with all the damage I thought I was causing yeah I about **** myself... :)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Aug 17, 2006 01:00 pm

Man, that's gotta be some kind of church !

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Aug 17, 2006 01:19 pm

Quote:
Man, that's gotta be some kind of church


Now you swap the organ for John Lord's hammond......kick in the subs....

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 17, 2006 09:01 pm

In my old junior high if you couldn't whistle the entire tune Lazy you were thought to not be cool. Then they upped the ante with the version on Made in Japan.

speaking of Myth Busters, did anyone see the giant sub they had on last night? They had some big old 4 door sedan and built a diesal powered sub woofer of some 54 inches I believe it was. They were trying to break the windows as some have stated can be done. All it did was blow out the sun roof, no glass. But it did reach a dB level of something like 180 at 16 Hz. Which apparantly no one had ever done before, so they set some kind of record.

And yes, I did say Diesal powered sub woofer. Its episode 58 if anybody is going to try and see if it is going to replay. Discovery Channel of course.

Member
Since: Nov 23, 2005


Aug 17, 2006 09:56 pm

I saw the beginning of that when they were welding the aluminum speaker plates together ! And basically the crank of the diesal motor was directly attatched to the unit. No supprise they were able with gas engines. I bet it would damn near kill a person in there though !

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 17, 2006 09:59 pm

OH ya, at that sound pressure level it would blow out your ear drums in an instant.

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002


Aug 18, 2006 01:01 am

yeah I saw that one. I love that show

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 18, 2006 05:53 pm

Ya for me not being a heavy TV watcher I rely on the kids to tell me if something good is on. The boyz turned me onto the show and I try and catch it when I can now. Usually the late repeat.

Member
Since: Aug 18, 2006


Aug 18, 2006 08:58 pm

as to the brown note they "debugged it" but my original source says thet didnt go low enough rumored to be 5hz... someone mentioned only 12" speakers... in a properly designed cab 12" will go as low as18" ev at one time made a 30" woofer... the 15-18 just move more air(louder) for any given power... infact i've heard good 4" subbs but boy they were'nt loud...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Aug 18, 2006 10:52 pm

I'll believe in the brown note when I experience it myself.

I'm surprised that they haven't revisited the brown note myth on Mythbusters. They've gone back and redone experiments on certain segments where fans have found flaws in their methods or proof of the myth themselves.

I like that show. I come for the science, but I stay for Kari Byron:





(video is work safe but maybe not work "proper")

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Aug 19, 2006 01:42 pm

Very correct Tad. Kari Byron is maybe the best part of the show. She has that naughty but nice thing going. Kind of the wholesome girl next door look.

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Aug 19, 2006 08:51 pm

Here's an interesting article on infrasound:

www.borderlands.com/archives/arch/gavreaus.htm

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Aug 20, 2006 04:59 am

A long article but very interesting,mmmmm.

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