This article is not to undermine anyone’s knowledge but merely to share little information on how to control sound transmitted to your ears. Music is universal but understood differently.
This article was compiled by my good friend Thanda Kunene, a sound enthusiast, Graphic Designer, Art Collector, Fashion Designer, Photographer, DJ and a cross-over Arts kinda dude:
* What is a sound? How often if never, do you ask yourself this question? Simple. A sound is simply the resonance made by a vibration of an object or matter. Strangely enough that music is produced to the ear by millions of these fast paced vibrations.
Basically, a Hertz is the measurement of exactly one vibration per second. Human beings have on average the hearing range that begins from as low as 20 Hertz (Bass frequncies) up to a higher range of 20 000 Hz (Measurement unit of Hertz).
– Our ears are developed to differentiate sounds within these various frequencies. The variation also between the difference of analogue and digital sounds.
– Since the ear easily feeds off vibrations onto the rest of the body, it becomes easier to relate to analogue sound due its smooth sound waves and warmer resonance also bringing a similar effect on one’s body whilst listening to it.
– For example, listening to a recording of birds chirping can never be richer than listening to birds chirping in real time since they possess a more natural feel to their sound.
– Now digital sound on the other hand has the capabilities of malleability (Easily adjustable, flexibility with modern post production and lower sizing). There are endless ways of adjusting and playing with a digital sound but the warmth is lost when compared to analogue sound due to the recordings having a digital audio wave which is shaped like a “Zig-zag” as opposed to the smooth Sine wave of an analogue sound. Compare this to a photo taken on film and another recorded on a hard drive/memory card.
– Execution. One important word when it comes any product finishing/packaging, the most important factor as well in the audio/sound design world.
Hearing a sound that is well-made yet it holds no worth of being listen-worthy can break a masterpiece into a shamble.
– This can be always fixed in more than one ways but mainly it has to come from within the producer/beatmaker/enthusiast first to be curious and willing to teach him/herself to be alert and master the variations of sound frequencies and gaining knowledge of the equipment and material being used.
The most basic steps one can work on are as follows:
* Listening to all types of genres of music in order to understand the styles of music from all around the world and their origins.
* Broadening the use of the equalizer (EQ) when playing back various sounds.
* Becoming familiar with terms used in mastering/mixing down music in both analogue and digital formats (Since most formats are now digital).
* Attending live music peformances of various genres.
* Listening to attentive styles of music such as Classical or Jazz in order to undestand intervals, tempos, harmonies and relating your ear to a metronomy.
* Listening and taking notes from other sound engineers and sound designers whilst creating your own style.
* Listening to music everytime you get a chance to.
* Producing music is not enough, just as much as building a house needs furniture to make it a solid house, producing also requires solid mastering and mixing to make it a full product .
In conclusion:
I wish all the future music makers a bright and inquisitive future in the ever-changing audio industry.
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