sharke
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Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
Sometimes when listening to someone talk in quiet conditions (i.e. no background noise - particularly on headphones), I can hear and follow what sounds like harmonic overtones in the voice. In other words, I can hear harmonics which sound like they're related to the fundamental. If I concentrate on them the voice starts to take on this sort of metallic, almost phasey quality. I used to notice this really strongly when I was a small kid, in fact I have very vivid memories of noticing those overtones when listening to people speak on TV at about age 3. Of course I had no idea what they were. Perhaps I just ended up filtering them out as I got older, but recently, perhaps because of the extra attention I've been paying to sound since getting into audio production, I've begun to hear them again. Especially when I'm watching a tutorial video with headphones on. Is it that everyone can hear them but doesn't pay any attention to them, or am I just weird? 
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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jamesg1213
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 02:00:19
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Can't say I've noticed that myself, but isn't there a singing technique that uses harmonic overtones?
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sharke
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 02:06:54
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Yes overtone singing, it almost sounds a little like that but obviously not as strong.
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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slartabartfast
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 04:26:41
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craigb
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 04:54:46
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Try this on for size! I swear she sounds like a Theremin...
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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BobF
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 05:13:37
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Anna is hot ...
James are you sure you're not experiencing some sort of aural flashback?
Bob -- Angels are crying because truth has died ...Illegitimi non carborundum --Studio One Pro / i7-6700@3.80GHZ, 32GB Win 10 Pro x64 Roland FA06, LX61+, Fishman Tripleplay, FaderPort, US-16x08 + ARC2.5/Event PS8s Waves Gold/IKM Max/Nomad Factory IS3/K11U
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Guitarhacker
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 08:45:26
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My dog says she can hear that kind of stuff.
My website & music: www.herbhartley.com MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface BMI/NSAI "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer "
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codamedia
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 09:54:28
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sharke
Sometimes when listening to someone talk in quiet conditions (i.e. no background noise - particularly on headphones), I can hear and follow what sounds like harmonic overtones in the voice. In other words, I can hear harmonics which sound like they're related to the fundamental....
Is it that everyone can hear them but doesn't pay any attention to them, or am I just weird?
Yes - there are overtones... most people just don't pay attention to it - it's just what a voice sounds like to them. I've always heard this... yet people look at me like I have a third eye when I mention it. Some people can hear the nuance... some people just know it as "that's a pleasant voice", or "that's an annoying voice"... they don't know (or care) why.
Don't fix it in the mix ... Fix it in the take!
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yorolpal
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 09:55:33
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Tuvan throat singing. Quite mesmerizing.
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sharke
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 10:57:11
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I think some voices have it more than others for sure. The best way to describe the phasey sound I hear is to say that it's a little like Frank Zappa's voice of The Central Scrutinizer on the Joe's Garage album. Obviously not as strong as that, but like a little of that effect blended in. It's almost like this ghostly voice I hear on top of the normal voice.
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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eph221
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 11:45:55
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It'd be cool to hear every one talk like David Lee Roth when he's singing.
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jamesg1213
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 11:53:31
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eph221
It'd be cool to hear every one talk like David Lee Roth when he's singing.
I'd rather hear everyone sing like Joe Pasquale talks.
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sharke
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:12:56
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Nik Kershaw has some strong harmonics and is probably a lot to do with why his voice cuts through a mix so well. I can hear them very clearly in this acoustic rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Good."
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eph221
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:30:42
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I always liked that song. Are you sure it's not through some kind of harmonizer?! I see what you mean.
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sharke
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:37:51
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No I think he just has very overtoney vocal chords 
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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craigb
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:44:09
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Wow, Codamedia has a third eye? Cool.
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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eph221
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:44:59
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Is it possible to eq a vocal so that the overtone series is emphasized?
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eph221
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:45:59
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craigb
Wow, Codamedia has a third eye? Cool.
I always listen with muy third ear. :D:D
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craigb
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 12:54:29
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eph221
Is it possible to eq a vocal so that the overtone series is emphasized?
I would think a high-pass above the fundamental would accomplish this, no? Or a lowering of the fundamental and rising the overtones...
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
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sharke
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 13:41:03
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I should think you can do all sorts of funky overtone enhancing with the latest version of Melodyne Studio.
JamesWindows 10, Sonar SPlat (64-bit), Intel i7-4930K, 32GB RAM, RME Babyface, AKAI MPK Mini, Roland A-800 Pro, Focusrite VRM Box, Komplete 10 Ultimate, 2012 American Telecaster!
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eph221
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 13:57:33
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sharke
No I think he just has very overtoney vocal chords
My cat has overtoney vocal chords as well. She kind of squeaks like mariah scary.
post edited by eph221 - 2016/03/12 14:21:35
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Rimshot
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Re: Is it normal to hear individual harmonics in people's voices?
2016/03/12 14:37:36
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