Sound Frequencies

I recently purchased Cakewalk Pro and would like to use it to create a “song” using a very specific set of frequencies and frequency ranges (i.e. 390-400 Hz, 420-430 Hz, and 550 Hz). I have been experimenting with WavePad and NCH tone generator but I’m afraid I’m a long ways away from creating something that anyone would want to listen to. Would it be possible to assign various frequencies (in Hz) to specific keys on the keyboard of the software synthesizer? The "song" using only these specific ranges of frequencies, should be continuous, engaging, soulful and inspiring. Similar to the scene when the aliens first land in Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Any DAW will record that - what you need is a synth to play it.  Off the top of my head I can't think of one that deals w/ frequencies - most deal w/ notes.  Sound Forge will let you produce sine waves (and maybe square) at specific frequencies, but I don't know if the cheap "Studio" version has that capabilites but the papa one does.

I'd look around KVR.com to see if someone has a "tone generator".

@

pure genius... why didn't I think of that? :-S

Thank you for your help. I should probably mention that this experiment is for a project to determine how specific sound frequencies and groups of sound frequencies affect human psychophysiologic functioning (i.e. reduce anxiety and provide other health benefits such as control over pain). Although the frequencies are in the mid-range, it is possible to introduce higher or lower ranges. For sound localization the human auditory system analyses interaural time differences between both ears inside small frequency ranges, called critical bands. For example, if a 900 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 350 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is entrained towards the beat frequency 550 Hz. Therefore, I’m hoping to use a variety of ranges and instruments to accomplish my goal.

Mastermind


Thank you for your help. I should probably mention that this experiment is for a project to determine how specific sound frequencies and groups of sound frequencies affect human psychophysiologic functioning (i.e. reduce anxiety and provide other health benefits such as control over pain). Although the frequencies are in the mid-range, it is possible to introduce higher or lower ranges. For sound localization the human auditory system analyses interaural time differences between both ears inside small frequency ranges, called critical bands. For example, if a 900 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 350 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is entrained towards the beat frequency 550 Hz. Therefore, I’m hoping to use a variety of ranges and instruments to accomplish my goal.

It seems like you just described music.

Can you post a mathematical proof for this statement:

"For example, if a 900 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 350 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is entrained towards the beat frequency 550 Hz."

So that we can better understand what you are investigating.

best regards,
mike

I was asking for a mathematical proof of how a 900hz tone and a 350hz tone resolve to a beating at 550hz?

Do you understand that what you just explained applies to any combination of two tones?

The implication of that being that you may find that many of the pleasing combinations have already been identified.

I'm curious to learn how 900hz and 350hz resolve to 550hz.


I have a friend who was selected 3 Tibetan singing bowls out of a collection of hundreds that he was able to choose from. He knows that the ones he selected are particularly ancient and imbued with spiritual magic.

He places the bowls on and around people in near proximity and sets up beating waves that he feels offer a sort of acoustic therapy.

I have analyzed his three special bowls on a spectrum analyzer... what I found is that he has discovered the G C F triad.

They do sound very nice together.

He can not even begin to fathom what the spectrum analyzer and I am trying to explain to him about the science behind his instinctive choice. It's magic.

Here is an example of his work... this done with another set of bowls:

http://www.harmoniccycle....nastary%20approach.mp3

I'm curious to learn how 900hz and 350hz resolve to 550hz.

Intermodulation. 900-350=550.
Actually, both the sum and the difference components are created (900+350=1250). So if two signals of 900 and 350 hz are added, two new beating frequency components appear at 550 and 1250 Hz.
 

Thanks Jose.

I see the article mentions a 10hz shift as sweet combo of paired tones.

It makes me think of BB King and his trilling hand.

if a 900 Hz sine wave is played into the right ear and a 350 Hz one into the left ear, the brain is entrained towards the beat frequency 550 Hz

Well, I wasn't going to ask but now you've got my curiosity sparked.

To answer Mike's question, 550 is simply the difference between 350 and 900. There will also be a sum frequency generated at 1250Hz. Of course, if the two tones are anything other than sine waves, there will also be many other frequencies generated representing the sums and differences of all the harmonics plus the resulting sum and difference frequencies of the other synthesized sums and differences. Mixing just two tones can result in a surprisingly large number of of beat frequencies - most of which are inharmonic and most of which are unpleasant!

Google the name Diana Deutsch if you want to hear some mind-blowing audio phenomena. She is an expert in psychoacoustics at the University of California San Diego. Here's an interesting list of some of the better-known audio illusions, including some of Deutsch's discoveries. Trippy stuff.

I'd be curious to know if there is any magic frequency or combination of frequencies or critical bands that can trigger instant nirvana in anyone who hears them. I suspect there is not. Our perception of sound is as uniquely individual as all of our other senses.

It would really suck if we found out that the frequency that lowers blood pressure is 18KHz, when I can only hear 16.

I'd be curious to know if there is any magic frequency or combination of frequencies or critical bands that can trigger instant nirvana in anyone who hears them. I suspect there is not. Our perception of sound is as uniquely individual as all of our other senses.

that would be the "lost chord"  - it exists, you just can't find it...






I'd better put a smiley in just so everyone knows I'm joking...

that would be the "lost chord" - it exists, you just can't find it...

Sure it exists. Zappa found it and named it Fish Minor. I'm sure I've hit it accidentally, but unfortunately it was during a live performance and wasn't recorded.

mike_mccue


pure genius... why didn't I think of that? :-S

Hi Mike


Nice chart, this might sound flipant but isn't meant to be(!) but the chart above, is that for equal temperament?


Andy

I came across this a couple of years ago..my uncle introduced me to it.One of the companies selling points was that by using binaural beats over an extended period the listener could 'program' his brain into differant states of consiousnous.What put me of was that they were saying that the listner could reach the same spiritual level (or calm or oneness baby whatever rocks your boat !!) as a monk in a matter of weeks - in other words no need for yoga,Taoism etc,just put your headphones on and voila you are now in Alpha land.So after prolonged binaural therapy you'll be like "Cup of tea Jesus ? Why thank you ! Pass me a biscuit will you Buddha,and how is your meditation going today ? " hmmmmmmmmmmmm
Maybe if there was some independant research was done on it some good could come out of it.At the minute its presented as a quick fix solution which hoodwinks people to empty their pockets not for the sake of nirvana but for a small group of people laughing all the way to the bank :(
My uncle BTW still has the same issues hes always had.He's spent over 2k on this technology ! Mastermind theres loadssssssss of fun to be had with playing with binaural beats,and learning about freq. modulation is a great way to improve your production skills.Just don't get suckered like my uncle !!!!!!!
Kev

bitflipper


I wonder what happened to the OP. He hasn't come back to report on his experiment. Probably off conquering the world through sound-induced mind control.

The idea maybe isn't so much mind control as something else. Google i-dosing.

There's apps for that.  I know sounds cliche, but, I have played around with binaural beats as well.  I used Sound Forge utilizing their sine wave synth and created two different frequencies, one for the left and the other for the right channels.  When played as an audio file with head phones you can really feel the effects.  

Then, I later found some apps on my iPhone that do the exact same thing with variable frequencies to change the tempo of the beats. These usually come with additional sounds like nature, rain, ocean,  etc, which are switchable and able to be shut off.  

I was impressed with them.  It sounded strange to me too when I read articles on it.  But, it is real.