How they make sound and how it affects us

In today's compilation, we offer to plunge into the world of sound and talk about their features. Here you can find materials about the influence of sound on a person (both positive and negative), people who “make” sound at concerts and in the cinema, strengths and weaknesses of various music formats and carriers: from streaming to self-made “vinyl records” .


Photo of Vancouver Film School / CC BY

Audio industry - the subtleties of the craft

• How dubbing actors work: a two-part review. We talk about the process in general - we explain the difference between the voice acting and dubbing, understand the stages of voice acting from translation to recording and find out why “playing the microphone” is sometimes more difficult than playing the camera.
• How dubbing actors work: part 2. This part is devoted to the subtleties of dubbing: how jokes, curses and lacunae are translated, and why it is difficult. Separately, we will focus on the features of dubbing in Japan: we will tell who the seiyuu are and what they do. In addition, we will try to figure out what is better: dubbing or original voice acting.
• Rain, clank armor and liquid metal: how to create sound for the movie. Musical accompaniment and sounds in films often have an additional effect on the viewer: they make people afraid, sad, laugh and believe in the reality of what is happening on the screen. In this material we will discuss the subtleties of the sound engineer’s work: where do the “popular sounds” for the movie come from and how they create sounds like the roar of Balrog or the blaster shooting.
• How to make a fortune from noise and become a legend. This material tells about Ray Dolby and his company Dolby Laboratories. You will learn what links Ray and the Russian Empire, how the company was born and developed, and what is happening to it now.
• "Behind the scenes": What lies behind the magic of the concert. When we come to the concert of a favorite rock band, we rarely think about how exactly everything we see and hear is created - we are completely absorbed by what is happening. In this material we talk about those without whom this effect could not have been achieved - about sound engineers, stage workers, as well as about the equipment and the preparatory process that precedes each show.
• “I do not see, but I hear”: On the role of sound in horror films. What makes us afraid, and how is it used in the entertainment industry? We understand the physiology of fear and the creation of frightening sounds in horror movies and video games. We will discuss the history of sound and musical accompaniment in the movie and tell you how sound of breaking bones and knife blows is created, and why silence is sometimes the best way to scare the viewer.
• “Go to the sound” - about games that you want to play only for the sake of audio. In this material we talk about games that are remembered for music and unusual sound techniques. We will talk in detail about binaural audio: what it is, how it works, and why it allows us to create the effect of “voices in the head”. In addition, we will discuss where, in addition to the gaming industry, they use this effect, and what is the complexity of its creation.

In the format of "radio"

• Radio is the end of a beautiful era. Is it true that we will inevitably move from FM to digital? We find out the reasons for the “dying” of FM all over the world, talk about broadcasting technology and try to understand why FM inevitably moves towards sunset, and what to do about it.
• Why the radio is still too early to bury. This article develops the idea of ​​the previous one. Here we reveal the reasons why (despite global trends) FM in Russia is not going to leave the stage. We talk about who and why is listening to FM radio in our country, and what radio stations are doing so as not to lose the audience and keep up with progress.
• 6 myths about radio presenters. Here we are destroying the popular myths about the work of the presenters on the radio: let's reveal the truth about reading "on a piece of paper", let's talk about the working time, the salaries of the presenters and the complexity of their work. In addition, we will tell you how to get on the radio, why the leading hooligans are on the air and do not trade their craft for anything else.
• What radio listeners and radio hosts hate. Consider the mutual claims of the leading and the audience of radio stations. You will learn why complaining about formats and compositions are often useless, and what dramas are sometimes played on the radio. In addition, we’ll give some bad advice about “how guaranteed to annoy a radio host.”

Photo m1try / CC
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Music, Physiology and Emotions

• Cry and dance: Why music makes us emotion. In this material we have collected studies on the effect of music on the emotions, physical condition, facial expressions and even the purchasing power of people. Let us tell you whether it is possible to catch the meaning of the song without understanding the language, why “music changes the chemistry of the brain,” and listening to suitable compositions helps to tune in the desired fashion.
• Against stress and insomnia: music will help. In the article, let's talk about the popular Weightless composition: why it reduces stress levels and helps you fall asleep. We will tell about the results of research and experiments, in order to understand why this composition relaxes better than a walk or a cup of tea. Plus, we recommend tracks for easy awakening in the morning.
• How sounds affect our sleep and productivity. If you are tired of falling asleep to the sounds of car alarm under a window or being distracted by colleagues at work, this article may be useful to you. Here we will tell you the applications and compositions to combat insomnia and snoring, and explain what music will help to be more productive.
• Put on headphones and become more efficient: How music affects productivity. In this material we will analyze in detail the relationship of music and effective work. We find out how to enter the state of "flow" and how this can help the music. We will discuss music genres, determine the optimal listening time and give tips on choosing working headphones.
• Audio triggers: how the human psyche reacts to different sounds. We all hear sounds the same, but we perceive them differently. In the article, we understand what noise pollution is, why the nail grinding on the glass is unpleasant for us, and the noise from the lawn mower can cause pleasant feelings and nostalgia. We’ll find out how sounds affect learning, and how triggers work for people with normal sound perception and people who are hypersensitive to sounds.
• "Despite the age": how to protect hearing. Proven fact: over the years, people inevitably lose the ability to hear sounds of a certain pitch. In this material we will try to figure out why this is happening, and show you how to take care of hearing. Inside you will also find stories and recommendations from professional musicians to minimize the risk of hearing loss.
• What is useful (and dangerous) around us "noise". The article is devoted to the variety of sounds that surround us all the time. Let us tell you why you can’t hide from the noise even in Antarctica, and with what devices you can create silence at home. We will discuss the "useful" noise: sound therapy and the use of ultrasound, and explain how the sounds of our body help doctors in diagnosing diseases.

“On taste and color”: music formats and audio equipment

• "Just so take and listen to music": 5 ways and formats to choose from. In this material we will look at the main ways of legally obtaining music: streaming, CD, FLAC music, vinyl and vintage audio media. We are talking about prices, as well as strengths and weaknesses of each of the formats.
• How to care for vinyl: 7 tips for beginners. If you have a turntable for vinyl (or you decide to reanimate the old machine), this article may be useful to you. Here we will look at basic tips and simple rules for caring for the player and records: where and how to store, what to clean and what intricacies to remember so that the equipment rejoices as long as possible.
• “For every taste”: streaming services for listening to music. The popularity of streaming is growing, services are becoming more and more, and it is unclear how to choose the most suitable among them. In this material we will discuss the features, advantages and disadvantages of various services and the tasks that they solve, so that you can choose the best option for yourself.
• New-old formats: HD-vinyl and DIY-plates. We talk about the existing problems in the production of vinyl and offer an overview of alternative technologies: HD-vinyl and 3D printing. You will find out how much the new generation of vinyl will cost and what can prevent the massive spread of technology. In addition, we will tell you how to print a plate using a 3D printer yourself.

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A few more audio digests from our blog on GT:

• Ultimate Digest: Sound podcast transcripts
• 100 popular science materials on sound and audio
• Software, hardware, headphones: 30 materials with recommendations for "audio lovers"

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