The Numbers Station

When it comes to secret communication, the general rule of thumb remains that lower-fi = better. Even today, dead-drops and frequency channels & codes remain the standard for getting data and information across long distances. The standard of encryption and anonymity is simply unparalleled when distributed across a physical medium as opposed to a virtual… Continue reading The Numbers Station

Big Star: A Not-So-#1 Record

Peter Buck of R.E.M once called them “a Rosetta Stone for a whole generation of musicians.” Gaining a strong cult following after their commercially unsuccessful three year run in the early 1970s, Big Star is now regarded by musicians as one of the most influential bands of all time, and also one of the unluckiest.… Continue reading Big Star: A Not-So-#1 Record

Auto-Tune’s History and Presence

Auto-Tune’s presence is throughout music – with every genre containing artists that use it. Auto-Tune is very well-known for its prominence in hip-hop, though it is not limited to that genre alone. Developed in 1997 by Andy Hildebrand, Auto-Tune is a pitch correction software that shifts vocal recordings to the correct key. Despite being used… Continue reading Auto-Tune’s History and Presence

Postmodern Jukebox…”Todays Hits Yesterday!”

Postmodern Jukebox created in 2011, by Scott Bradlee a New York City Pianist with an idea of how to “remake the pop hits of today into the classic sounds of the legends of yesterday” (Postmodern Jukebox). Bradlee envisioned a way for songs from todays top artists being reimagined in a “Frank Sinatra” format that would… Continue reading Postmodern Jukebox…”Todays Hits Yesterday!”

Lack of music adding tension to film: A case study of ‘No Country for Old Men’

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite movies of all time, “No Country for Old Men,” (2007) directed by the Coen brothers. “No Country for Old Men” is a masterclass in sound editing… but not for the reasons you think. Unlike almost every movie in modern Hollywood, “No Country for Old Men”… Continue reading Lack of music adding tension to film: A case study of ‘No Country for Old Men’

8D Audio

If you’ve spent any time surfing Youtube in recent months, you’ve most likely come across 8D audio clips. We’ve heard of manipulating audio in 2-dimensions, 3-dimensions, and even 4-dimensions but an 8-dimensional audio track seems like a completely fabricated concept. Tracks which have been altered to 8D are often characterized by their ability to create… Continue reading 8D Audio