Sound

• The main audio track heard relates to the profession of most users.
• The samples heard frequently highlight the second highest profession of the moodproject users.
• The samples heard much less frequently highlight the third highest profession of the moodproject users.

The audio for moodvisual was to reflect the visuals in some way by also being somewhat abstract. this was achieved by, first, using filters and effects in adobe audition to create the main altered looped audio for each surveyed profession. Three further short samples where also made for each profession, keeping some audio recognisable so associations could be made to each profession. secondly, moodvisual plays the main sound loop based on the greatest surveyed profession, it then randomly selects and plays from the samples created for the next
greatest and the same for the third greatest profession, but played less frequently. This helps to create a scattered but recognisable sound for the top three professions and add to the artwork as a whole.

Click the links below to hear all the sample audio used in the Final Visual Result artwork...

I now needed the main audio tracks to go with the colour frequency tones on the start screen and each environment ‘area’ to help convey each mood response. I did not want too-distinguishable audio for the areas, as I did not want the audio to take the users attention. I decided I needed synthesised sounding audio that could tie-in with the colour frequencies without any vocals. I looked into meditative audio by Terry Riley and more constructed audio by Steve Reich and downloaded some of their sample music. I now had audio for the Blue-Calming and Green-Healing areas, as they required relaxing or natural audio respectively. The rest of the audio was gathered, with kind approval , from Neuropop’s website [white paper] and demo CD: Overload: the Sonic Intoxicant. Neuropop’s audio was exactly what I was looking for as it was produced audio using Neurosensory Algorithms for mood setting in ‘Music – Film – Gaming - Immersive Environments.’

Research into three separate sources for colour frequencies. Table (a) is from a scientific study into the wavelengths of colour light (NM) and its values in Audible Hz. Table (b) shows the colours audible Hz and its musical note once scaled 4 octaves higher and is from a colour therapy training manual. Finally, List (a) shows the different colours Audible Hz scaled 4 octaves higher.

All frequency results are with-in 20 Hz of each other before scaling (tone adjustment). The human ear can only notice changes greater than 20 Hz, so this is considered to be of little consequence.

Red            397.5               G             378 (3x126=378) (391.995)
Orange       430.5               A             432 (3x144=432) (440.000)
Yellow        464.5               A#           459 (3x153=459) (233.082)
Green         531.5               C             513 (3x171=513) (261.626)
Blue           598.5               D             567 (3x189=567) (293.665)
Indigo        632                  D#           594 (3x198=594) (311.127)
Violet        665.5                E             648 (3x216=648) (329.628)

(Click each colours # for its relative audio tone constructed in Adobe Audition)

# RED Chakra: Balancing the Base / Root Chakra
Chakra 1 represents physical survival and earthly grounding. It governs will to live and eliminative body functions. 44 min., Delta, Window Freq. 262 Hz

# ORANGE Chakra: Balancing the Sacral / Spleen Chakra
Chakra 2 represents sexual energy and polarity. It governs self-esteem, creativity and reproductive body functions. 42 min., Low Theta, Window Freq. 294 Hz

# YELLOW Chakra: Balancing the Solar Plexus Chakra
Chakra 3 is the seat of emotions, sensitivity and personal power. It governs digestive body functions. 40 min., High Theta, Window Freq. 330 Hz

# GREEN Chakra: Balancing the Heart / Thymus Chakra
Chakra 4 is the centre of the soul, love, harmony and peace. It governs blood circulation, immune system and lungs. 38 min., Low Alpha, Window Freq. 349 Hz

# BLUE Chakra: Balancing the Throat Chakra
Chakra 5 represents communication, expression and judgement. It controls vocals, respiration and metabolism. 36 min., Mid Alpha, Window Freq. 392 Hz

# INDIGO Chakra: Balancing the Brow / Third Eye Chakra
Chakra 6 is the centre of perception, visualization, and consciousness. It governs the eyes, ears, nose and teeth. 34 min., High Alpha, Window Freq. 440 Hz

Start screen
Beginning interface where u can control the on screen colours and colour audio tones with movement.
Audio in this section:
Colour frequency tones – linked to colour displayed on screen through user motion capture
Constructed in Adobe audition
White noise – from Neuropop Disorienting ‘noise’ to lull the user in

Blue – Calm
Soothing circled blue graphics - was too energetic on start screen, needs calming
Audio in this section:
Water voices Enya CD, ‘help u sleep’ with similar sounds of the ocean , colour blue lowers blood pressure and calms blood flow

Red – Fear
Dark angled red graphics - was too confident/happy and to close and fast moving on start screen, needs to be made fearful or anxious, so move away
Audio in this section: (Both From Neuropop)

Main Audio, Ghostroom
Our own work and a number of recent studies have shown that infrasonic and near-infrasonic sound (<20 Hz) can induce feelings of unease or fear. Some have suggested that the perceptions of paranormal phenomena are actually based on exposure to infrasonic signals, which create a "feeling of presence." Ghostroom is a sound with pseudorandom modulation of very low frequency (<50 Hz) sounds, which, with the proper subwoofer settings, can create momentary infrasonic pulsations. I looped this over for several minutes to increase the sensation.

The Eyeball Jitter
Not all sounds affect you through the mechanical/neural connection from ear to brain. Some work by exciting resonance in hollow structures. Different parts of your body (your abdomen, eyes, even skull) have different best resonant frequencies. In the eyeball jitter, we've used a carrier tone modulated at the best resonant frequency for the average human eyeball. Notice that it doesn't work as well if you are wearing glasses, although it will work if you are wearing contacts. (It may make your ears twitch too, but that's because of the carrier frequencies).

Yellow – Confidence
Bright yellow graphical ‘sunshine rays’ - too quiet and removed or disengaged from environment start screen, needs energising and bringing closer
Audio in this section: - From Neuropop
Focus To energise and invite - colour yellow energises

Purple – No Control
Purple/indigo circle graphics – was too controlling from start screen. Time in this area is set randomly; user has no control until time lapses
Audio in this section: - From Neuropop
Eros Regular pulsing bass – emphasise no control , purple colour energy means higher state and no control of body

Green Healing
Green ‘first aid’ and natural ‘bamboo’ graphics – was too erratic on start screen, needs neutralising and healing
Audio in this section: - Steve Reich
Pieces of Wood Natural melodic wood sounds to match nature’s natural effect in graphics , colour green nutralises and calms body