blog 5 Contemporary Issues in Sound Art

Recording my own binaural beat

I started by using a Korg MS-10 to generate the lowest note possible. Using the VCF filter and peak (resonance) controls, I carefully tuned the oscillator to around 40 Hz, checking the exact frequency with an EQ plug-in analyzer. I then repeated the process, slightly adjusting the pitch and resonance to create a second tone at 50 Hz.

When these two low frequencies were layered together, they began interacting and producing a slow pulsing rhythm caused by the difference between the frequencies. This created the hypnotic binaural-style beating effect, where the ear perceives a rhythmic oscillation between the two tones rather than hearing them as completely separate sounds.

I repeated this layering process two more times, each set moving up by roughly two octaves. As the higher-frequency layers were added, the piece evolved from a simple low-end pulse into a much richer texture — almost like an orchestra of interlocking binaural beats. Each layer introduced its own rhythmic interference pattern, creating waves of movement and depth across the frequency spectrum. The combination of sub-bass vibrations, resonant tones, and overlapping pulses produced an immersive soundscape that feels both mechanical and organic, with constantly shifting rhythms emerging from the interaction of the frequencies themselves.


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