Jodi Krangle

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Jodi@VoiceoversAndVocals.com

Technology

Singing Blobs and Electric Melodies

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Machine learning has helped shape just about every aspect of our digital lives, whether it’s deciding which Netflix show or YouTube video to recommend to us or even teaching cars to drive themselves. One of the most innovative uses for machine learning, however, is in creating music. Just recently Google released Blob Opera, a machine learning tool by David Li that “pays tribute to and explores the original musical instrument: the voice.” There’s a link below for you to try it out for yourself: all you have to do is direct each of the singing blobs by sliding its range up and down with your mouse, and listen as they compose their own harmonies.

https://experiments.withgoogle.com/blob-opera

This sort of musical collaboration between humans and computers has been evolving for a surprisingly long time. There’s some debate on just when the first electronic music was created, but the oldest recording comes from 1951. It’s a sample of three songs created by Alan Turing’s Ferranti Mark 1 computer, which filled up a whole room; the melodies were programmed by Christopher Strachey, a computer scientist who also drew upon his experience as a piano player to teach the computer how to play music. This early melding of art and science would pave the way for similar fusions of musical and scientific genius over the years.

Want to hear the Ferranti’s groundbreaking music for yourself? Just check out the link below for a digitally restored recording of that historic moment, and what the people listening had to say:

https://soundcloud.com/guardianaustralia/first-ever-recording-of-computer-music

Of course, synthetic music’s come a long way over the past seventy years. Now, thanks to machine learning and the development of artificial neural networks, computers can compose their own songs with hardly any human guidance at all. Here’s a link to “Mister Shadow,” a song entirely composed and performed by Sony Computer Science Lab’s “Flow Machines” AI system:

They can even mimic human voices, using deep learning paired with existing recordings to study and then duplicate a particular kind of voice. In 2019 Yamaha used its new VOCALOID:AI vocal software to recreate the voice of legendary singer Hibari Misora on the 30th anniversary of her passing. There’s a link to the song below, and I think you’ll agree that the result are uncanny:

But how did we come all the way from a computer beeping the national anthem to writing and singing its own songs? What does machine learning really mean, and what does it mean for the future of the audio industry? The answer lies in patterns, and a computer’s ability to recognize patterns and then generate new ones.

Computers don’t really know what music means, or even that they’re making music. But by studying thousands and thousands of different songs, machine learning allows them to create a profile of all the different elements that those songs have in common, much the same way that facial recognition programs use thousands of pictures of people’s faces to teach them what to look for.

Then the computer takes everything it’s learned about those songs and tries to create something new that fits the same profile. The first try probably won’t be very good, but computers work fast, and each failure gives them more to learn from for their next try. With enough samples and enough feedback, the results start to sound less like noise and more like real music, even real singing.

For Google’s Blob Opera experiment, David Li recorded 16 hours of audio from six different opera singers and used it to teach the program how to sing opera. What we hear when we play it, however, doesn’t come from any of those singers, but from the program’s own attempt to create music based on what it’s learned.

Machine learning’s already starting to make a big impact on the audio industry. Amper, an online composition tool, offers computer generated music based on user settings like genre and tempo as a substitute for stock music. Another app, Endel, creates personalized soundscapes that take into account factors like the time of day, weather and even the user’s vital signs, in addition to the program’s own unique compositions. Content creators in particular need more music than ever before, and machine learning is helping to meet that growing demand and broaden the market for original music.

The next time you hear a piece of music in a commercial or streaming content, you may want to give it a closer listen. With more and more audio content now being produced through machine learning, you might just find a singing blob behind the microphone.

 

Would you consider giving this podcast an honest review? You can do that here: https://lovethepodcast.com/audiobranding.  And if you like what you hear (and read!) – please do share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thanks so much!

And if you’re interested in crafting an audio brand for your business, why not check out my FREE download – Top 5 Tips For Implementing An Intentional Audio Strategy at https://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/

Interview With Multimedia Storyteller, Brandee Sanders – Part 2

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Here’s the second part of my wild ride of an interview with Multimedia Storyteller, Brandee Sanders. We talked about her journey as a woman in tech and what other women in tech must consider when advancing in the field.

We also discussed:

  • How Brandee recognizes the challenges of being a woman in tech but doesn’t get consumed by them
  • The importance of women supporting other women
  • Keeping the door held open for the person behind you
  • How rising to the top can sometimes hurt individuals and those around them
  • How women have to work twice as hard to prove themselves
  • How important mentorship is and how undervalued it is
  • More about why Brandee decided to step behind the cameras and what it has allowed her to do
  • Mansplaining, bro business, and nepotism (don’t worry, that part stays pretty tame)
  • The importance of literacy in choosing the right person for any given job
  • Microcosms and echo chambers
  • How Brandee maintains the mentality of a lifelong learner, especially in a position of leadership
  • Brandee’s journey as a mom and her compassion for other moms
  • The two podcasts she’s working on
  • Brandee’s journey going from “white trash to white collar” (her words, not mine 😉)

Find out more about Brandee on social media:

This episode was very skillfully made to sound beautiful by the talented Humberto Franco (http://www.humbertofranco.com/).

Would you consider reviewing the Audio Branding Podcast?  If so, here’s the Apple Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/audio-branding/id1489042453  And if you like what you hear (and read!) – please do share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thanks so much!

And if you’re interested in crafting an audio brand for your business, why not check out my FREE Audio Branding Worksheet?

Interview with Brainwave Entrainment Expert, Morry Zelcovitch – Part 2

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In the second part of my interview with Morry Zelcovitch, we got a bit more philosophical.  His work and research has led him to some very insightful observations about how he now deals with things in a healthier (brain chemistry-wise) manner – and how he might be able to help others do the same. So we started with a bit of science about how we hear things, the filter all sound goes through before we interpret it, and how this kind of research can help people dealing with PTSD, OCD and other issues.

It’s another very interesting discussion and I think you’ll enjoy the hopeful nature of it.

To recap, in this second part of our interview, we discussed:

  • How vibration is interpreted into sound in our brains in a very subjective way
  • How you get a cleaner, better effect with high quality headphones
  • What he’s working on now
  • Testing the audio to help people with PTSD, OCD, etc.
  • How the brain prefers things that are “uninterrupted”.
  • How life has become a very different experience for him
  • How different his life is now
  • How his work has made him feel like a super hero
  • The evolution of discovery
  • Designing products around the end user – and how everyone’s experiences will be different
  • How attitude changes everything

You can find out more about Morry’s approach to “brainwave entrainment” at www.themorrymethod.com .

His more professionally oriented website is at www.activemindsglobal.com .

And his newest product is at www.quantummindmethod.com .

This episode was very skillfully made to sound beautiful by the talented Humberto Franco (http://www.humbertofranco.com/).

Would you consider reviewing the Audio Branding Podcast?  If so, here’s the Apple Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/audio-branding/id1489042453  And if you like what you hear (and read!) – please do share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thanks so much!

Interview with Brainwave Entrainment Expert, Morry Zelcovitch – Part 1

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Morry Zelcovitch has had a lot of challenges in his life including depression and addiction. In his search for something to help him with his difficulties, he came across something called “binauaral beats” and that led him into the brainwave entrainment field (a term he coined himself).  Essentially, he’s programming his brain to operate in a healthier way, through the use of sound. Exploring this continues to be his life’s work. But like any self-improvement option, it works (or doesn’t work) for each person differently.  We talk a lot about this in our interview.

I found it truly fascinating to discuss how sound – or vibration interpreted by our eardrums – may be able to heal us from the inside out.

In this first part of our interview, we discussed:

  • His background in “brainwave entrainment” (how he trained himself)
  • His search to find a way to live
  • How he started researching the science of brain chemistry
  • He came across something that might work for him – something that would modify his neural chemistry
  • How music can heal through its “steady pulse” and pattern
  • Using a stimulus – sound and light – to influence his brainwaves so that he could feel better without drugs
  • Unfortunately, binauaral beats didn’t work for him
  • How he needed to create his own methodology
  • His opinion about some flawed science – the reason he wasn’t really helped by binauaral beats
  • How binauaral beats are supposed to work
  • The differences (and names) of various brainwave states
  • How our brains are designed to work
  • Why brainwave entrainment is so important

You can find out more about Morry’s approach to “brainwave entrainment” at www.themorrymethod.com .

His more professionally oriented website is at www.activemindsglobal.com .

And his newest product is at www.quantummindmethod.com .

This episode was very skillfully made to sound beautiful by the talented Humberto Franco (http://www.humbertofranco.com/).

Would you consider reviewing the Audio Branding Podcast?  If so, here’s the Apple Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/audio-branding/id1489042453  And if you like what you hear (and read!) – please do share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thanks so much!

Is It Too Late?

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Our audio landscape is definitely changing.  It’s becoming more and more important for brands to have a recognizable sound, especially with the rise of Alexa, Google Home, and similar products.

Even our appliances are becoming “smart”.  If they recognize voice commands, how long will it be before they start selling us products directly – without needing a desktop computer, an iPad or a phone at all? And what’s the quickest way for these “smart” devices to let us know what brands they sell?  Audio, that’s how.

In lots of different places, these options may not be displayed as *only* audio, but those sounds are certainly played when we choose what we want.  And that reinforces the idea of an audio brand.  If we’re in public when this happens?  It also reinforces it to everyone around us.

Now, how about when we actually buy something?  We already use a lot of automation to purchase what we want.  What if the very act of purchasing, reinforced a company’s audio brand?  Turns out, Mastercard is thinking about this.  And they apparently (according to Forbes) spent $15 Million dollars on it!  The video below will explain more of what their thinking was and let you hear the results.  It doesn’t sound bad to me or anything.  But I think they’re betting on how recognizable it’ll be across platforms.  I’m not entirely convinced, but time will tell, I suppose. Should Mastercard have thought about this years ago?  Probably.  But if they couldn’t do this kind of audio branding years ago, at least they’re doing it now.

Of course, this might be too little too late.  Visa had a 2 year head start on them!

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/07/visa-spent-a-year-developing-a-signature-sound-report.html

And I love this CNBC video because the two commenting actually have opinions on which sounds appeal to them across many different brands.  They have a good point. Visa’s criteria, in case you don’t want to watch the video?  It has to be short, unobtrusive, energetic and optimistic.   It took them a year to develop that one little bit of sound – so this is no joking matter.  Maybe it surprises you that Mastercard spent so much money on this.  It doesn’t surprise me at all.  After all, Visa paid Morgan Freeman to do their commercials.  That couldn’t be cheap.

But that leads me to another point.  You may not be spending fifteen million dollars on your ads – or your audio brand.  But you still do want to remain consistent – and professional – across all your touch points.  This has already become really important.  And falling flat on this part of your marketing will cost you (and it’s a cost you may never actually be informed of).

Not everyone has to have a certain trill of notes or a particular melody associated with their brand.  But your brand should definitely have a consistent “feel”.  Something you follow through with in music, voice over and automation (if you have it).

The future of branding is sound and if I can help you with the voice over end of that, feel free to reach out.  Even if I’m not the right voice for your particular sonic image, I know a lot of talented folks that might be able to help and I’m happy to make introductions.

Now – go out and make some noise!

Would you consider reviewing the Audio Branding Podcast?  If so, here’s the Apple Podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/audio-branding/id1489042453  And if you like what you hear (and read!) – please do share it with anyone you think might be interested. Thanks so much!

Curiouser and Curiouser

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      Curioser and Curioser - Jodi Krangle - voiceoversandvocals.com

How do you experience the world?  Do you forget what it was like to experience new things?  To actually NOT know something?  To want to discover more about this thing you know nothing (or very little) about?

When I was a kid, the Internet didn’t exist.  At least, not the way it is now. I couldn’t just go online and look up stuff whenever I wanted to.  I had to go to the library and … you know … read a book.   I’m not looking down on the way things are done today. Quite the contrary.  Information is at our fingertips – whether it’s online or on our phones or tablets.  We just type a term into a search engine (who are we kidding.  Usually it’s Google), and away we go.  Information received!

But because information is so readily available, it’s really important now to check our sources.  To be aware of our own biases from the start so that we don’t just find information that feeds our own beliefs – we find information that’s TRUE. And that’s also where curiosity comes in again.

So how do you find (and CHECK) your information?  What sources do you use?  And how do you keep your curiosity about the world around you?  (I’d love to know your thoughts on this!  Feel free to email me or join me in my Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/jodisilverlinings/ to start a discussion.)

Along these sames lines, I think you all know by now, that I love what I do.  With voice overs, I’m able to help bring videos to life, audibly.  And a lot of the mastery and magic that goes into animating these videos, fascinates me.

A company I’ve worked with in the past that does wonderful work for their clients, also creates art on their own terms. And I’ve been so very impressed by what I’ve seen from them so far.  I’m talking about Coat Of Arms Post, run by husband and wife team, Jonathan Lacocque and Clara Lehmann.  They’ve started to put together wonderful, bite-sized animated videos explaining science, with commentary from their 4 year old twin daughters – and it’s adorable, funny and very informative, all at the same time.

If you have small children and you want to help satisfy their curiosity about the world around them, these are wonderful videos to show them.  If you don’t have small children, but you’re curious about the world yourself?  These videos are still a fun treat. I love not only how matter-of-fact they are (Clara does a fabulous job both writing the scripts and doing the voice overs and Jonathan’s unique style of animation underpins it all), but also how lovely it is to listen to the girls as they discover and enjoy what their mom is talking about.

Have you forgotten what it’s like to be curios about the world around you?  If you have, watching these videos might well cure you.  Enjoy! (The website for Lullaby Theories is here – so you can watch more of them if you’d like!)