asmr

Rhythm, Rest & Relaxation: Listening for Our Health

March 9, 2022 by Jodi Krangle

It’s been over two years since the pandemic started, and for many of us, our daily lives have changed in ways we hardly imagined when this decade began. More and more of us are working from home these days, and we’re staying at home even when we aren’t working. We’re more isolated than we used to be, and dealing with a lot more stress and uncertainty. Finding time to take care of our mental health can be a challenge, but it’s just as important as ever – and sound has come to play a vital part in that effort, from guided meditation and affirmations to binaural beats and ASMR videos.

Two of the most popular and successful forms of sonic therapy are mindful meditation and positive affirmations, and they’ve both come a long way over just the past few years. Mindfulness is the art of being precisely in the moment, without worrying about the past or thinking about the future, or being distracted by anything at all. Completely clearing our thoughts can be tricky, and that’s where guided meditation, which uses sound and music to help lead the way, can help.

Studies have shown that the health benefits range from lowering stress and improving our mental well-being to bolstering the immune system and reducing inflammation. Although its roots are thousands of years old, the modern practice of mindful meditation has evolved into high-tech pods and meditation apps you can download for your smartwatch. Some of them can get a little pricey, but if you’re just starting out and want to give it a try, you can find a link to UCLA’s free Mindful app, and a separate list of guided meditation tracks that you can download, on my blog.

https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations

Positive affirmations are another way to help change our mindset, to bolster our self-esteem and sense of optimism. Psychology and even MRI studies have found that they have a positive effect on our behavior and sense of wellness, although they also found that, for people with low self-esteem, affirmations in the future tense work better than the present. So if you find that starting a sentence with “I am” just doesn’t feel right, try saying “I will” instead. I’ve also included a YouTube link on my blog to a morning affirmation video presented by voice artist Prachi Chaube (Prah-chee Chau-bay).

Binaural beats are a much more recent discovery when it comes to audio therapy, one that’s still being researched. The idea behind them, though, is fascinating. If you take a pair of headphones and play a sound through them with a slightly different frequency for each ear, your brain blends them together into a new sound that’s the difference between them. So, for example, if the left earphone plays a 300-hertz tone and the right earphone plays a 280-hertz tone, we perceive it as a 20-hertz tone. That’s almost too low for us to hear, but our brains still process it, and different frequencies might resonate with our own neural oscillations to trigger different states of awareness.

Listening to that 20-hertz tone, for instance, could cause the brain to enter a beta wave pattern, which can help us feel more awake and alert. A lower binaural beat, such as a 2-hertz tone, might lead to a delta wave pattern, the deepest stage of sleep. Do binaural beats really work? The scientific verdict’s still out, but the good news is that studies have shown there’s no harm to listening to them, so long as you don’t turn the volume up too loud. If you want to try it out for yourself, I’ve included a video link on my blog. Just make sure you’re wearing headphones, or the effect won’t work.

One of the most recent developments in sound therapy and mental wellness is ASMR: it first emerged as an online phenomenon around 2007 and has become immensely popular since then, with over fifteen million YouTube videos as of last year. Short for “autonomous sensory meridian response,” a name given to it by ASMR proponent Jennifer Allen in 2010, it refers to both a pleasantly tingling sensation along the spine that certain soft, rustling sounds can trigger, and to online relaxation videos that aim to create that effect for the viewer with whispers, props, music, and other sounds.

Some psychologists think the sensation of ASMR might be a kind of synesthesia, with our minds experiencing certain sounds as touch, while MRI brain scans suggest it might even be connected to our grooming instincts. What started with hosts simply whispering to the viewer has grown into a whole online genre of videos featuring elaborate scripts, costumes, set designs, and even special effects. You can find links on my blog to a YouTube video by one of its most famous “ASMRtists,” Goodnight Moon, as she plays a shopkeeper selling the viewer a pet dragon, and to another one of my favorite artists, Moonlight Cottage, as she helps the viewer choose a magic wand. Even if you don’t end up experiencing the tingles, I think you’ll have a lot of fun with both of these videos.

Goodnight Moon: Dragon Egg Shopping at Maybell’s Menagerie (ASMR)

Moonlight Cottage ASMR: Wand Shop

From virtual classrooms and remote workplaces to Zoom calls with our friends and family, we’re spending more time online than ever before. Just as our days have become more virtual, though, so have our resources for managing stress and anxiety. And sound, whether it’s a meditation app that guides our breathing technique, a binaural beat that subtly rewires how we think, or a relaxing YouTube video about a whispery fantasy world, remains an essential part of nurturing our well-being.

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/

The Sounds of Silence – A Tale of Noiseless Movie Props

February 2, 2022 by Jodi Krangle

Have you ever thought about how quiet the world of television and movies can be? If two characters are eating at a restaurant or working in an office, we don’t have to worry about trying to hear them over the sound of clinking glasses or crinkling paper, or anyone else who might be making too much noise in the background. Cinematic sound tells us just as much of the story as the images, and unless they’re part of the story, footsteps and rustling clothes aren’t usually something we want to hear coming from the speakers.

Movies are filmed in the same noisy, unpredictable world we all live in, though, and life doesn’t come with a mute button, though it’d be nice if it did. So how do they do it? The right microphone, soundproofing, and studio environment all go a long way, of course, and a talented sound editor, such as my own editor Humberto Franco, can work wonders in post-production. But there’s only so much that can be cleaned up or kept away from the microphone: everything we do makes some kind of sound. That’s why prop masters also use something called “silent props,” or “noiseless props,” to take the everyday noise that we can’t get rid of completely and turn it into a different, more soothing kind of sound.

One prop master whose TikTok videos earlier this year helped bring the idea of silent props to the public eye is Scott Reeder, who’s been working in Hollywood for over three decades. For recording a conversation during a game of pool in the show Friday Night Lights, without having the actors pausing for each shot, he came up with the idea of repainting soft plastic racquetballs to look like pool balls. When the camera needed to show one of the shots, he swapped the prop balls with the real thing and then switched them back.

If you’d like to check out Scott’s mixture of movie-making insights and punny dad jokes, you can find the link to his recent video on creating silent horseshoes here:

When it comes to recording cinematic dialogue, there’s a surprising amount of unintentional sound that needs to be hidden from the microphone. UK filmmakers Robert Carr and Richard Scott, who run the YouTube channel The Film Look, talk about the challenge of filming an authentic restaurant scene, and how masking the sound of a glass being set down on a table, which is usually about the same height as the actor’s microphone, can be as simple as discreetly placing a cushion on the table, or as involved as having a stagehand hiding just below the frame to take the glass from the actor.

In a later video, they demonstrate a do-it-yourself approach to concealing sound, using neoprene rubber and glue to create and attach soundproof pads to everything from the bottom of a coffee mug to the soles of an actor’s shoes. If you want to learn more about the art of indie filmmaking and cinematic audio, I have a link to The Film Look’s “Indie Film Sound Guide” video here:

But when it comes to bigger productions, the silent props are more likely being bought rather than built, and they’re sold by pioneering prop master Tim Schulz and his company Prop TRX, the only dedicated maker of noiseless props. From paper bags made from coffee filter fabric and gift tissue that hardly makes a sound to clear rubber ice cubes that don’t clink against the glass, his storefront’s becoming popular not only with filmmakers but with curious people who just want to see what the fuss is about.

There’s a video link on my blog to a wonderful interview with Tim Schulz about how he creates his silent props, as well as a link to Prop TRX’s homepage so you can take a look for yourself:

https://www.proptrx.com/

If you want to hear just what a silent lunch bag or noiseless cellophane wrap sounds like, there’s also a video link on my blog to one of my favorite ASMR artists as she compares everyday items with their silent movie prop versions. Even if you aren’t usually into ASMR, it’s a fascinating video that shows just how much quieter the silent props really are in comparison, and definitely worth a watch:

As the modern world becomes a faster, busier, and noisier place, more and more attention is being paid to the soundscapes that we create, intentionally or even by accident. Whether it’s with silent props, musical branding, or audio interfaces, we’re working to create a world filled with the sounds we want to hear.

Interview with Audiologist and Parent Coach, Dr. Lilach Saperstein – Part 2

May 26, 2021 by Jodi Krangle

This is the conclusion of my interview with Dr. Lilach Saperstein. If you missed the first part, Lilach and I discuss everything from the science behind hearing/sound to properly using sound effects in your marketing material to make it more accessible for people with hearing loss. In this part, we dive into more of the audio branding side of things and how you can help make things easier for anyone you know who might have hearing loss.

In this interview, we discuss:

The possibility of ASMR helping with tinnitus
The fascination with ASMR in general
A previous podcast guest who was an expert in ASMR
A recent ad Liliach experienced with ASMR
Knowing your target audience
The evolution of the short snippets of music on TikTok
Certain types of music or bands that make us feel different emotions
Intentionally adding in white space to your audio advertising
My main purpose for starting this podcast – bringing awareness to the importance of audio branding
Trends moving toward paying attention to audio
Advertisers having the host read the ad to feed into the connection already made
The ease that audio gives to do multiple things
The rise of clubhouse and devices that are merely audio (Google Home, Alexa, etc.)
The lack of the visual with a device
Why companies have moved to creating their own sound
What you really need to create an audio brand
Auditory processing
How kids are affected by audio and the effects on auditory processing
The way the message can get mixed up in your brain
Some of the main struggles with older people
Mis-diagnosed kids with ADHD who actually have a hearing/processing problem
The way hearing aids work
What hearing aids can’t do
Tips to use when communicating with people who have hearing aids
Rephrasing with people who are struggling to understand you
The individual process of figuring out your individual hearing loss
Counseling people who have hearing loss and their loved ones
The work Lilach does with her clients and families
The power of your auditory sense
Taking care of your auditory sense – calm relaxing music or sounds you enjoy
Pay attention to the sounds/words that bring your joy
If you have any concerns about your hearing, see an audiologist
The ways to get in contact with Lilach

If you want to hear more from Lilach:

You can contact her through her website if you want to talk about her own online practice or just connect with her.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/allaboutaudiologypodcast
Website: https://allaboutaudiology.com/

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

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

Interview with ASMR Performance Artist and Co-Founder of Whisperlodge, Melinda Lauw – Part 2

February 17, 2021 by Jodi Krangle

In the second part of my interview with Melinda Lauw, we continue our conversation about ASMR. In the first part, we really had a chance to dive into what ASMR is and what it looks like to create ASMR experiences – both in person and online. Now, we’re talking more about the commercial side of ASMR and where ASMR is starting to show up in more mainstream media.

We discuss:

What it looks like to do this work with advertisers
How Melinda partnered with a hotel and doing events with the hotel
Creating videos with Moxie hotels – Melinda gives her expertise and creates scripts for the hotels
Most of her gigs have been in conjunction with in person events
Melinda has been hired as the consultant for different companies when they’re looking to create ASMR content
The different parameters she has to work within when doing consulting work
The balance between the purpose of the ad or gig and being true to ASMR
Melinda shares some of her experiences with different advertising companies
ASMR forces people to pay attention to the little details
The growth of the ASMR community online
The continued waves of ASMR
How ASMR is becoming much more accessible to everyone
How ASMR is free and so accessible because of its online presence
The possibility of making money in ASMR, especially with YouTube
The pushback when people do try to monetize ASMR
The selective nature in finding the right brand sponsorship – they want to find sponsorships that are in alignment with ASMR
Melinda doesn’t like watching ASMR videos with ads in the middle because it ruins the experience (I don’t blame her at all!)
Tastefully adding in ads and how to make them in the same vein as ASMR
Melinda’s currently working on a live stream and the exhibit in Europe doing a live exhibit on ASMR
Melinda’s work creating videos for her YouTube channel
How she’ll be experimenting with different types and ways to make videos

If you want to find out more about Melinda, you can find her through the following:

Find out more about Whisperlodge: http://whisperlodge.nyc

See a video of an immersive live ASMR performance either on Netflix’s Follow This, Part 1, Episode 1 https://www.netflix.com/title/80217889

Or on Mashable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKdW5k-7FcA&t=1s

Check out our ASMR videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/whisperlodge

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 download – 5 Tips For Implementing An Intentional Audio Strategy at https://voiceoversandvocals.com/audio-branding-strategy/

Interview with ASMR Performance Artist and Co-Founder of Whisperlodge, Melinda Lauw – Part 1

February 10, 2021 by Jodi Krangle

In this interview, I’m talking with Melinda Lauw. She’s the cofounder of Whisperlodge – a company working to create in person ASMR experiences. Whisperlodge has toured San Francisco, L.A., and New York and even been featured in a Netflix documentary. ASMR is one of the more recent additions to audio entertainment (it stands for “Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”) and it was fascinating to hear from someone who’s been on the forefront of this growing industry. In this first part of our interview, we’re discussing what ASMR is, and where you may have seen it in your own life!

We discuss the following in this interview:

COVID in the United States and Canada
How life looks for Melinda right now with COVID
Her first take on ASMR
2008 was the first experience with ASMR
2010 – the term ASMR officially becomes coined
The huge community of ASMR on YouTube
The most frequently asked topic within ASMR – ASMR erotica
The myth behind ASMR needing to be erotic, when in reality, it’s not
The people who have made themselves up to enhance their ASMR pieces
A woman in Japan who builds in her own sound design
The time commitment it takes to create a YouTube video with ASMR
Melinda’s now shifting from ASMR in real life into ASMR on YouTube
Melinda’s process for creating her videos
ASMR sub genres – eating, sex, no speaking, miniatures, etc.
Melinda’s likes when it comes to what she produces and what she likes to watch herself
The Netflix production of Whisperlodge
Melinda walks us through how she was found for the Netflix production
How different in person ASMR is compared to watching something on YouTube
The intense immersion of ASMR
ASMR in person, is not for everyone and requires you to be vulnerable
Considerations that have to happen for in person ASMR
The need for consent with each different element of ASMR
The pros and cons of making an ASMR video – you don’t have any feedback
Melinda’s preference to work with people she doesn’t know

If you want to find out more about Melinda, you can find her through the following:

Find out more about Whisperlodge: http://whisperlodge.nyc

See a video of an immersive live ASMR performance either on Netflix’s Follow This, Part 1, Episode 1 https://www.netflix.com/title/80217889

Or on Mashable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKdW5k-7FcA&t=1s

Check out our ASMR videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/whisperlodge

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

This Might Make You Uncomfortable

December 11, 2019 by Jodi Krangle

ASMR stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. It has to do with certain triggers, usually having to do with sound or sight, giving you “tingles in your brain”. It may seem like a strange reaction to have while hearing unintelligible whispers, someone using a marker on a pad of paper or seeing someone use a makeup brush to caress your “face” (when the face is the camera). But it’s very real!

And interestingly, music in this particular context, seems to take away from the experience, rather than add to it. In Duncan Geere’s article about this phenomenon in Science Focus: https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/asmr-more-than-a-feeling/ – one of the scientists he questions has this to say:

“We’re interested in things like whether particular settings might be helpful, or particular object interactions,” explains Davis.

“[The results] were actually a bit of a mix. But the one thing that was really clear and surprising is that people didn’t like background music. That to me is really odd, because we use music all of the time to enhance a mood that you’re trying to experience. That doesn’t seem to work for ASMR. It seems to distract from the sound of an object being interacted with.”

Huh. So the two types of sound, don’t seem to go together. Our brains are strange.

In my own deep dive into this topic however, I actually did experience these “brain tingles”. I first heard about ASMR when IKEA used it in one of their commercials. It’s included below.

When I first saw and heard this video, I have to admit, it kind of creeped me out. I didn’t understand why the woman’s voice was so whispery-soft, and I truly didn’t understand what the attraction was to all those sounds of sheets being stroked, pillows being squished and desk lamps being tapped with fingernails. I didn’t get it. And at the time, I didn’t particular want to explore what it was all about.

In my research into sound and the science of sound, ASMR kept coming up – again and again. And now that I’ve experienced what it actually IS, I’m impressed by what they put together. (And if you watch the video, read the comments below. They’re hilarious!) While I didn’t mind the voice they used, she was a bit louder than I was expecting for this particular genre. Of course, I get that she had to talk above a whisper so that she could be understood. She was, after all, there to sell a product. And that meant you had to hear what she was saying.

I’m not sure it works as true ASMR as a result, because you have to concentrate too much for it to really be as relaxing as it should be. But as an example of how this could be used for a different kind of advertising experience, it’s not half bad. If you get it. Seeing as they’re trying to appeal to college students, I don’t think that’s a bad bet.

I’ll also point out that the pops and crackles of lips smacks and tongue movements from a voice being that close to a mic, would be a nightmare for most voice over. But for ASMR? The intimacy of it is supposed to be relaxing. That’s the point.

One of the best “performers” of this that I’ve seen while going down the rabbit hole of YouTube, is Gibi. I’ll link to one of her videos in my blog & show notes so you can have a look and a listen. But I’ll admit, I’ve subscribed to her channel. In this video (the link is below), she collaborates with a couple of other performers so you get a good overview of a bunch of potential triggers from different performers with slightly different styles:

ASMR | Tingle Immunity Treatment Test | Ft. Goodnight Moon & Marno ASMR – YouTube

For those of you that have been following my blog here, you know I’m a gamer. Gibi even did a video where she interacted (the video was about wood tapping and scratching) with a product from Wyrmwood! (They were a sponsor for this video. And she promoted them perfectly for her audience.)

And if you’d like to know more about this from Gibi herself (and, coincidentally, actually hear her real speaking voice – which I admit, I was curious about), have a look at the video I’ve linked to from a YouTube channel called Rooster Teeth. They had her on the show as a guest and asked her a bunch of questions that she very intelligently answered.

It’s a very interesting conversation, on a whole bunch of levels, and I highly recommend you watch it.

Ultimately, you have to decide if this works for you. If not, it might make you very uncomfortable. If it does work for you, watching these videos might well be the most relaxed you feel all day. You’re welcome.

December 02, 2020 Edit: Gibi just added a video called “New to ASMR?” – that I think those of you who haven’t really experienced this before, will find SUPER helpful. Check it out here:

Jodi Krangle