Here’s a perfect example of Thinking in Equations. We’re all pretty familiar with optical illusions. Take the image to the left, it looks like the lines are crooked…when they are in fact horizontal and parallel. Well just like you can have optical illusions for the eye, you can have sound illusions for the ear. Let’s look at the Shepard Tone.
The Shepard Tone is a sequence of notes that sounds like it is infinitely ascending or descending. It almost accomplishes a “Barbershop Pole” for the ears. In the example it sounds like the noise keeps getting lower…but it actually stays around the same. If it were actually getting lower your speakers wouldn’t be able to handle it a few seconds in.
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Wikipedia gives a pretty good explanation how it works. (Pretty simple)
So today’s Idea Sparkler is about creating your own illusions. What can you do to infuse “magic” into your creations? Use some of the techniques that other optical or sound illusions use and apply them to your field.
If you’re looking for some more cool sound illusions you can find them here.