Functional anatomy of musical processing in listeners with absolute pitch and relative pitch

Abstract We used both structural and functional brain imaging techniques to investigate the neural basis of absolute pitch (AP), a specialized skill present in some musicians. By using positron emission tomography, we measured cerebral blood flow during the presentation of musical tones to AP possessors and to control musicians without AP. Listening to musical tones … Read more

Guitar Preamp Tone Explained – by Phil Taylor / Effectrode

Guitar Preamp Tone Explained by Phil Taylor For images and entire article: http://www.effectrode.com/blackbird-vacuum-tube-preamp/guitar-preamp-tone-explained/   During the research and development of the ‘Blackbird’ vacuum tube preamp I undertook a thorough investigation into tube preamp circuits in a quest to discover just what factors are important in creating great guitar tone. The following article is a result of … Read more

Tonewood and resonant frequency myths debunked

In this video I debunk that the nut and bridge lose their independent resonant frequency when attached to the guitar, and become part of the guitar bodies and neck. I also prove that a guitar’s body and neck have multiple resonant frequencies. tone wood can only exist if a body has a very narrow window … Read more

The Sound of 3D Printed Guitars

I got a friend and incredible guitarist, Nadav Tabak, to do a little video clip of my 3D printed guitars in action in a range of different styles of music, and showing off some of the different designs. The clip goes through chords, finger picking, funk, blues, heavy rock, progressive, and alternative rock. The bodies … Read more

Tonewood – Does it make a difference in Electric Guitars

This is an attempt to question the validity of ‘Tonewood’ in electric guitars. Many will tell you that it doesn’t make any difference what the body of an electric guitar is made from. Others, generally those who want to sell you guitars want you to believe otherwise. So I’ve taken a perfectly decent guitar and … Read more

Musical rhythm spectra from Bach to Joplin obey a 1/f power law

Much of our enjoyment of music comes from its balance of predictability and surprise. Musical pitch fluctuations follow a 1/f power law that precisely achieves this balance. Musical rhythms, especially those of Western classical music, are considered highly regular and predictable, and this predictability has been hypothesized to underlie rhythm’s contribution to our enjoyment of … Read more

Cardas ‘223’ Guitar Cable

As seen at NAMM 2014. The all new Cardas ‘223’ Guitar Cable with Cardas ‘223 Plugs’ is a small diameter, high performance instrument cable. Medium capacitance, and high propagation velocity. Silver clad conductors and Foam PTFE dielectric. Very quiet, with low microphonics. Ideal for lead guitar. http://www.cardas.com/guitar_cable.php

Automotive Audio: Tubed Tunes on the Go — Robb Report Collection

“If musical accuracy is what you are seeking, the Milbert is most certainly the Holy Grail of auto sound.”   Content Jeff Dorgay 06 / 01 / 2005 Milbert BaM-235 Car Amplifier Many of today’s mobile audio magazines feature rock stars and athletes who have invested the equivalent of a sizable down payment for a … Read more

Listening to tailor-made notched music reduces tinnitus loudness and tinnitus-related auditory cortex activity

Abstract   Maladaptive auditory cortex reorganization may contribute to the generation and maintenance of tinnitus. Because cortical organization can be modified by behavioral training, we attempted to reduce tinnitus loudness by exposing chronic tinnitus patients to self-chosen, enjoyable music, which was modified (“notched”) to contain no energy in the frequency range surrounding the individual tinnitus … Read more

Pitch perception beyond the traditional existence region of pitch

“…the perception of musical pitch at high frequencies is not constrained by temporal phase locking in the auditory nerve but may instead stem from higher-level constraints shaped by prior exposure to harmonic sounds.” Humans’ ability to recognize musical melodies is generally limited to pure-tone frequencies below 4 or 5 kHz. This limit coincides with the … Read more

In blind test, soloists like new violins over old

“…the fundamental premise of tonal superiority has not yet been properly investigated.” http://www.pnas.org/search?fulltext=violi  n&submit=yes&x=0&y=0 http://www.pnas.org/content/109/3/760.a  bstract ABSTRACT Most violinists believe that instruments by Stradivari and Guarneri “del Gesu” are tonally superior to other violins–and to new violins in particular. Many mechanical and acoustical factors have been proposed to account for this superiority; however, the fundamental premise of … Read more

Tubes vs Transformers – What good tube “tone” looks like

Metal and wire is just metal and wire. The real sonic magic comes from the tubes. GAGA gets all that metal out of their way. An examination into the esoterica shrouding audio output transformers, tubes and “tone”, or the various unpleasant effects of bulky metal on faithful, musical amplification. Whereas traditional output transformers – homogenizing … Read more

Tubes vs Transistors – Perception of Loudness, Clarity, Distortion, Sound Quality

In general, with other variables held steady, as the power rating goes up dramatically (10x), the perception of loudness only doubles. 3,000 Watts sounds only “four-times louder” than 30 Watts. It seems unlikely, but measurements and anecdotal evidence have consistently shown it is generally true. People often ask, how does the Milbert BaM-235ab compare, in … Read more

Biological Effects of High Frequency Sound

“…results suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized response to complex sound containing particular types of high frequencies above the audible range. We term this phenomenon the ‘hypersonic effect.” May explain why most listeners can hear a supposedly impossibly high-frequency difference between a 12 kilo Hertz square wave versus a 12 kilo Hertz sine wave. … Read more