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Keruptis New user 51 Posts |
I picked up a parametric speaker kit today in order to experiment with directional sound. The most economical model I could find was the soundlazer, a kickstarter project.
http://www.soundlazer.com/product/soundlazer/ For those unfamiliar with parametric speakers, they use ultrasonic carrier waves to transmit audio to listeners as a focused beam of sound. In theory, only the person standing in front of a parametric speaker can hear the audio being transmitted. People to the sides of the parametric source hear little or no sound. The applications I had in mind for this technology include providing voice or sound effects to inanimate objects, recording EVPs, or in a seance, targeting a single spec to hear a spirit whispering to them where no one else hears a thing! Now that I've obtained the speaker, I'm becoming a little less optimistic for its applications. Although sound is focused in a tight beam, it does tend to reflect like a laser off whatever it hits, so you can hear it a little in a quiet room, although the target would hear it quite loudly. For an EVP type application, I would prefer it to be completely silent outside the beam, but I find the sound level is about %10 of the sound level within the beam. I may experiment with sound dampening material that I would set the 'recorder' on to reduce bounce. I also ran the transducers at half-power which helped. For the application of giving sound to an object, it works great. For example, I positioned the speaker in a corner of the room, and pointed it at my Ouija board on the coffee table to produce a rather disconcerting effect. It sounds as thought the Ouija board is emanating the sound effect, but how can it with no visible speakers? Aim it at an old wooden crate with scratching noises and it sounds like something is trying to claw its way out. I plan to combine the speaker with a blue-tooth audio receiver so that effects can be managed by a nearby laptop or IPad. The developer kit is small enough that it doesn't reveal much. Anyone else experimenting with parametric speakers for bizarre applications? |
george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts |
First time I'veheard of it. If it worked as stated I could see many applications for it but it seems it ddoesn't work 100% as the description claims, if it was only heard by a person its aimed at it would be fantastic.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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Brynmore14 Inner circle The Séance Chamber 1815 Posts |
I do recall some discussion about this product in previous threads but they died a quiet death a while back.
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David Parr V.I.P. 898 Posts |
I encountered this tech some years ago, when one of the museums here did an exhibit of props and costumes from the Harry Potter movies. Standing in front of a life-sized dementor, I suddenly heard the voice of Voldemort whispering "You will lose everything..." It was very unsettling and impressive. Outside of that spot, the voice was inaudible. But there were other ambient sound effects in that area, as well as the hubbub of visitors, so those factors may have contributed to the effectiveness of the device. It was cool though. I stayed in that area for quite a while, shifting around to different places. So I think this tech is applicable only in very specific conditions, and the silence and heightened focus of a séance room might not provide the most effective environment.
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AttnPls Special user 554 Posts |
I have the sound lazer. I do NOT recommend it. It will not do what you want it to do.
First, please be careful with the soundlazer. It emits 114db and it WILL make your ears hurt if you are too close to the unit or listen to it for any period of time. I would think twice or three times about pointing this thing at anybody. You could potentially permanently damage their hearing if not used correctly and from a distance. Second, the key to truly directional sound is the size of the speaker array. The wider the array, the more focused the beam of sound that is created. The sound laser is only a few inches wide which creates a diffuse beam of sound, like a flashlight. It's loudest in the middle, but you can still hear it from the sides. If you purchase a speaker built for commercial applications, like museums, etc. the speaker will be 15 inches or more across. These speakers will create a focused beam of sound that can travel quite a long distance. The soundlaser is too small to be effective and an enormous liability issue. The only use I can see for it would be to bounce sound around the room from a long distance. You could use it to give the effect that the sound source is oddly moving around the room. Most users will want a tightly focused sound beam that is relatively silent outside the beam. For that you'll need to pick up a used commercial parametric speaker on Ebay for a few hundred dollars. They run $1,000+ new. Sound still bounces, so the true application of this technology is limited to situations where you have good control over the environment. |
Keruptis New user 51 Posts |
Actually, since I have been experimenting with the soundlazer, I have been having better luck.
As far as hearing, this is not a speaker you want to position 12 inches away and beam into your hear listening to Wormwood by Tristania, although I tried that, but there really wasn't enough bass. In terms of decibels, rock concerts are 125 decibels. So, the key, as you mention, AttnPls, is distance. Also, I am having good results using whispering. It is barely audible outside the 'flashlight' beam, and freaky as hell inside it. Currently, I am experimenting with effects such as the 'Whispering Buddha'. Also, scratching noises can be directed at any object and it sounds like the scratches are emitting from it. Likely not a device you would walk into someone's home and try to set-up for a performance, I think Pandora would be great for that. But it might be a device that can be set-up in a theatre in advance, directed at two different tables on the side of the stage to record 'EVPs', or in a seance, directed at the 'sensitive' who is communing with the deceased. They will hear fully audible whispers, and those to their side will hear a creepy inaudible sound. Right now I am focused purely on the technology, not the theater. Personally, I prefer very subtle supernatural effects, too much, and like a bad movie, it pulls the spec from their suspension of disbelief. I do agree the $1000+ models would nail the effect, but I am not ready to give up.... yet. |
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