Sound because of Sight...

[-K2-]

Nothing very scientific about this, no enlightening article and so on, yet I noticed something interesting tonight. In another thread I posted this video because I thought it was well performed: Jimmy Fallon, Brendon Urie & The Roots Remix "Under Pressure" (At-Home Instruments) . In it are twelve men, each making different sounds with various objects. Now I'm just using rather basic stereo headphones, nothing fancy...but I noticed when I concentrate on one of the twelve men, the particular sounds they're making come through very clearly, contrasting with the all inclusive image and indistinct sounds.

I'm not particularly surprised. But, it was (for me) a rather glaring example of how visuals help our minds to break up and sort out individual sounds out of a group of sounds, no doubt by matching the noise to both the motion and what we expect the sound to be for that object.

Anywho...simple minds, simple pleasures I suppose. Hehe

K2

 

[Alex The G and T]

That was fun. As you say, one definitely hears more clearly of the musician being eyed.

I had the opposite problem with the MTV generation. Having 30 years, already, experiencing music as a purely auditory experience, listening to the ole Stereo system, in the dark; for the purest appreciation. Sure, at a live concert, (whichever genre, high brow or low) one might focus on one particular musician or another; but still, the purest form is to focus on nothing but the sounds as they wash over and through the mind.

Occasionally something cool might have shown up at the local theater: Fantasia, Pink Floyd at Pompei, Tommy, Quadrophenia...

Then, this whole business of music videos made stars out of idiots and minimized the talents of some great musicians because they had cheesy videos.

Video Killed the Radio Star, I guess.

 

[The Judge]

I'm not particularly surprised. But, it was (for me) a rather glaring example of how visuals help our minds to break up and sort out individual sounds out of a group of sounds, no doubt by matching the noise to both the motion and what we expect the sound to be for that object.

I don't watch or listen to music to notice its effect there, but in ordinary conversation this is definitely the case -- people have laughed when I've said I hear better with my specs on, but I find being able to see someone's face as they talk makes distinguishing what they're saying so much easier. I thought this was just me, but apparently associations for the deaf are saying one of the drawbacks of everyone wearing masks due to Covid19 is that those who have poor hearing will struggle even more.