TED

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
When was the last time you stopped and really listened to birdsong? Ever wonder what they’re singing about? We chat to Kenn Kaufman and Dr. Irene Pepperberg about the extraordinary complexity to the avian arias, how they’re produced, what they…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
We unpack how touch tone dialing changed communication forever. Join us on a deep, quirky dive into telephone history. We’ll also deconstruct these sounds and reveal their hidden brilliance. Featuring author Annabel Dodd and telephone aficiona…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Movie trailers have undergone a huge evolution. They’ve gone from those cheesy voice-of-God narrators in the ‘80s and ‘90s, to boojes and bwaas. Professor James Deaville delivers the history of trailers, and Youtuber Craven Moorhaus offers a h…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Have you noticed how loud it gets in restaurants these days? Have you found yourselves shouting just to keep a conversation going? Architecture critic Kate Wagner explains how changing design trends have led to dining experiences that aren’t j…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Alarm sounds have been around almost as long as humans themselves. But as our world has transformed, so have they. Today’s alarms are having an unexpected effect on our minds and bodies, and can even be putting our lives at risk when we’re at …

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
For decades, NFL strategy slowly evolved from each team running a dozen different plays, to rigid schemes with coaches sending in orders through codewords and secret signals. Then, one piece of audio technology revolutionized the game. Beginni…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Our world is filled with sound. It exists in even the quietest corners of the planet. But what happens when all that sound is taken away? What is silence? There are very few places on Earth where silence actually exists, but in this episode, D…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
What happens when we leave Earth’s thin blanket of atmosphere, and what do other planets sound like? In this special episode, we have completely remixed one of our favorite shows! It’s been re-written, re-edited, re-narrated, has new music, an…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Beatboxing began as an imitation of a drum machine, but over the decades it has evolved as a means to emulate any number of percussive sounds. Now beatboxing is being studied by scientists who are fascinated by the vocal dexterity of artists. …

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Hollywood films are huge internationally. But how are these films adapted for foreign languages? We delve into the not so talked about process of dubbing. Featuring the world’s most popular voice actors, directors, and producers. Featuring: An…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
The Xbox startup sound is an audio logo that’s become synonymous with the game console. But its origins are rooted in solving a logistical problem; how to entertain gamers while they wait for their machines to finish booting up. Featuring Soun…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
The “golden age of radio drama” may have been a stellar period for storytelling — but the stories weren’t all golden bright. Sci-fi and horror radio dramas explored deep anxieties people felt from the Depression through the Cold War, and set …

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
If you’ve ever watched an old sci-fi or horror film, you’ve probably heard the hair-tingling, alien sounds of the Theremin. It’s a spooky, strange instrument that’s played without being touched, and has become a staple for classic horror movie…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Cartoon sound effects are some of the most iconic sounds ever made. Even modern cartoons continue to use the same sound effects from decades ago. How were these legendary sounds made and how have they stood the test of time? Featuring Oscar-wi…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
50 episodes! When we launched this podcast two years ago, we never imagined our passion project would come this far. To mark the occasion, we’re taking a peek behind the scenes of the show. Join the Defacto Sound team as they take you into the…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Odds are if we asked you sing your favorite advertising jingle from when you were a kid, you’d be able to recall every single lyric. Yet we don’t hear many advertising jingles these days. Why is that? This is the story of the rise, fall, and b…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
We are constantly exposed to sonic branding in television, radio, and web commercials. We deconstruct some of the most impactful audio logos in history and explain how the brain interprets them. Featuring Scott Simonelli, CEO of Veritonic and …

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
Invisible actors create worlds of sound in everything you watch – from Jaws to The Wire. With special guests, Carl Gottlieb, screenwriter and author of “The Jaws Log”; Dann Fink, loop group director and co-owner of Loopers Unlimited; Stuart St…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
What do you hear when you walk into a Casino? It can feel like chaos, but each sound is carefully curated to draw you in and make you stay. One collection of sounds are scientifically and artistically designed to keep the gambler, gambling. Sl…

Twenty Thousand Hertz http://www.20k.org by TED
The way our brains process sound affects the way we respond to sound. This episode is about why that happens in those who suffer from misophonia, the hatred of certain sounds. Featuring researcher Dr. Phillip Gander, psychologist Dr. Ali Mattu…