Twenty Thousand Hertz

The stories behind the world’s most iconic and fascinating sounds.

Design
Arts
Music Commentary
176
Loop Groups: The art of movie background chatter
We go behind the scene with the actors responsible for bringing your TV and film backgrounds to life.
25 min
177
Slot Machines: The addictive power of sound
The sound design and science behind today's slot machines.
16 min
178
Misophonia: Why we can't stand certain sounds
The hatred of sound.
16 min
179
THX Deep Note Part 2: How a lost file shaped mo...
What happened after THX lost its iconic "Deep Note"?
25 min
180
The THX Deep Note: From chaos to cinematic legend
What was the point of the THX "deep note" and why do we love it so much?
23 min
181
Amen Break: The world’s most sampled drum beat
The history of what might be the most sampled piece of music ever.
21 min
182
Ultrasonic Tracking: Are our phones really list...
Your phone might be eavesdropping on you.
21 min
183
ASMR: Why certain sounds give you tingles
We explore the autonomous sensory meridian response, a phenomenon where certain sounds can trigger a pleasant physical reaction.
22 min
184
Broadway to Cirque du Soleil: Sound design for ...
Sound design's critical role in theater and concerts.
20 min
185
Hidden Melodies: Discovering the music in our s...
Your voice is an instrument, and the way you choose to sing your words can communicate a lot.
15 min
186
Epileptic Symphonies: Turning seizures into music
Brant Guichard hears music every time he has a seizure.
26 min
187
Hamilton: Crafting the sound of the Broadway sm...
Find out how sound design draws the audience into the story.
27 min
188
False Alarm: How the Emergency Alert System wen...
Explore the history of the notification system that keeps us safe.
23 min
189
Muzak: How background music took over the world
The company that changed the way public spaces sound.
16 min
190
Six O'Clock Soundtrack: The art of TV news music
How television news got its score.
23 min
191
314-914-6093: When Michelle Obama tweets your p...
What does Twitter sound like when it comes to life?
22 min
192
The Gift: Dr. Amar Bose’s audio legacy
In this special Holiday Edition, we uncover an incredible gift to sound and research.
21 min
193
Facebook & Google Pixel: Designing the perfect ...
We explore user interface sounds.
22 min
194
Let It Beep: The rise and fall of the Mac start...
Who was behind the infamous Mac sounds that have become part of your daily routine?
16 min
195
Disney Parks: How Imagineers use sound to encha...
How does sound design shape our theme park experience?
19 min
196
Spooky Sounds: The secrets of horror sound design
How does Hollywood create the terrifying sounds in our favorite scary movies, and why does our brain react to those sounds with fear?
23 min
197
Acoustical Umbilical Cord: Why crying makes us ...
Why do we cry? ...and how do our tears in adulthood make us distinctively human?
20 min
198
Level Up: How video games tell an immersive sto...
Games are often defined by their graphics. How does sound for games work?
20 min
199
Watergate: How a tape recorder brought down a p...
How did an open reel tape recorder secretly planted in the White House basement lead to the demise of the 37th President of the United States?
23 min
200
Sonic Seasoning: Can sound affect our taste buds?
How does our sense of hearing affect our taste buds?
16 min