Twenty Thousand Hertz

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

Design
Arts
Music Commentary
176
THX Deep Note Part 2: How a lost file shaped mo...
What happened after THX lost its iconic "Deep Note"?
25 min
177
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
178
Amen Break: The world’s most sampled drum beat
The history of what might be the most sampled piece of music ever.
21 min
179
Ultrasonic Tracking: Are our phones really list...
Your phone might be eavesdropping on you.
21 min
180
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
181
Broadway to Cirque du Soleil: Sound design for ...
Sound design's critical role in theater and concerts.
20 min
182
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
183
Epileptic Symphonies: Turning seizures into music
Brant Guichard hears music every time he has a seizure.
26 min
184
Hamilton: Crafting the sound of the Broadway sm...
Find out how sound design draws the audience into the story.
27 min
185
False Alarm: How the Emergency Alert System wen...
Explore the history of the notification system that keeps us safe.
23 min
186
Muzak: How background music took over the world
The company that changed the way public spaces sound.
16 min
187
Six O'Clock Soundtrack: The art of TV news music
How television news got its score.
23 min
188
314-914-6093: When Michelle Obama tweets your p...
What does Twitter sound like when it comes to life?
22 min
189
The Gift: Dr. Amar Bose’s audio legacy
In this special Holiday Edition, we uncover an incredible gift to sound and research.
21 min
190
Facebook & Google Pixel: Designing the perfect ...
We explore user interface sounds.
22 min
191
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
192
Disney Parks: How Imagineers use sound to encha...
How does sound design shape our theme park experience?
19 min
193
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
194
Acoustical Umbilical Cord: Why crying makes us ...
Why do we cry? ...and how do our tears in adulthood make us distinctively human?
20 min
195
Level Up: How video games tell an immersive sto...
Games are often defined by their graphics. How does sound for games work?
20 min
196
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
197
Sonic Seasoning: Can sound affect our taste buds?
How does our sense of hearing affect our taste buds?
16 min
198
Fight or Flight: Why airplane sounds make us an...
Does flying make you nervous? You’re not alone. Dive into the psychological aspects of how sound can trigger these fears, and find out what all of those sounds really are.
23 min
199
Sound Firsts: Landmark recordings in history
What are the oldest sound recordings in history?
26 min
200
Noise Pollution: The hidden costs
Airplanes, construction, motorcycles - How have these everyday sounds affected our lives and what are the environmental and health repercussions?
17 min