binaural_triptych
for headphones
electronics composed and programmed by benjamin j. penwell
binaural_triptych is a set of 3 pieces composed for 4 sine waves, split into two hard-panned (dichotic) pairs of sines for each ear. The pieces use both traditional beating, as well as binaural beating. Binaural beats are a psycho-acoustic auditory illusion in which another set of non-existent beats are produced in the listener’s mind as a byproduct of auditory processing in the brain – when closely tuned frequencies (especially pure tones) are listened to dichotically, in attempting to combine the two signals, the brain attempts to correct the discrepancy by creating illusory beating patterns.
The pieces require headphones to be heard correctly, as the effect of binaural beating cannot be accurately reproduced on speakers. All panning and volume changes are produced solely by manipulating the frequencies of the sine waves to create interference patterns.
The pieces are best listened to at a loud volume on good-quality headphones.
TIMECODES:
00:06 binaural_triptych_1_01
(medium low)
for 4 sine waves between 170.75 Hz and 200.04 Hz
12’44”
12:50 binaural_triptych_1_10
(low)
for 4 sine waves between 46.87 Hz and 67.50 Hz
5’43”
18:33 binaural_triptych_1_11
(medium high)
for 4 sine waves between 436.50 Hz and 471.53 Hz
7’10”