the colour of sounds

deanross · 25th August 2006

Hiya Bruce! I remember reading an interview with you some years back where you mentioned that you hear sounds as colours--you described the Minimoog bass as being "purple". I've always loved that sound (esp. when played by musicians like Greg Phillinganes!) I was just wondering, what colour do you perceive my personal favourite sound, the Hammond B-3/Leslie as, and how do you like to hear and treat it in a mix?

Best wishes,

Dean Ross

Kiwiburger · 26th August 2006

I'd be interested too - I think there is a connection between the frequencies of sound and the frequencies of lights, even though they are totally different in type and spectrum.

I find it interesting that humans tend to split the colors into an octave of 7 colors, which appear to repeat (even though we can only see one octave).

I'm not entirely sure that there is any consistency in the way humans relate sounds to vision - although it's fairly common.

sardi · 27th August 2006

Sorry to butt in but what your referring to is called Synesthesia. Visualizing sounds/musical frequencies as colours.

A mate of mine pointed me to a piece they did on it on the ABC website years ago. Very interesting.

**Reptil** · 28th August 2006

this one?
******//www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/...s/hr080796.htm

sardi · 30th August 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptil

this one?
******//www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/...s/hr080796.htm

Actually no. It was a full write up on a piece that went to air on ABC in Australia. Didnt have all those quotes like in the one you posted. I had a print out so I cant post a link.... was many years ago.

But thanks for this one. Im always interested in reading up on this.

25th August 2006	#1
deanross Gear interested Joined: Sep 2004 Location: London, England Posts: 3 Thread Starter	the colour of sounds Hiya Bruce! I remember reading an interview with you some years back where you mentioned that you hear sounds as colours--you described the Minimoog bass as being "purple". I've always loved that sound (esp. when played by musicians like Greg Phillinganes!) I was just wondering, what colour do you perceive my personal favourite sound, the Hammond B-3/Leslie as, and how do you like to hear and treat it in a mix? Best wishes, Dean Ross

27th August 2006	#3
sardi Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 1,233	Sorry to butt in but what your referring to is called Synesthesia. Visualizing sounds/musical frequencies as colours. A mate of mine pointed me to a piece they did on it on the ABC website years ago. Very interesting. __________________ Available & forthcoming releases: http://www.myspace.com/sardisonics

28th August 2006	#4
Reptil Moderator Joined: Dec 2004 Location: in a low orbit Posts: 19,384 1 Review written	this one? *****//www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/...s/hr080796.htm __________________ CONVERTERS FOR SALE HERE: link*

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26th August 2006	#2
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	I'd be interested too - I think there is a connection between the frequencies of sound and the frequencies of lights, even though they are totally different in type and spectrum. I find it interesting that humans tend to split the colors into an octave of 7 colors, which appear to repeat (even though we can only see one octave). I'm not entirely sure that there is any consistency in the way humans relate sounds to vision - although it's fairly common.