Twenty Thousand Hertz

Prop ‘til You Drop

In part 2 of our exploration of Foley, the Warner Brothers Foley team takes us into the all-important prop room. Along the way, they demonstrate how they make the sounds for flapping birds, breaking bones, cracking ice, handling guns, and more. Featuring Foley Artists Alyson Moore and Chris Moriana, and Foley Mixer Darrin Mann.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Watch The Sounds of Space: A sonic adventure to other worldsSubscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/20k.Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications, and quicker hiring times.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/proptilyoudrop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Foley Artists

When it comes to film sound, "Foley Artist" might be the most important job you've never heard of. These performers record custom, synchronized sound effects to create the sounds for characters' footsteps, movements, and much more. It's exhausting and delicate work, and when it's done right, the audience doesn't even notice it's there. In this episode, we tour the Warner Brothers Foley stage with Foley Artists Alyson Moore and Chris Moriana, and Foley Mixer Darrin Mann.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/20k.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/foleyartists Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Leaky Pipeline

In the late 80s, a small French company found a way to pair analog film with pristine digital audio. But getting their system into theaters would involve a long legal battle, hiding out in a Vegas bathroom, and a last-ditch meeting with a famous director. Their struggle is part of a larger narrative about the groundbreaking work of women in the field of professional audio. Featuring audio engineer Leslie Gaston-Bird and LC Concept co-founder Elisabeth Löchen.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get a free one month trial of Headspace at headspace.com/hertz.Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/20k.Purchase Women in Audio, by Leslie Gaston-Bird.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/theleakypipeline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Auditory Icons

We live in a designed world, and alert tones are no exception. Every beep and ping that your phone or laptop makes probably went through multiple rounds of revisions and approvals. So what separates a good device sound from a bad one? This story comes from the Wireframe podcast, and features sound designer Connor Moore and psychoacoustic expert Susan Rogers.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Check out Wireframe wherever you get your podcastsEpisode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/auditoryicons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Progression Obsession

There are a few specific chord progressions that show up again and again in popular music. Across hundreds of hit songs, the same basic musical formulas have been used by artists ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd to Lady Gaga, and from Bob Marley to Blink-182. So where did these musical tropes even come from, and what makes them so enduring? Featuring music journalist Jennifer Gersten and comedic musician Benny Davis. Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k.Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/progressionobsession Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SM7

Since their founding almost a century ago, Shure has created some of the most iconic microphones ever made. In this episode, we worked with Shure to tell the story of the SM7 dynamic microphone: from its humble beginnings in voiceover studios in the early 70s, to its use on classic albums, to its rediscovery by podcasters and streamers.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sm7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Minecraft

Since its official release in 2011, Minecraft has grown from a small, experimental indie game into the best-selling video game of all time. Today, the game's haunting music and quirky sound effects are just as iconic as its blocky visuals. In this episode, composer and sound designer Daniel Rosenfeld (also known as C418) unpacks how he created the original music and sounds for the game.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k.Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com.Visit c418.bandcamp.com to purchase Daniel’s music.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/minecraft Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#118 | 20th Century Fox

The melodic fanfare that introduces every 20th Century Fox movie was first composed almost a hundred years ago. Since then, it's become one of the most enduring and recognizable pieces of music in modern history. It's survived company acquisitions, competition from television, and changing trends in Hollywood. But nothing lasts forever. Featuring interviews with Academy Award-nominated composer David Newman and film historian Aubrey Solomon.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications and quicker hiring times.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/20thcenturyfox Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#117 | The Deterrent Tone

The Long-Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, was developed for the military for long-range communication at sea. But this ear-splitting device has also been fired on protesters across America, resulting in lawsuits and permanent hearing loss. In this episode, we explore the history, science and effects of the so-called “sound cannon.” Featuring tech journalist Lynne Peskoe-Yang and activist Michele Lindor.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Check out Lynne’s work at lynnepeskoeyang.comGet a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k.Compare home and car insurance rates at policygenius.com.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thedeterrenttone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#116 | I'm Lovin' It

Since its introduction in 2003, the McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle has become one of the most recognizable melodies in the world. This is the story of how a catchy five-note jingle conquered the planet, from its humble beginnings at a German ad agency, to being sung by globally famous pop stars. Featuring interviews with "I'm Lovin' It" composers Tom Batoy and Franco Tortora of Mona Davis Beat.Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit.Subscribe to our Youtube channel here.Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at Stamps.com. Just click the microphone at the top right corner and type the promo code 20k.Hiring? Sign up at Indeed.com/Hertz and get a $75 credit to sponsor your first job post for better visibility, more applications and quicker hiring times.Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/imlovinit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices