One of the most important aspects when creating either a subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal audio recording is to ensure that the volume or amplitude of the message, sound, masking or brainwave tracks be set at the correct level. This article discusses what these levels should be and why the quality of your recording depends on it.

Although not exactly the same as loudness, amplitude is closely related to it and is measured using the decibel scale. Once you have created the supporting tracks to be used in the final recording, the amplitude or decibel level of each will have to be adjusted before mixing the tracks together. How this is done is dependent on the type of recording and is completely different for subliminal, supraliminal and paraliminal recordings.

Subliminal Recordings and Amplitude

By definition, a subliminal recording is a mixture of two audio tracks, one presenting the message statements and a second that acts as a masking track. The messages must be perceptible by the brain, but not quite audible to the conscious mind. The masking track is completely audible and also acts to make the recording sound more interesting to the ear.

When you first build the audio message track, it should be at a normal level of volume and this is necessary in order to verify that the message statements have been created properly. It is also important that whether you record your own message statements or generate them using text-to-speech software that they sound consistent.

By consistent it is meant that the amplitude or loudness of each statement be at the same level. Also, the speed and manner in which the message statements are presented should be reasonably slow and sound calm and relaxing. The best strategy when creating the message track is to pretend that you are talking to a young child.

The masking audio track should also be consistent and be relaxing to the listener. Sound clips that are erratic in volume and have many highs and lows in loudness are not recommended in any way. Using relaxing music or nature sounds is a much better choice.

Once you have built both the audio message and masking sound tracks and are satisfied with them, you will have to consider adjusting their level of volume or amplitude before mixing them together to create the final recording. The difference in amplitude between the message track and the masking track should be approximately 15 decibels, but this can vary either way by several decibels.

A common mistake made by people new to creating subliminal recordings and unfortunately even some companies that sell them is that they reduce the amplitude of the message track by too large a degree. Instead of reducing it by 15 decibels, it may be lowered it by as much as 30 to 40 decibels. In doing so, they may make the message statements physically inaudible and effectively render the final recording useless.

The software program you choose in mixing your message and masking tracks will provide you with the ability to adjust amplitude levels and it may take repeated attempts before you arrive at just the right sound levels. Even though the software is precise in how this is done, the best judge should still be your ears.

It is suggested that you listen to each track and the potential final mixed recording repeatedly until you are satisfied that the messages can be heard and that they are not overwhelmed by the masking sound track. It will likely be necessary to greatly increase the volume of the sound system of your computer in order to do this.

Supraliminal Recordings and Amplitude

With a supraliminal recording, both the message track and the accompanying sound track are designed to be completely audible. It is also important that the message track include a short initial segment designed to relax the body and optionally, the mind of the listener.

But even though both the message and accompanying sound track should be audible, it does not mean that they should be mixed at the same level of amplitude. This is an often overlooked point when building supraliminal recordings.

As with a subliminal audio recording, both the message and sound tracks should be created in the best way possible. Aside from the additional introductory relaxation segment in the message track, there is no difference between a subliminal and supraliminal recording except for the amplitude levels of the supporting audio tracks.

How they are mixed is important and it is suggested that you adjust the amplitude of each track appropriately. If you have created both the message and sound tracks properly, then they should each be consistent in how they sound. They will likely be at approximately the same level of amplitude or loudness.

But before mixing the message and sound tracks together it is advised that you adjust the amplitude of the message track. The message statements should be audible, but they should seem almost like someone was politely and calmly speaking to you as you were falling asleep.

If the message track was created by applying the guidelines suggested previously for subliminal recordings, then it should be calm, relaxing and consistent. The same principles apply to the sound track that you decide to include in the final recording.

For a supraliminal recording the message track should be reduced in amplitude by approximately 5 decibels. The reason for doing this is so that even though both the message and sound tracks are audible, the message track will sound more comforting to the listener at slightly lower amplitude.

Paraliminal Recordings and Amplitude

A paraliminal recording is considerably different than a subliminal or supraliminal recording. It normally includes three or more different audio tracks instead of the two that are commonly used in subliminal or supraliminal recordings. The additional track included is a brainwave track and it is designed to induce a relaxed mental state by using binaural tones.

The brainwave track must be created using two channels or in stereo because it is usually necessary to present different sound frequencies to each ear in order to achieve the desired effect. The desired effect is to induce a state of mind so that the listener experiences an alpha, theta or delta brain experience. By doing so, the listener becomes more receptive to the message statements presented in the audio message track.

Each of the other audio tracks must also be created in stereo, because if one must be in stereo then the others must also be built in the same manner. The tracks included in the final recording must always be built using two channels.

The three tracks required, message, sound and brainwave, should also be adjusted with respect to their amplitude before mixing the final recording. The audio message track should be slightly lower in amplitude than the sound track by approximately 5 decibels.

The brainwave track should be slightly be above audible perception and be at least 20 decibels lower in amplitude than the sound track. The reason for doing this is that the binaural tones presented in the brainwave track can become irritating to the listener and there is no benefit in doing so.

Again, the best way to judge the volume or amplitude levels of each of the recording components is to listen carefully before you decide to mix them together.

In conclusion, it is highly important that you mix each of your supporting audio tracks in the best way possible. Part of this involves adjusting the volume, loudness or amplitude of them before attempting to mix them together when creating your final recording. Doing this may require additional time, but it is usually worth the effort involved and likely that the recordings you create will be more satisfying to your listeners.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Before you begin recording and mixing your message, sound, masking or brainwave tracks, it is important that you adopt standards with respect to their characteristics. Each component should be digitally recorded in the same manner so that it is easier to mix your final recording and reuse them in future recordings. This article discusses these issues in detail and explains why this is to your advantage.

Regardless of what method you use to create or mix the different audio clips needed for your recording, each has certain attributes relating to the digital audio file type, sample size, number of channels and the sampling rate. Even if a recorded audio clip was not recorded digitally, it will have to be converted to digital and the same characteristics should be used.

Why Use Standard Characteristics?

It requires effort on your part to create each audio component and mix them together so that you end up with the type of recording desired. By adopting standards you will exert less effort in creating your recordings. The reason for this is it will not be necessary to convert each one into a common format before mixing them.

An advantage you gain by doing this is time and the disadvantage is that it may require additional storage space. Given a choice between the two, and the continuing reduction in the cost of memory and disk storage devices, it is more cost effective to adopt a standard format for your recording components.

There is another benefit in that when you decide to reuse an existing audio component, such as a message clip or brainwave track, you will not need to convert it before using it in a new recording.

Audio File Recording Format

There are different file formats that can store digital audio clips, but the suggested one to use is the WAV format. This represents audio that is stored in an uncompressed digital format and is widely accepted.

Storing your recorded or generated audio segments in a compressed format such as MP3 is not initially recommended. This should only be done after the final recording is built and only after careful consideration as to compression quality issues.

A WAV file is a digital representation of the audio clip, but an MP3, OGG or other compressed format is actually a data file that describes to a digital player how to play the file. They are completely different and any compressed file will have to be converted back into WAV or another format in order for mixing.

Also, a WAV file retains the original audio characteristics of the clip, whereas a compressed version sounding virtually identical can result in a loss of audio information. Each time you mix or combine different audio clips for your final recording, using compressed versions of them means that you are could be reducing the desired effect of your recording.

Using the WAV audio file type for all of your initial and intermediate recording components almost guarantees that the subliminal messages will be audible, and at the desired low level of volume. If you were to compress each of your audio segments, then it is possible that you could lose some quality with respect to the subliminal messages as you progressively mixed the audio components together.

Digital Sampling Rates and Sample Size

A standard music CD or Compact Disc is a digital representation of the original and attempts to reproduce it in the best way. This is done by sampling the original analog recording at extremely frequent intervals and converting those samples into numbers that a computer sound processor can understand and reproduce.

In order to achieve the best sounding digital recording, both the number of times per second the recording is sampled and the size of the sample are important. For a CD recording, the sample rate is 44,100 times per second (44.1 KHz) and each sample represents a number. That number can have approximately 64,000 different values and is stored as a 16 digit binary number.

It is suggested that you use the same sample rate and sample size when creating each of your recording audio segments. This will prevent any loss of quality as you progress to mixing your final recording.

Even though it may seem to be inefficient to store your recording segments using these attributes, it is likely to your benefit. The additional sound, masking or even brainwave audio tracks must be recorded at a high standard. Since you will have to eventually mix all of these components together, adopting a standard format will save you time.

Using Mono or Stereo

It is tempting to record or generate all your message, masking, sound or brainwave tracks using either one or two sound channels, but this depends on the nature of the individual recording component.

Using both left and right channels for any audio segment of your recording means that it will require double the amount of storage space. Only certain tracks or mixtures of them should be built in stereo.

For audio message clips, it is suggested that they be created only using one track. The reason for doing this is that they may be later mixed in different manners for another recording. You may choose to build an audio message segment using both left and right channels for one of your recordings.

If recorded in mono, then you can easily later combine them in any way desired, but if they were in stereo, then you would have to separate them. Doing this would only add additional effort to what you want to accomplish. The secondary advantage is that mono recording segments use only half as much storage as stereo audio segments.

To summarize, using a standard set of characteristics when creating your subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recordings will save you time and reduce any effort involved in converting between different audio formats. It will also enable you to reuse any of the audio clips that you have already created and may desire to use in creating a new recording.

The standards you may wish to adopt when creating your recording components are suggested as follows:

• Record basic and intermediate audio segments in the WAV format
• Suggested digital sample size should be 16-bits
• The preferred sample frequency is 44,100 Hz.
• Basic audio message segments should be recorded in mono

Following these suggestions should only help you to create better recordings, but more importantly to save storage space and to organize your audio recording components more efficiently.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

A masking or accompanying sound track is important for any type of subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording. They can be recorded, obtained for no or some cost and also be generated. This article focuses on generating these sound tracks and provides guidelines as to how to do this in the best manner.

If you decide to generate your sound or masking tracks you will need the basic knowledge as to what to do and in the proper way. It is necessary that you first consider what is desired in the sound or masking track. Also important is the software program chosen and the features that it should have.

Desirable Sound Track Features

The sound track that you create should be relaxing and soothing and also be consistent in how it sounds. Software programs can generate these sound clips if you understand what the target characteristics are.

The preferred choice is to use sounds of nature and be able to generate and adjust them in a suitable way. Nature sounds are highly appealing and the variations of them can be almost infinite.

There are choices with respect to the sound of rainfalls, waterfalls, babbling brook, thunderstorms, gentle rain, windstorms, and many others. You should seek to create a small library of reusable and different sounding nature audio clips if possible.

You should also be able to choose secondary sounds so that your masking or sound track is more appealing. Gentle ocean waves can be relaxing, but using them exclusively can make the sound track seem repetitive and somewhat boring.

Including secondary and random sounds of nature will only serve to make the sound segment seem more appealing to listeners. Random sounds of birds or insects render the sound clip more interesting to listen to.

Preferred Physical Sound Characteristics

In addition to how the generated audio sounds to the ear, it is also important that it have certain physical characteristics. The most important of these is that it is possible to save the generated output file in the WAV format. Other compressed formats such as MP3 or OGG are preferable, but not necessary. Although the WAV output file is larger than a compressed format, using it makes it easier to mix the sound track with other tracks to build the final recording.

There should also be considerations for the audio output sample rate, sample size and the number of channels. The ideal frequency sampling rate should be 44,100 Hz, the sample size 16-bit and created using one or two channels. These settings are desirable for all audio recording components because it provides a common standard and avoids conversion issues when mixing audio segments.

Ideal Software Program Features

Ideally, a program chosen to generate sound clips to use in a recording would have certain features, but this may not always be possible. A list of desirable features would be as follows:

• Available for most operating platforms
• Have no cost or a reasonable cost
• Trial version available
• Easily downloadable
• Easy to use graphical interface
• Include basic nature sound templates
• Allow secondary random sounds to be used
• Full documentation and help available
• Allow generated audio output saved in WAV format
• Permit control over physical audio characteristics
• Allows control over length or size of generated recording
• Provides controls for adjusting recording levels
• No royalty payments required

Of the programs available that can generate sound clips, most usually focus on either nature sounds or brainwave sounds. There are a greater number of software programs capable of generating brainwave tracks then there are those dedicated to generating nature sounds. The discussion of programs that can generate brainwave entrainment or binaural sounds is provided in a different article.

An important consideration when selecting a software program is to be able to generate nature sound clips without being charged royalty fees or additional licensing fees. This can be significant if you decide to market and sell your final recordings.

Recommended Software

One of the most popular software programs available for generating sounds of nature is Atmosphere Deluxe. It meets most of the desirable characteristics, but not all. Regrettably, it is only provided for the Windows platform. A free trial version is available and you may wish to download and test it. Below is a screenshot of Atmosphere Deluxe.

There are three different versions of this program available: Atmosphere Lite, Atmosphere Lite Plus and Atmosphere Deluxe. Atmosphere Lite is completely free of charge but has limited features. Atmosphere Lite Plus is the midrange version and comes with additional sounds and features. Atmosphere Deluxe is the fully featured version and provides extra features and sounds that are more realistic.

All three are available for download and the Atmosphere Lite version has no usage restrictions. The Lite Plus and Deluxe versions are available as 21 day fully functional trial downloads and have a cost of $19.95 USD and $34.95 USD respectively.

The graphical interface is easy to use, basic nature sound templates (or presets) included, and random secondary sound control provided. Full documentation and online help is also available. The generated output file can be saved as a WAV file or converted into the MP3 format, although this is not recommended. The physical characteristics of the output audio are also controllable.

It is also possible to control the length of the generated audio output in terms of physical file size or time duration, and the audio levels of the selected recording device to use. This is highly important if you require the sound segment to be of a specific time length.

There are no royalty fees involved when using either version of Atmosphere, but it may be necessary to purchase a commercial license. This is only important if you decide to use the generated audio sounds in your recordings and sell them. If your recordings are only for personal use then it is not necessary to purchase a commercial license.

The cost for obtaining a commercial license for the full version, or Atmosphere Deluxe is approximately $98 USD. This permits you to generate audio segments to be used in the final subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording at no additional charge and sell them in any way chosen without royalty costs.

Even if you decide that the Atmosphere software is not suitable for your purposes, it is worthwhile to at least experiment with this program and you can obtain the software from www.relaxingsoftware.com.

To conclude, you have different options available with respect to creating a masking or sound track. Using sounds of nature that are generated by a computer program is an excellent choice if you understand what is required.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Before attempting to create a subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal audio recordings, you should be certain that you have the minimal hardware components to do so. This applies not only to your computer, but also certain additional devices that are likely of benefit. Understanding this before you begin can prepare you and avoid potential problems and frustrations. But if you are a power user and have a computer system that is relatively new, then you can likely skip this article.

The basic computer hardware requirements necessary to be able to create audio recordings are grouped in the following categories: 

• CPU and Memory
• Disk Storage Devices
• Audio Subsystem
• External Speakers and Headphones
• External Recording and Playback Devices
• CD and DVD Recording Devices
• Microphones

CPU and Memory

Regardless of the computer system you are using, it should have a powerful enough central processing unit (CPU) to be able to handle the tasks involved in building your recordings. Faster is always better, because it will take less time to perform the audio tasks necessary such as extraction, creation, editing, generation, compression and most importantly, mixing.

This does not suggest that a less recent computer with a slower CPU will prevent you from creating subliminal or other audio recordings. It only means that some of the process intensive tasks involving manipulating audio tracks may take more time to complete. As a consequence, performing other tasks at the same time may be more difficult to do with a slower CPU.

If you have an older computer and patience, then the speed of the CPU may not make a difference to you. However, at a minimum, the speed of the CPU should be at least 2 Gigahertz.

Equally important is having a sufficient amount or random access memory (RAM) in your computer. Having more is always more beneficial and a suggested minimum is 2 or more Gigabytes. You can usually add more memory to your computer system and this will only be to your advantage.

Disk Storage Devices

In addition to being able to quickly manipulate the audio segments of any recording, you will also need to store them on a local or attached disk drive. How much disk storage space is required depends on how many recording components you build and how large they are.

As a reference, consider any standard audio music CD you may already have acquired. Each minute of uncompressed CD-DA (Compact Disc Digital Audio) at the standard 16-bit stereo sampling rate of 44.1 kHz requires approximately 10 megabytes of storage space. An average such CD would contain roughly 64 minutes of dedicated music for a raw total of 650 megabytes.

The actual amount (about 720 megabytes) is higher because of time gaps between tracks and the use of error correction to compensate for flaws and skips in the physical CD media.

When creating subliminal or other similar recording types, there are different steps involved and each requires storage space. The more disk storage space you have the better, but it is also possible to back them up to either a recordable CD or DVD. Another option to consider is connecting an additional external disk drive or storage device to your computer.

Audio Subsystem

Virtually all modern day computer systems provide the ability to record and present audio in different manners. If a music CD or movie DVD can be played on your computer to your satisfaction, then you likely have what is required and perhaps more.

Although a simple concern, it is important that stereo capability be provided by the audio subsystem and the ability to be controlled by software if possible. It will likely be necessary to adjust sound system controls so that they are in harmony with the method used in dealing with the audio segments for the recordings.

External Speakers and Headphones

If you have a desktop computer with speakers built-in to the attached monitor or imbedded in a laptop computer, you may wish to consider obtaining external speakers. The reason for doing this is that if the speakers are too close to each other then you may find it more difficult to recognize the differences between the left and right stereo channels during the playback of your recordings.

A quality pair of stereo headphones is also strongly suggested for listening to and verifying the quality of each recording or its components. Having a choice between using separate external speakers and a stereo headset is advisable. These components are readily available and at reasonable costs and should not be difficult to acquire.

External Recording and Playback Devices

You may need to use an external audio cassette player to import sound tracks into your computer. This may be necessary if you find suitable sound tracks that are only available on audio cassettes.

In order to do this you need an audio cassette player with stereo output and a patch cable to connect these devices to the input of the computer audio system. One end connects to the output of your portable device and the other plugged into the input of your audio sound card (e.g. line-in).

CD, DVD and other Recording Devices

Most recent computers have at least one CD/DVD drive and perhaps a combined or separate CD/DVD burner. If you wish to create your recordings on CDs then you will need this capability. Two devices (both player and burner) are better than one since it can be easier to duplicate finished recordings on CDs.

You can use blank DVDs of various types to produce your recordings but CDs are a simple choice and most existing computer or audio equipment can play audio CDs if created in the correct format. Producing a recording that more people are capable of listening to is always a better choice.

Microphones

An external microphone of good quality is necessary if you decide to record your own subliminal tracks which contain the subliminal messages. You can choose a standalone microphone that sits on a desk, a microphone-headset combination, a clip-on microphone and various others.

The most important aspect is that it permits you to comfortably record your vocal messages in a consistent manner. If you use a desktop microphone, then you will have to maintain a constant distance between it and your mouth. This may be difficult and uncomfortable for some people to do, especially if it takes 5 minutes or more to create a recording. This also holds true for built-in microphones in laptop computers.

A clip-on or combination headset-microphone allows you to keep this distance constant. Whichever one you get, try to perform multiple tests as to its quality, the quality of your voice and the quality of the recording. Your ears should be your best judge, so listen repeatedly until you are satisfied with the result.

To conclude, it is important that your computer system be capable in helping you creating recordings. The computer that you use should have the power to assist you in doing this, but equally important is that you have the knowledge to do this.

Whatever computer system you decide to use in building subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recordings, it needs to have the power and capabilities to create your recordings in the best way, and ideally in less time.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his websites relating to paternity testing at http://www.paternitytestinfo.net which provides help in confirming family genetic history and getting Home Testing kits for DNA.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Using text-to-speech (TTS) software to generate subliminal or other types of audio messages requires a voice engine and an application program that controls it. There are many TTS programs available and it is important to choose one that is suitable. This article describes what characteristics they can have and provides guidelines to aid in the selection process.

A text-to-speech application program allows the input of text and directs a voice engine in how the text is to be converted into audio. Although much simpler and smaller than a voice engine, it is just as important. The programs available can vary greatly with respect to the features they provide.

These features can be grouped into five categories: Cost, System Platform, User Interface, Voice Engine Controls and Audio Output Format.

Cost Considerations

One of the most important considerations is the cost of purchasing a TTS application. There are a few programs that are free of charge, but most are available on average for $30.00 USD. Regardless of the cost, the features provided can be substantially different.

A TTS program that is free of charge can actually have better features than another which has a cost. The reverse is also true in that one that you may have to pay for may not be as appealing or lack some desired characteristics.

Because text-to-speech technology requires both a voice engine and a front-end application, some voice suppliers will bundle their voices with a TTS application. Generally, this means that if you purchase their voice (or voices), the program may be included at no additional cost.

This can be of benefit but only if you are also looking for a suitable premium voice engine to use. If you have already decided on a particular voice engine and it includes a TTS program, then you may be able to save some money. But you should be certain that the voice offered is suitable for your needs.

One of the most popular TTS applications is TextAloud (Windows only) and it can be purchased separately or may be offered as a bonus when purchasing certain voices. If you find a voice that is preferable and TextAloud is included with it, then it suggested that you consider purchasing it if your operating system is a recent version of Microsoft Windows.

If all you require is a useful TTS program and already have a suitable voice engine, then you should consider a free program that is very useful. This is DSpeech and is completely free of charge, does not include annoying nag messages, has no spyware, no licensing fees and has many useful features. Regrettably, DSpeech is only presently available for the Windows platform. If you find it helpful you should consider providing a donation to the author, Dimitrios Coutsoumbas.

System Platform Concerns

Depending on which operating system your computer uses, you may have more or fewer options available to you. There are more TTS programs provided for the Windows platform than any other. This does not mean that there are no options available for MAC OS or Linux, but only that the choices can be limited.

Ideally, the voice engine chosen and the TTS program selected should both be available for all popular operating systems. Unfortunately, there are few voice suppliers that provide different voices and TTS software that work across all computer platforms.

One of the vendors that provide both is Cepstral and the voices they supply are compatible with most Windows versions, MAC OS, Linux, and other operating systems. As a bonus, Cepstral provides a TTS command-line interface program that works almost identically for each platform and also a Windows version with a graphical user interface, known as SwiftTalker. Both are more than capable of converting text into audio in an efficient manner.

Also important is that the TTS program supports the latest version of SAPI, which is an acronym for Speech Application Interface. The most commonly used versions of this are SAPI4 and SAPI5, but more recent versions such as SAPI 5.1 or 5.3 are available. It may be necessary to update your operating system to benefit from more recent versions.

User Interface Issues

The TTS program chosen to generate subliminal audio messages or other types will most likely have a graphical user interface (GUI), but it may also have a command line interface (CLI). Either can achieve the desired results, but for most people a windows type interface is preferred.

If you choose a TTS program that has a Windows type interface, then these are the basic features that are required.

• Permits data entry of the text to be converted
• Provides controls for starting and stopping speech
• Generates the converted speech as a WAV file
• Provides options for choosing output sample rate and size
• Provides controls for adjusting voice speed and pitch
• Allows Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) meta-tags

Other features as listed below are desirable and can make it easier to use the TTS program, but they are not absolutely necessary.

• Permits opening different input file types (.doc, .rtf, .txt, .html, .xml)
• Allows direct recording from microphone
• Permits pasting text from clipboard
• Provides controls for pausing, speaking from cursor, next sentence, etc.
• Allows control over voice engine selection
• Provides additional audio output formats (WAV, MP3 or OGG)
• Provides options for audio format (channels, sample rate and size)
• Provides controls for voice engine volume, speed and pitch
• Allows selection of different SAPI versions

Voice Engine Control Concerns

The TTS application program directs how the voice engine should convert text into speech. If the voice engine allows control over volume, pitch, and speed, then these should ideally be controllable by the TTS program.

However, not all voice engines permit control over the volume, speed or pitch and how they can be adjusted. This is important because even if you choose a voice engine that you consider appropriate, you will likely have to modify it somewhat so that it sounds suitable for your purpose.

It may be necessary to adjust the volume, modify the pitch, or the speed of the generated voice in order for it to sound calm, smooth and relaxing. For the purpose of building subliminal or other types of audio message segments, this is an important consideration.

Audio Output Format Options

All TTS application programs must be able to convert the text into speech and into an audio clip or segment. Choosing an audio output format that is uncompressed, such as WAV is a better choice because it allows you to use the generated audio clip in any way you consider appropriate.

The audio message segments will still have to be integrated with other tracks, but if they are in an uncompressed format then this can be helpful when mixing the final recording.

The TTS program should provide at least one and preferably more output audio format options. More importantly, it should permit options with respect to sound characteristics.

It should be possible to choose between mono or stereo, different sample frequencies and either an 8-bit or 16-bit sample size. The preferences for generating an audio message clip would be in mono, a sample size of 16 bits and a sample rate of 44,100 kHz.

To conclude, if you decide to use text-to-speech software you will require both a human sounding voice engine and a front-end application that can control it. A TTS program that directs how the text is converted into audible speech can be free of charge, purchased separately or bundled with a voice engine.

You may even decide to acquire and use one or more TTS applications and this is advisable. As long as they meet the basic requirements and perhaps have more desirable features, then you are on the right track in generating your subliminal or other types of audio messages.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

There are different ways to acquire suitable sound clips to use in a building a masking or accompanying sound track for your subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording. One option is to download them from various Internet web sites for free or perhaps at some cost. This article discusses what features to look for in an acceptable sound clip and should be reviewed before deciding on any particular one.

The preferred features of an acceptable sound clip are grouped into the following categories and each is discussed below:

•  Type of Sounds Provided
•  Costs Involved
•  Recording Characteristics
•  Audio Format
•  Absence of Embedded Messages

Generally, many of the sound segments available have been created using nature sounds. Audio clips of this type are highly recommended, since nature sounds are normally very relaxing to most people. Examples of this could present ocean waves, rainfalls, waterfalls, birds or insects or various other types of sounds.

Other possible types include chimes, bells, classical music, rhythmic chanting, or a range of other themes. As long as the recorded sound clip is relaxing and soothing, then it is most likely acceptable.

By this it is meant that there should not be any extreme high or low volume levels in the recording and that it should sound reasonably consistent. The goal is to seek out a pre-recorded audio clip that would not upset the listener in any way and promotes a more relaxed physical and mental state.

Any personal preferences you may have regarding the type of sounds presented in the audio clip should be put aside if you are creating recordings for other people. As a recording creator, it is far more important that you consider what the potential listener would prefer to hear.

But if you are creating recordings primarily for your own use, then you should of course choose what is most suitable for you. As long as the sound clip is soothing, calm and relaxing, then you have likely made the right choice. Even so, it is suggested that you remember that what is acceptable to you may not be to others.

Costs Involved

You may choose to download free audio sound clips, but you should be extremely careful in how you select them. Most are usually short in length and not recorded in high quality. But it is possible that you could find an acceptable free pre-recorded audio segment of reasonable quality, if you are patient and willing to search for them.

There are also many sound clips available if you are willing to pay the cost of obtaining them. These can vary greatly in price but there is no reason to purchase an entire collection of relaxing nature sounds if you only require a few audio clips.

Another important consideration is whether there are royalty fees charged if you decided to purchase the sound clips and use them in building your masking or sound tracks. Ideally, there should be no charge for doing so, and consequently it is extremely important that you recognize this before spending any money.

Recording Characteristics

Whether purchased or free of charge, the recorded clips should have certain physical characteristics. This relates to the sampling frequency, the sample size, number of channels, and the recording format. It is assumed that the recorded clip has been created in a digital manner.

The sampling frequency can vary greatly, but the preferred choice is 44,100 Hz. Although sound clips can be created at a lower frequency, anything below 16,000 Hz is likely unacceptable.

The sample size is also important in that a 16-bit sample rate provides greater listening quality than an 8-bit sampling rate. A recording that uses an 8-bit sample rate is approximately of the same quality as a telephone conversation. One that is encoded using 16-bit sample rate simply sounds better and this is preferred.

Selecting an audio sound clip that has been recorded with two channels (left and right) is a better choice than a mono recording. Although twice as large in size, the recording may sound better with two different channels and be more interesting to the listener.

Audio Format

Although there are various audio formats available, any one chosen should be uncompressed and have been recorded digitally. The preferred type is a recording clip that has been saved in the WAV format.

Recordings in the WAV format are uncompressed but still in a digital format. Obtaining any type of sound clips that have already been compressed into an MP3, OGG or other type can make it more difficult to mix audio tracks in the final recording.

It is possible to compress recording components when building and mixing the final subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording, but this is not recommended. The best time to apply audio compression techniques is after the recording has been finally mixed.

However, if you decide to obtain a recorded audio sound clip in a compressed format (e.g. MP3, OGG), it will have to be decompressed in order to mix it with other aspects of your final recording. This can be reasonably easy to do with the proper audio mixing software, but should be avoided if possible.

Absence of Embedded Messages

No matter where the audio sound segments are obtained from, they must not contain embedded subliminal messages. If they do, then this can affect the final recording and its ability to help the listener.

If you choose to purchase a sound clip or track, it is unlikely that it will contain any embedded subliminal messages. However, if you download one at no cost then you should consider it possible that subliminal messages may have been planted in the recorded clip.

There is a technique to discover if embedded messages exist in a recording, but a full explanation is left to a different article. The simplest way to detect this is to simply play the sound clip at a higher volume level and listen carefully.

To summarize, there are various choices available with respect to selecting a pre-recorded sound clip. You can download either free or not so free sound clips that can be used in building a masking or sound track.

As long as you cautious and observe these guidelines, it should be more than possible to find an audio sound clip that meets your needs. There are other options available such as recording or generating your own sound tracks, but these are left to other articles.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his websites relating to paternity testing at http://www.paternitytestinfo.net which provides help in confirming family genetic history and getting Home Testing kits for DNA.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Two types of recordings that you may choose to create require including a relaxation audio segment. Supraliminal or paraliminal recordings should have an introductory audio segment that both physically and mentally helps the listener enter a relaxed state. This article discusses the best way to write a relaxation script and how to properly use it in your recordings.

There are different aspects to designing a relaxation script and you should strive to achieve the desired effect for your listener and help them in every manner to enter a relaxed state. Once recorded, your relaxation audio segment can likely be used when creating other recordings, but you must first ensure that it has the desired effect.

There are two features you should consider when writing a relaxation message script. The first is to use statements that will help the listener physically relax, and the second is to optionally introduce statements that allow them to mentally relax.

Physically Relaxing Message Statements

Messages designed to physically relax your listener should induce progressive stages of relaxation. The statements should be designed so that they gradually direct the listener into an increasingly more relaxed body state.

One method of doing this is to verbally walk the listener through each major body area, direct their focus on it and suggest that it is now becoming relaxed. This is easier to achieve if the listener is retiring for the night, or is physically fatigued, but you should not assume this is always the case.

It is better to presume that the listener is basically alert and conscious and construct your messages appropriately. Doing so ensures that you are targeting people that may be physically exhausted and also those that are fully awake but have chosen to become relaxed by listening to your recording.

Your recorded relaxation script should have the same desired effect on both types of listeners. The only difference would be the time it takes to induce a state of physical relaxation. It can take only seconds for one person to embrace relaxation and another, many minutes if not more.

Some suggested message statements that you could use in your relaxation script to physically relax your listener in a gradual manner are as follows:

• Imagine that you are relaxing in a favorite place
• You are feeling calm and comfortable
• Breathe in deeply and gently
• Feel yourself relaxing even more
• All tension in your face and neck is now disappearing
• Relaxation is moving to your chest and arms
• Feel all physical tension dissolve now
• Feel relaxation in your hips and legs
• All tension dissolves gently through your feet
• Breathe out gently and slowly
• Your body is becoming even more relaxed

This is only a partial list of suggested message statements and you should include several more. Each additional statement should serve to enhance a physical state of relaxation. But you should not write a relaxation script that is too lengthy because once recorded, it may consume more time in the final recording.

By having the listener enter a physically more relaxed state, it is likely that they will become more receptive to the target messages that follow. But this is possibly not enough, in that although they may be relaxed physically, you should consider addressing the issue of mentally relaxing them.

This is optional and possibly not necessary for some of your potential listeners. For certain people, they may be able to relax their body, but their mind can still be active with concerns about the events of the day and perhaps hundreds of other thoughts. For others, once their body is relaxed they may also become mentally relaxed, but this is not always certain.

Mentally Relaxing Message Statements

Once your relaxation script has the designed effect of introducing a state of physical relaxation, an optional next step is to induce a relaxed mental state so that the listener’s subconscious defense mechanisms are furthered lowered.

As a result of being physically relaxed, your target listener may not require more than a few statements that suggest they become mentally at ease. These messages should be carefully written and in a gentle and considerate manner.

Your goal should be to suggest that they are mentally in a good place, are comfortable, safe and feel wonderful. To assist you in doing this, some suggested statements that can help your listener enter this state are provided below.

• Imagine being in a quiet and safe place
• This is the place you have dreamt about before
• Pretend that you are now in this place
• In this place you let go of all problems
• Everything is wonderful and in every way
• You feel completely satisfied in this place
• Embrace this space and let it envelop you
• You are now feeling calm and comfortable

You will likely be able to write and consider including additional message statements that target mentally relaxing your listener. But you should be careful in how many statements your final relaxation script includes.

You should seek to keep your relaxation segment to at most a few minutes and this would mean writing from 30 to 50 relaxing message statements. This includes both message statements for physical and mental relaxation.

Message statements written to assist in physically relaxing your listener should represent the major content of your relaxation script. Including others that will aid in mentally relaxing your listener is also suggested.

Additional Considerations

Your relaxation message script will ideally have two effects in that it permits the listener to embrace a gradual state of physical relaxation, and also that it optionally promotes a mental state of relaxation.

Either or both is desirable, but you must also consider the effects of accompanying sound or brainwave tracks designed to enhance this effect. A relaxing sound track or brainwave track used in your recording will also aid to help your listener relax, both physically and mentally. These are equally important for helping your listener, but just different.

There is a degree of overlap between your recorded relaxation messages and sound and brainwave tracks. It may make no difference in the effect produced, but each has a purpose in attempting to quiet the mind of the listener and performs it in a unique manner.

An introductory relaxation audio message segment in your recording will attempt to guide your listener into a more receptive state, but this will only be for a few minutes. Sound or brainwave audio tracks will attempt to enhance or sustain this relaxed state for almost the entire duration of the recording, but in a different manner.

It may take several attempts to create an ideal relaxation message script, but it will likely be worthwhile because your listener will appreciate it more, and you can likely reuse the relaxation segment in other recordings.

In conclusion, you should design and write your relaxation scripts in a positive manner, and understanding the differences between physical and mental relaxation will only ensure that your listener is more able to embrace the subject messages of your recording.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his websites relating to paternity testing at http://www.paternitytestinfo.net which provides help in confirming family genetic history and getting Home Testing kits for DNA.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Each different recording type (subliminal, supraliminal, paraliminal) requires the use of a sound track. The purpose of this track is either to mask subliminal messages, promote a state of relaxation or ideally, both. Since this is the track that is usually most predominant in a recording, it is important to know how to create or select one in the best way possible. This article discusses what options are available and provides general suggestions to help you choose.

There are two basic ways to consider a masking or sound track. The first is from the listener’s perspective, and the second from the creator’s perspective. Since you are the creator of the recording, it is vital that you understand both what a potential listener prefers, as well as what your own requirements are for a masking or sound track.

What the Listener Expects

The listener obviously expects that the recording will be of a high quality and be effective. They are not concerned with the details of how it was created, but they will expect the masking or sound track that they hear be relaxing, soothing and appeal to them.

This means that as a recording creator, you must ensure that you meet these requirements. Unfortunately, what is relaxing, soothing and appealing to one person may be completely different for another person.

For example, the gentle sounds of ocean waves lapping onto the seashore with birds chirping in the background may be soothing to some, but may trigger a negative reaction in others.

Similarly, listening to the sounds of insects for an extended period may be quite unpleasant for certain individuals. To a lesser degree, classical music without vocals may simply sound uninteresting to some people.

The solution is to provide as wide a variety of masking or sound tracks as possible so that they appeal to the majority of the potential listeners. As simple as this may seem, it can difficult to do in practice. This is the point where the requirements of the listener meet yours, as a creator.

What You, the Recording Creator Desires

Being a creator of subliminal or other recording types, your preferences with respect to creating or selecting a masking or sound track are different than that of the listener. The most important of these are as follows:

• Provide the fewest number of masking or sound tracks possible
• Appeal to the largest number of listeners possible
• Whether obtaining or generating sound tracks, be of low cost

Can you provide only a small number of masking or sound tracks and still have your potential listeners find them appealing? Yes, but you must select a core group that has been found to be acceptable to most people. The majority of people find nature sounds or gentle classical music to be soothing, relaxing and appealing.

Within the category of nature sounds, there are the sounds of ocean waves, rainfalls, waterfalls, rivers, brooks, wind, a crackling campfire and many others. It is suggested that you consider providing two or more different types that sound consistent, such as ocean waves and perhaps a gentle rainfall.

Secondary Sound Tracks

But even though these are good choices, a secondary sound track should be mixed with them. The reason for this is to provide random sounds that render the track more interesting to the ear. A suggestion is to include additional nature sounds such as different types of birds or insects. Relaxing and soothing is important, but there is no reason for the sound track to seem so consistent that it becomes boring to listen to.

If you were to choose two primary types of nature and two secondary types, then after mixing, you would have four available selections for use as your sound or masking track. This should be your minimum core group to use, but if you increase the number of primary or secondary sound types, it becomes more difficult to manage and you should not exceed eight. Keep in mind that this is only the sound or masking track, and you still need to create and manage message and brainwave tracks (if used).

Classical music sound tracks are also appealing but it is important that you choose those that are not overly dynamic. By this it is meant that there should be few high and lows and the general sound and tempo is consistent. A soft and gentle concerto by Beethoven or Bach is acceptable, but the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky is far too dynamic.

Also, if you choose to use classical music for your sound or masking tracks, there is no reason to mix them with a secondary track containing random sounds of nature. The reason for this is that most classical music tracks are already reasonably consistent yet still sound interesting.

Sound Track Sources

As a recording creator, you also need to decide whether to obtain your sound or masking tracks from other sources, generate your own with software programs, record them yourself or perhaps a mixture of all three.

If you choose to obtain free sound clips or pay for pre-recorded sound tracks, you must be cautious in how you select them. Many available relate to nature sounds and those that are free are usually very short in length and of poor quality. It is highly recommended that you do not use free short audio clips in your sound or masking track because of this.

Although usually limited to nature sounds, another option is to obtain software that can generate sound or masking tracks of any length that you can customize in virtually an infinite number of ways. The advantages to this is that the generated sound track will be exactly what you design it to be, involve no royalty fees, be of high quality, and never have embedded subliminal messages.

You may also select to record your own sound tracks but this can be somewhat of a challenge. It requires the correct environment, good recording equipment and some patience. If you have these, then recording your own sound tracks may be worth the effort.

Whether it involves nature sounds or classical music, the sound or masking track that you incorporate into your subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording should be acceptable to your potential listener and be within the limits of your resources as a creator.

You also need to decide if it is best to record your own sound tracks, use prerecorded ones or use software to generate them. Striving for a balance between what options you provide your listeners with and what is manageable for you should be your goal.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

There are only two major types of subliminal messages that are used to introduce changes in a person. The most commonly used form involves the use of audio recordings containing verbal subliminal messages.

Less commonly used are visual subliminal textual messages embedded within displayed images on a computer screen or video recordings. Audio subliminal recordings are normally delivered on audio CDs, DVDs and cassette tapes or as downloadable audio files.

Visual subliminal messages are presented as short text messages flashed at regular intervals on either a computer monitor or television screen. The messages are presented rapidly, repeatedly and their content based on the subject of interest. In most cases, display of the subliminal messages is controlled by a computer software program.

Audio subliminal recordings do not require any attention or effort. They can be listened to while resting or being active, depending on which is preferred. Subliminal messages delivered visually are only of benefit if they are visible.

This means that it is necessary to actively view the display presenting them. This is an advantage if using a computer because the visual messages would not interfere with other tasks being performed.

An early myth about subliminal messages was attributed to James Vicary who supposedly inserted visual text messages into movie clips presented at a New Jersey drive-in theatre in the 1950’s to increase soda and popcorn sales. This is completely false and was only a marketing attempt on his part in order to gain attention.

Types of Audio Subliminal Recordings

A true audio subliminal recording has a background audio track and a foreground audio track that are mixed together to create the final recording. The subliminal messages are contained within the message or background track.

This track is normally a recording of someone speaking short positive phrases related to the topic for desired change. It can also be created by using text-to-speech software as mentioned earlier and which is explained in detail later.

If the subject area was related to weight loss, typical messages phrases could be “I eat sensibly”, “I exercise regularly”, “My body shape improves with each passing day”, “I eat foods that are good for my body”, and many possible others. It is extremely important that these message phrases be written and recorded properly and guidelines for doing this are provided in a later section.

In addition to the subliminal message audio track, there is also a foreground or masking track that is designed to distract the conscious mind so that you are not aware of the subliminal messages being spoken.

The masking or foreground track may contain sounds of nature such as a waterfall, ocean waves, birds chirping, or a simple rainfall. Classical or contemporary music without vocal lyrics can also be used.

Another related type of “subliminal” audio recording is not actually subliminal and is called supraliminal. With this type, the message track can easily be heard and is not masked in any way.

The message track usually includes an introductory relaxation segment to guide the listener into a relaxed state. In addition, an audio track is added that contains sounds designed to soothe you. This type of recording should not be listened to if it is necessary to consciously focus on a task you are performing, such as driving.

With both subliminal and supraliminal audio recordings, usually two audio tracks (message and sound) are mixed together. The major difference is the recorded volume levels of each track. In subliminal recordings, the message track is significantly lower in volume than the foreground masking track. In supraliminal recordings, the volume levels for both tracks are essentially the same.

A third type of “subliminal” audio recording is again not truly subliminal and is called paraliminal. Three specially designed stereo audio tracks are mixed together to create the recording. A message track is used, but in this case will likely present different messages using both left and right audio channels.

The message track may also contain an introductory relaxation segment. A second sound track containing relaxing sounds of some type is also used. The third track is different in that it presents tones of different frequencies to each ear that cause the listener to enter a receptive alpha state in which brainwave activity slows down.

About the Author

James Kudlak specializes in writing articles and building websites across a variety of topics such as online dating, paternity issues or insurance. Visit one of his newer website creations relating to pet insurance at http://petcarehealthinsurance.com/ which helps people select among the many Pet Insurance Companies available.

(c) Copyright – B. James Kudlak. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.