Subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal audio recordings require creating a sound track.

The purpose of this audio track is either to mask  messages, promote a state of relaxation or potentially both.

This is extremely important in how the subsequent audio components are built and their effectiveness.

Since the sound or masking track is usually most audibly predominant in a recording, it is important to know how to create, select or generate one in the best way possible.

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 expects and prefers, as well as what your own requirements are for a masking or sound track.

Subliminal Sound Tracks – 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.

Sound and Masking Tracks – What 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

You can provide only a small number of masking or sound tracks and still have your potential listeners find them appealing.

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 Masking Track Audio Sounds

Even though these are wise choices, a secondary sound track should also 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.

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.

(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 a subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording.

One option is to download them from various Internet web sites for free or perhaps at some cost.

What features to look for in an acceptable sound clip 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 Masking Sounds Available
• Costs Involved
• Recording Characteristics
• Audio Format
• Absence of Embedded Messages

Type of Masking Sounds Available

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 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 to 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 for Sound Clips

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 to understand this.

Recording Characteristics of Sound Clips

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. which is the same as that of a standard music CD.

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 entertaining for 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 before 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 highly 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.

The easiest way to detect if embedded messages exist in a recording 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 also other options available such as recording or generating your own sound tracks which may be of benefit.

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

A masking or accompanying subliminal sound track is important for any type of subliminal, supraliminal or paraliminal recording.

Theese can be recorded, obtained for no, little or some cost and also be generated.

This article focuses on generating these subliminal masking 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 most desired in the sound or masking audio track.

Also important is the software program chosen and the features that it should have.

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.

Ideal 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.