April 09, 2004

The Seven Percent Solution. What makes boys and girls different?

After reading this article and listening to the clips provided, I downloaded the Pacemaker (evidently a different program than what this guy was using) and did some experimentation of my own (I can't give you a magic number like seven percent with this program, but it's fun to screw around and see what happens). I found out some things. P.J. Harvey, turned up a few pitches, really is Patti Smith. Ryan Adams (oddly enough) becomes Tom Waits when you turn him way down, but Mr. Waits turned way up is more like Billie Holiday. Ringo is the only Beatle who makes a convincing lady (for some reason, John Lennon turned up a few pitches sounds only like a squeaky John Lennon - is it because the intonations have become too familiar?). Kurt, turned up, is uncannily similar to Courtney, and Kim Deal and Frank Black-As-A-Woman have quite a bit in common. The vast majority of female singers, however, sound like choirboys when turned down, and most men sound like Stevie Nicks (though certain exceptions here and there, as diverse as Thom Yorke and Paul Simon, sound fairly nice). Oh, and the Police track on the original site has convinced me that Nellie Furtado is really Sting. Seriously.

posted by babywannasofa 20 years ago
  • Actually, one thing which often amazes me is how some people sound so damn unique (singing voices, or speaking voices, doesn't matter which). I mean, noone else sounds like Christopher Walken, or Bob Dylan, or PJ Harvey... Those of you who spend a lot of time sharing and hoarding mp3s - take a very popular track, that a lot of people are going to want, mess round with it (increase pitch, make it discordant, etc), and keep the file with the same name. Now share it prominently, and within a few weeks, there will be hundreds of people all round the world playing it thinking it is the real version. What a bastard. I like this idea.
  • So, basically, Tom Waits is cool no matter which way he gets turned. Cool.
  • Point 1: These pitch-shifting plug-ins he speaks of: where? how? Might not a little linky for those too pissed to search have been useful? Seriously, I'm kinda interested in this area of, like, shit, y'know, being an idle fiddler by nature - but not having teh broadband, I don't want to be downloading tons of useless freeware made by a Slovakian cobbler who uses coal-fueled Visual Basic. Anyway- Point 2: I prefer Morrissey like that. Point 3: Too much Danny Baker love on one site. That's just wrongsome. I mean, dude...
  • There is very little right about Danny Baker.
  • The pacemaker link works fine. And yes, the Danny Baker link every other paragraph is a wee bit excessive. Heh.
  • The certain fact that one day Danny Baker will die is something that is right about Danny Baker. I'll give him that. (babywannasofa - er, I was looking on the linked site for a link. I mean, why on earth would I look in the additional comments? that would be, like, sensible... I mean, what do you want from me? Basic reading skills? Sentience? Jesus, you're demanding...) *crawls into corner, ashamed, hides*
  • This guy just thinks every increased tempo voice sounds like Debbie Harry!
  • Britney Spears -4% is divine. Even better than Boy George.
  • Related
  • Yup - the ghostbusters theme is clearly by the Chipmunks.