A Technical Review of White Noise in A Spotify Sample

Year 2021, Issue: 20, 7 - 18, 07.12.2021

Bahadırhan Koçer

Abstract

As of its development, synthesizers used in the early stages of electronic music had noise panels, to present a realistic imitation of several instruments like woodwinds, brass bells, strings and some percussion instruments. These noise panels played the most important role for sound designers and music producers in developing their usage practices of white noise. In time, after the effects of white noise on humans began to be examined with scientific studies, it became possible to use white noise for alternative purposes other than its primary purpose in the production universe. Some opinions are that white noise is an auditory element observed in nature and it played an important role in the auditory side of human evolution. In this respect, white noise evokes the idea of "organic" in the field of mixing, in signal generation or processing stages of electronic music production to producers. In the process of invention and development of synthesizers and also in the present, attaching or integrating white noise into synthesis has been one of the various basic methods integrated in synth music to achieve an "organic" sound. Also, white noise or other noise signals are frequently used in foley creation processes of motion pictures to create the perception of "field sound". With all these aspects, white noise is a unique subject for all auditory disciplines and it is suitable for examination. Today, music production has become quite individual as a result of the software developments which have created virtual studios. Consequently, white noise was also affected by this individualization, subjected to different perspectives and became an easily produced and marketed product. The development of digital audio workstations has a great impact on this evolution. Ultimately, as digital sound processing stations began to become widespread in personal computers, approaches to white noise have diversified and today, white noise has been shaped by different digital sound processing methods (DSP). So that it became sort of a functional relaxation tool. In this study, technical practices that enable white noise to become a final product in online music markets will be examined and the role of white noise in consumption practices will be discussed. Also, the connection between the changes caused by the technical practices used in the production phase and the form of the white noise in consumption will be made visible in this way.

Keywords

Music, White Noise, Sound Design, Spotify

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