mechanical special effects
Generic formulations
The market today is flooded with audio subliminal messaging CDs that can take care of every conceivable issue that mankind has ever faced. Arranged alphabetically, the catalog lists ailments such as Anorexia, Alcohol Abuse, Bed Wetting, Developing Self-Esteem, Improving Concentration … right up to the x, y and zee page.
Every CD is created with a set of subliminal messages specific to the ailment being addressed. While these CDs cater to a majority of well-known problems that we as a human race face in our life; there are situations when a generic formulation may just not be enough.
A case that comes to mind is of a young boy who was traumatized by his relatives who were after his property after his parents died. The trauma was an intense, yet low-key and drawn-out process that kept on lowering his self-esteem and self-value, that created a loathing in him for humanity in general, and drove him to depression. Luck and destiny helped him crawl out of the abyss; but the road to normalcy was very long and winding indeed. Advising one of the CDs that could accelerate his process of adjustment in the world was not enough. So he was asked to prepare a list of self-affirmations on his own, based on what he wanted to see improved in his particular situation. After a few iterations – where the negative words were crossed out, long-winded sentences were cut short and made simple, any allusion to the past was eliminated – a set of messages was arrived at. Actually, it was discovered that there were _three_ different sets of messages, each focusing on a different aspect of his personality. It was decided to record each set separately, and the young man was to hear them one set after the other.
Thanks to the specialized softwares now available in the market, it was possible to get the recording work done quickly. The young man is now leading a happy life, at peace with himself and the world.
The Recording Kit
Every subliminal messaging recording kit worth its salt comes with the following components:
1. Audio editing software: Music aficionados exploit such softwares to the hilt, in order to produce that out-of-the-world sound experience. Usually these softwares have all the capabilities to generate special acoustics effects such as binaural beats, backward recording (for reverse speech) and stereo confusion, which are required for subliminal messaging. Adobe, Acoustica, and GoldWave are some of the well-known names in the world of audio editing softwares.
2. A selection of nature songs and relaxing music that can be used as background.
3. A set of pre-recorded affirmations (if ever they are needed).
4. Binaural beats: These are ready-to-use soundtracks in which the messages can be embedded straightaway.
An acoustic expert can really make use of the audio editing software to create a powerful subliminal messaging soundtrack. However, if you are not really “in” with the acoustic crowd, and wish to create your very own soundtrack of subliminal messages which you can listen to _subconsciously_ and improve your world, then you can perform the following steps:
First, prepare a set of the right messages that will beam out to you subliminally. This part needs the maximum thought and attention. The rest is mechanical.
Second, record them, re-record them, re-re-record them, until you are satisfied with the playback results. The audio editing software is the one to use for this purpose. This is your precious affirmation recording.
Third, select one of the readymade soundtracks – the nature songs, the relaxing music, or the binaural beats; I recommend the last. The selected soundtrack is now your “backing” track.
Fourth, flip the audio editing software into “Multi-tracking mode” – this is the place where your precious affirmation recording gets embedded into the backing track. How to carry this out? If the Subliminal Message Recording Software that you have purchased is worth its salt, it should come with a detailed manual on how to perform this “multi-tracking”.
Fifth, set the affirmation recording to begin playing about five minutes after the backing track has begun its job. This is to ensure that when the final recording plays to your ears, the backing track will set your brain at ease, and put it in a receptive mode. Also arrange the affirmation recording to loop back whenever it ends. This means that throughout the time that the long backing track plays, the relatively shorter affirmation recording will play again and again.
Sixth, preview your work thus far. You might observe that your voice is playing at a high volume. Find out how to reduce the volume of your voice recording – in most self-respecting softwares, this is an easy enough task. (Again, the accompanying manual should tell you how.) The threshold of hearing is zero decibels; so any figure below that on the volume-slider-control on your screen is good enough. You may experiment with the slider till you are satisfied that you are barely able to hear your own voice.
The seventh and final step is to save your creation. Yes, your first, basic, subliminal message recording is ready!
Advanced Features
Once you reach this stage, it may be interesting to add more advanced features such as creating your own binaural beats, reversing your affirmation recording, mixing both normal and reverse recordings with the backing track, adding stereo confusion, adding compression effects … the list is long.
Having a good manual by your side, I reiterate ad infinitum, is a must. The learning curve is not very steep, and within a few sessions, you would have created a very neat subliminal messaging track that suits your unique requirement beautifully.
Final Word
There are several software packages in the market that throw in standard audio-editing programs, a few soothing music soundtracks and a set of binaural beats; and expect you to be able to generate your subliminal message soundtrack. By carefully evaluating each one of them, you may be able to find one which has all the right features, and where all the time and effort you invest in is worthwhile.
Sanjay Agrawal is a Business Coach and self-development enthusiast. His blog may be surfed here. A good quality subliminal message recording software that he has used and recommends is available here.
Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give author name credit.
A special effect in Video That YOU can do at home.