Listening to Yourself

If you have ever heard yourself on a recording or video? Don't you think you sound different from the normal you? If, so you're not alone.

To understand this interesting phenomenon, you must first understand the science of making noises.

To speak, your body's vocal cords produce vibrations. The vibrations are transmitted through the air, and when they reach a person's ears, they interpret as sound. Your ears also pick up those vibrations, as well as the vibrations of your body, since your body is attached to the vocal cords. This addition of audio stimuli changes your perspective on hearing.

For musicians out there, think of a tuning fork. If you place the tuning fork on a violin, or anything hollow for that matter, the violin begins to emit a sound. This is because the vibrations are being picked up by the instrument, which begins resonating itself. The tuning fork is the equivalent of your vocal cords, where as the violin could be your head. After all, most people in the world are air heads. But for those who actually have a brain, their ears contain several hollows themselves.

So what you hear isn't what others hear when you speak. The recording is right, and you are wrong, whether for better or for worse. If you ask a friend whether or not you sound different, they'll probably say no, and perhaps even turn around and say that they sound different.

That's how good singers are made or broken. When you sing, you tune your voice until you think it's right, but you have to think about what it sounds to others. If they like it, you can now try out for American idol. If not, well, you can always use one of those voice changer gadgets.

So think about it. You're hearing yourself for the first time.

NOTE: This post is not to be considered a tested scientifc theory. It is based on the opinions of severl friends. Moufflets is not responsible for any actions taken on the basis of this post.