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LAN Party Forums => Support Group => Started by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 11:53:47 AM

Title: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 11:53:47 AM
The following might seem overly strange to many of you, but it's been bugging me a lot over the years. I need to know if I'm the only one with this "issue", or if it's happened to anyone else. I have googled the anomaly many times, have asked around, with no luck whatsoever. My therapist suggested I should study up on psychology, but I don't see how that would help. Though I should say the issue isn't harmful... hell, I can't even see any real point for why it might occur. So to enlighten most of you, since you are probably scratching your heads trying to figure out what the heck I might be talking about, I will clarify.

I first noticed this issue in 10th grade. I had started to get into the habit of listening to music while I fell asleep. I had a CD set to repeat all. Usually it was trance music. But as this progressed I started trying out different genres. I noticed it when I had set a song to repeat itself over and over while I slept. When I woke up in the morning, I found myself listening to what sounded like a totally different song. It was the same song, but it changed rather dramatically.

After a bout of thinking that I might have gone insane, I decided to put it into a sound editing program and alter it to what I remember the song sounding like. I remember both versions of the song every time this happens. Turns out, the majority of the time, the songs pitch is lowered about 12 semitones(barely noticeable), the tempo is slowed a tad, and the fidelity of the song absolutely skyrockets. As in, the clarity of the song is a gajillion times better... I notice instruments that I hadn't payed any attention to the first time.

That was about.. 8 years ago. Three weeks ago I got the grand idea of recording myself singing/humming a song that I picked out to listen to that night. As usual, the song altered, so when I went back to listen to my previous recording, it had also changed to reflect the new sound. Which only further baffles the sh!t out of me.

I have tried this with classical music, bluegrass, heavy metal, electronic, jazz, blues, alt rock, etc etc.. same exact results in each area. The only constraints I've noticed, is that it has to be playing at a certain volume (not too quiet.. but right on the line that I can just barely fall asleep to it), and it has to be less than 7 minutes long.

I had theorized a few possibilities, though none still seem completely believable. The only one that I could even remotely consider plausible would be that the song is getting full exposure to my subconsciousness, and then forces it's interpretation of the song to my consciousness while I'm awake. *shrug* But still, I see no real point as to why it's doing this. To be honest it's a bit of an annoyance sometimes. I keep testing it and trying different things, but it still happens.

Of course, I have tried to get some other people to try this themselves, but they either don't want to try, or nothing happens. So I typed all this for a double whammy measure. If anyone tries to google the issue, it might pop up. But also for if anyone has any clue as to what the hell this is. Any psych majors out there? Or dream researchers perhaps? I am quite sure the changes are completely mental oriented. And before you start off with any smart-ass comments, the only mental "illness" that I've been diagnosed with is slight autism. So ponder away.  :eek:
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: decepticon on January 28, 2008, 12:15:33 PM
Quote from: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 11:53:47 AM
I remember both versions of the song every time this happens. Turns out, the majority of the time, the songs pitch is lowered about 12 semitones(barely noticeable), the tempo is slowed a tad, and the fidelity of the song absolutely skyrockets.

12 semitones is an octave, so that would DEFININTELY be noticeable!  I used to fall asleep to music when I was younger and did notice that when I would listen to a song afterwards, it would be significantly more involved (only way I can describe it).  It wasn't different per se, but I kind of heard it differently.  Heard sounds that I did not notice before, alsmost as if it was a new song but still the same. 

Listening to anything while you sleep can and will have an impact on your subconcious mind.  Think about it...hypnosis is performed when the concious mind is in a sleep state but the subconcious is completely aware of whats going on and can be interacted with.  REM sleep:  where your thoughts/actions/emotions for the day (and the past) are 'viewed' almost askew at a subconcious level as dreams.  And when you wake up (at least for me in the past) you almost feel enlightened about whatever it was you were dreaming about until your concious mind completely takes over (when you open your eyes, get up - walk around and start your day).

As far as recording yourself humming the tune, and hearing it 'change' later - That's probably all in your head.  Your subconcious can not change the physical world (ie: can't use yer mind to change an electronic file on your pc) - yet.....
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 12:26:19 PM
Well, I still think that the recording being altered is still mental oriented. Perception of it, I mean. Which is what all this is about. Just perception. I don't see any of this as being physical. In fact, that would indicate something completely different. The songs do eventually go back to the way I remember it, if I don't listen to the song over a long period of time.

But what you described in your first paragraph does seem to be what I've been experiencing. More involved would be a good way to put it, but as you said, it can't be easily explained. But this does make me feel slightly better, knowing that it isn't just me.

Thanks for the response.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: decepticon on January 28, 2008, 01:57:38 PM
But in reality, it is just you... ;) ..as no one else will hear what you hear.   That's what I was getting at though, that the difference in sound is just perception of the sound, and not physically different...you get my point though!

Try this once, listen to an audio book that you have actually read before while you sleep and see what happens.  I bet it'll make for a completely different experience than what you remember the first time you read it.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: _!Rathe!_ on January 28, 2008, 02:16:17 PM
I know I listen to classical music as I sleep (Pachabel's Ocean is the name of the CD).  Ocean waves and classical music makes a nice backdrop to sleep to.  I can say that I have heard different parts of the CD later that i never recognized before but I knew them. 
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: gravdigr on January 28, 2008, 04:53:57 PM
Having nothing to do with music, I read about this trick years ago when I was a kid and 99% of the time it works.  It's based on the theory that the subconcious mind is far more aware and for lack of a better word 'smarter' than the concious mind.  So should I have a problem I'm dealing with, say I need to figure out how to fabricate a custom bumper mount for my blazer, what I would do before bed is think about the problem, turning it over in my head.  Make sure it is the last thing I am thinking about as I drift off and in the morning when I wake up the answer is sitting right there in my mind.  The amazing thing is I think the subconcious works on it all night polishing and refining the idea because usually what comes out is so elegant yet so simple that it should have been obvious.

Another thought on why this may work is that the concious mind has to deal with a lot of junk, am I hungry, I gotta pee, nice boobs, etc.... where the subconcious doesn't.

It doesn't work every time, but when it does it's very cool.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: decepticon on January 28, 2008, 05:00:12 PM
I will use that technique in the coming weeks...I have a case and electronics project I am beginning to realize.  Maybe that will refine my designs to a level I would not have realized in my concious hours.

Ok, off to kill people....virtually.

;)
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 05:03:34 PM
Yeah digr, I vaguely recall hearing about that somewhere before.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: sully! on January 28, 2008, 05:36:06 PM
I think this is something that is a part of all of us, starting from before birth. Reading your description of what you're experiencing and some of the little details you mention made me think of a passage in The Expectant Father, by Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash that I read this past summer.

Quote from: [i]The Expectant Father[/i], p. 99-100
Communication with the fetus isn't limited to words, of course. Boris Brott, a famous Canadian orchestra conductor, traces his interest in music to the womb:

                      As a young man, I was mystified by this ability I had to play certain pieces sight unseen. I'd be conducting a score for the first time and, suddenly, the cello line would jump out at me: I'd know the flow of the piece before I turned the page of the score. One day, I mentioned this to my mother, who was a professional cellist. I thought she'd be intrigued because it was always the cello line that was so distinct in my mind. She was; but when she heard what the pieces were, the mystery quickly solved itself. All the scores I knew sight unseen were ones she had played when she was pregnant with me.


So given that, Decepticon's similar experience, and others', I think you're just more aware of things that other people may be experiencing but not realizing they are experiencing. In other words, you are letting your conscious mind be aware and cognizant of your sub-conscious mind's activity. I would seem to think most people just let their sub-conscious disappear when they are awake.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 07:56:51 PM
Which would make some sense, as I do let my subconscious peek through in my daily waking life quite often. I do have a very, very active and structured imagination. I could shift the topic in another direction though still pertaining to my subconscious. Every dream that I can remember(which is a lot), have been very structured. It is a rarity that I have a dream that appears to be random. But moreso, my dreams more often than not take place in the 2nd or 3rd person perspective and I am almost never in my own dreams. But my dreams have structure, they have themes, plots, etc. The last time I can remember a dream that was first person and me being the main pro/antagonist was probably close to 2 years ago.

Fortunately, I've gotten into the habit of journalling my dreams when I wake up each morning. Though I think I watch too many movies :P
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Pride on January 28, 2008, 08:09:30 PM
I dont have any idea what is "wrong" with you or what causes it... but falling asleep to trance can probably explain away some of your "issues" lol
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 28, 2008, 08:15:38 PM
lay off the pipe Agent.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 28, 2008, 08:23:48 PM
Thanks for the comforting words there dave. ;)
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 29, 2008, 08:13:16 AM
Anything for u my brotha!  You know im just being an ass!!!!
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: -Sp()()ge- on January 29, 2008, 09:18:44 PM
Quote from: Dwg115 on January 29, 2008, 08:13:16 AM
Anything for u my brotha!  You know im just being an ass!!!!

but subconsciously he means he is being an ASS!!
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: cuzzNkev on January 30, 2008, 06:58:43 AM
Being an ass or am an ass or taking up the ...nvm I wont go there
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 30, 2008, 07:18:16 AM
Quote from: Sp()()ge on January 29, 2008, 09:18:44 PM
Quote from: Dwg115 on January 29, 2008, 08:13:16 AM
Anything for u my brotha!  You know im just being an ass!!!!

but subconsciously he means he is being an ASS!!

good one spooge!!!!
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 30, 2008, 07:19:01 AM
Quote from: cuzznkev on January 30, 2008, 06:58:43 AM
Being an ass or am an ass or taking up the ...nvm I wont go there

not funny Kev:(  bastages
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 30, 2008, 09:08:45 AM
I dub Dave and Travis the Official FITES Thread Hijackers.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: -Sp()()ge- on January 30, 2008, 09:10:58 AM
Quote from: Agent4054 on January 30, 2008, 09:08:45 AM
I dub Dave and Travis the Official FITES Thread Hijackers.

Shut your hole and no one gets hurt!!
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 30, 2008, 09:17:40 AM
Whats a thread hijacker??? and don't say someone who hijacks threads
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: decepticon on January 30, 2008, 09:19:28 AM
Someone who posts in a thread completely off topic and therefore stealing the subject/focus of the thread.  You greedy bastards!  ;)
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 30, 2008, 09:22:11 AM
i got ya now it all makes sense to me.except that weird dream Agent has....
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Agent4054 on January 30, 2008, 09:27:04 AM
If my dreams make sense to you, I'd be terrified.
Title: Re: Strangeness ahead. Enter at your own risk.
Post by: Dwg115 on January 30, 2008, 09:30:25 AM
me too!!!!