There’s a town in northern Italy that’s home to the most famous violin makers in history. The museum there holds some of the most unique and prized violins in the world - but we’re in danger of losing their sounds forever. In this episode from the podcast This is Love, Phoebe Judge reports on how a town stayed quiet to preserve an instrument they love. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Get free shipping in the US on turntables and speakers at U-Turn Audio with promo code 20K. Get a 14 day free trial of Zapier at zapier.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/cremona

Twenty Thousand Hertz

#90 | Cremona

From the sixties to the nineties parents worried messages hidden in rock albums would make their children do drugs and worship the devil. The truth could only be revealed if these records were played backwards. Bryan Gardiner unveils the history behind the backmasking panic and Curiosity Daily’s Ashley Hamer explains why our brains hear hidden messages... even when they’re not there! Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Try ZipRecruiter for free at ziprecruiter.com/20k. Check out Curiosity Daily Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/satanicpanic

#89 | Satanic Panic!

From See ‘n Say to Speak & Spell, and beyond, toys provide the soundtrack of our childhoods. Huge advancements in computer technology in recent decades mean that today’s toys can make a wider variety of sounds than ever before. In this episode, “The Toy Guy” Chris Byrne takes us on a nostalgic look back at the recent history of recorded sound in toys; then, with Dr. Hamid Djalilian, we consider what all that technological advancement means for young ears in the 21st century.  Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter, Facebook, & Reddit. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Get a 14 day free trial of Zapier at zapier.com/20k. Check out Chris Byrne’s podcast The Playground wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/noiserus

#88 | Noise "R" Us

We know that music has the power to affect our moods, but you might be surprised by just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Music can affect our brains and bodies in profound ways. Professor Jessica Grahn tells us how our love for music has shaped us as humans while Nate Sloan unpacks our appreciation of music, and reveals how it can be used to manipulate us, both for bad and for good. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.   Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Try ZipRecruiter for free at ziprecruiter.com/20k. Check out Switched On Pop wherever you get your podcasts. Also, check out Nate Sloan’s new book, Switched on Pop, wherever you get your books. Follow Jessica Grahn’s music and neuroscience research at the Twitter handle @Neurobeats. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/goodvibes

#87 | Good Vibes

John Cage was a respected composer when, in 1952, he created his “silent piece”, 4’33’’ - a piece that would have the music world scratching their heads. This episode asks whether 4’33’’ is really “silent”, and we explore the history of a piece musicians still talk about today - and speak to the man who campaigned to get it to the top the British charts in 2010. Featuring composers Kyle Gann and Nahre Sol, and artist Dave Hilliard. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.   Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Try ZipRecruiter for free at ziprecruiter.com/20k. Check out Kyle Gann’s No Such Thing as Silence: John Cage's 4'33" wherever you get your books. See Nahre’s work at nahresol.com. Find Dave Hilliard on Instragram at davehilliardart.  Listen to more of Martin Zalta Austwick’s music at palebirdmusic.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/433

#86 | 4′33″

No bass for you!! In 1987, TV composer Jonathan Wolff was still trying to make a name for himself in Hollywood. Then one day, he got a call from Jerry Seinfeld, who needed music for his new sitcom. This is the story behind the unforgettable music of Seinfeld, and how Jonathan Wolff’s unique approach helped make Seinfeld a TV classic." Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.   Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Find Jonathan on Instagram and on Twitter. You can reach Steve at stevelack.com Check out An Arm and a Leg wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/seinfeld

#85 | Seinfeld

There’s a reason we call tourists “sightseers”. As a society, we’re totally obsessed with the way things look. But our world is full of beautiful, fascinating and bizarre sounds. Join us on a sonic adventure around the world, as we climb up sand dunes, plunge into the Arctic Ocean, and even travel back in time. When we celebrate these treasures, we become better listeners and the world becomes a richer and more exciting place. Featuring Trevor Cox, author of Sonic Wonderland and Now You’re Talking. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.   Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Check out and subscribe to Reveal wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/sonicwonderland

#84 | Sonic Wonderland

Language is a uniquely human gift. We have shaped it to our individual and cultural needs, and it has shaped us in return. Professor Lera Boroditsky reveals how the sounds we make with our mouths influence what’s going on inside our brains. And podcaster Helen Zaltzmann shows us how important language can be to our identities, and what happens when those language identities are challenged. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.   Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get a free month at thegreatcoursesplus.com/20k. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. The Allusionist is on tour! Check dates and locations at theallustionist.org/events. And if you haven’t already, listen and subscribe to The Allusionist wherever you get your podcasts. Check out and subscribe to Risk! wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/historicallyspeaking

#83 | Historically Speaking

When was the last time you turned off your radio and just listened to your car? What’s really going on under the hood? We chat with our own Nick Spradlin about the simple force at the heart of every gasoline engine and talk with legendary recordist Watson Wu about how the sound of wild and powerful sports cars are captured. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook. Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Get a 14 day free trial of Zapier at zapier.com/20k. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Check out and subscribe to ZigZag wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/vroomvroom

#82 | Vroom Vroom

Baby Shark is a mega viral YouTube video, an unstoppable earworm, a top 40 hit, a Eurodance smash, a decades old campfire song, and the center of an international copyright dispute. In this episode from the podcast Decoder Ring, we explore the strange history of the song, what makes it so catchy, and who it really belongs to today. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor.  Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate.  If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org.  Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get a free month at thegreatcoursesplus.com/20k. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Check out and subscribe to Decoder Ring wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/babyshark

#81 I Baby Shark

Singing with others is a powerful form of expression. That's why the composer Eric Whitacre started the Virtual Choir; an experiment that connects singers from every corner of the globe. In this episode, we hear how a choir can unite people from different backgrounds to achieve a common goal - creating beautiful music. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Go to forhims.com/20k for your $5 complete hair kit. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/virtualchoir

#80 I Virtual Choir

As a young composer, Edd Kalehoff was looking for his break. In the early 70s he struck gold, writing the theme song and music cues for The Price Is Right. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Check out The Price is Right Drum Cover on Youtube by RTDUMS2121. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get a free month at thegreatcoursesplus.com/20k. Check out and subscribe to Just the Beginning wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/thepriceisright

#79 I The Price is Right (Yeah, Yeah!)

In part 2 of the story of mastering, we explore the consequences of the Loudness War and call out some of the worst offenders. We’ll also hear about the artists and mastering engineers who have been fighting back, and learn how modern listening habits might finally put an end to this sonic arms race. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Check out Ian Shepherd’s podcast The Mastering Show. Check out Greg Milner’s book, Perfecting Sound Forever. Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Try ZipRecruiter for free at ziprecruiter.com/20k. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/loudnesswars

#78 | The Loudness Wars

Join us on a musical journey from the Golden Age of analog mastering to the digital methods of today. We’ll find out why the music industry became obsessed with loudness, and learn how the digital era transformed the way that music sounds. Featuring Greg Milner and Ian Shepherd. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Check out Ian Shepherd’s podcast The Mastering Show. Check out Greg Milner’s book, Perfecting Sound Forever. Consolidate your credit card debt today and get an additional interest rate discount at lightstream.com/20k. Go to forhims.com/20k for your $5 complete hair kit. Check out SONOS at sonos.com. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/historyofmastering

#77 | The [COMPRESSED] History of Mastering

How a simple soundbite on America Online became one of the most recognizable sounds of the internet age, plus the creation of a whole new musical instrument. This episode features Elwood Edwards, the man behind the famous AOL “You’ve Got Mail” soundbite, and Bosco and Maya Kante, inventors of the ElectroSpit. Twenty Thousand Hertz is produced out of the studios of Defacto Sound, and hosted by Dallas Taylor. Follow the show on Twitter & Facebook.  Become a monthly contributor at 20k.org/donate. If you know what this week's mystery sound is, tell us at mystery.20k.org. Sign up for The Great Courses Plus and get a free month at thegreatcoursesplus.com/20k. Get a 14 day free trial of Zapier at zapier.com/20k. Check out and subscribe to Gastropod wherever you get your podcasts. Check out and subscribe to Just the Beginning wherever you get your podcasts. Episode transcript, music, and credits can be found here: https://www.20k.org/episodes/youvegotmail

#76 I You've Got Mail!

The stories behind the world's most recognizable and interesting sounds.

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Twenty Thousand Hertz

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