Why can you not hear some bird songs? (1 Viewer)

Jaysan

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2018

• #1

I was researching bull finch calls and how soft they are (discussed in another post). I was looking up how to record high and low frequency sounds when I came across this youtube video which is the sound from 20Hz to 20KHz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNf9nzvnd1k

I was surprised that I could not hear either end of the spectrum, but more so the higher end. I did not expect this as I can hear gold crest / treecreaper calls. Not sure how reliable this is. But worth a listen.

 

P

pshute

Well-known member

• Jan 5, 2018

• #2

Did you try it with headphones to block out background noise? It depends on your computer's sound card, your speakers/headphones, and your hearing.

It cut out at about 10kHz for me, but probably only that high because I had it up loud. I could hear way higher frequencies when I was younger.

It was interesting that it got louder and softer at different frequencies, perhaps indicating peaks and troughs in my hearing, or the computer's playback ability. It also got louder in one ear in spots, which is more likely to be a difference in my hearing.

 

Jaysan

Well-known member

• Jan 6, 2018

• #3

Thanks Pshute. Clearly there are a lot of variables Wasn't trying to start a diagnostic service here.

I heard it off the speaker and could hear between 50hz to 12Khz . Will try headphones. Curious now

Regards, Jaysan

 

Jaysan

Well-known member

• Jan 6, 2018

• #4

Wow with the headphones its the whole spectrum! Very different indeed Pshute.

Regards, Jaysan

 

P

pshute

Well-known member

• Jan 7, 2018

• #5

I’m envious. I find that my wildlife recordings sound much better with headphones. I can hear birds I didn’t hear while I was making them.

 

nartreb

Speak softly and carry a long lens

• Jan 8, 2018

• #6

I had to listen to the low end a few times to ascertain that it was an actual sound - sounds a lot like microphone wind noise, my own heartbeat, etc. It's not a clear rumble for me until about 30Hz, and I only hear it with the volume all the way up. Starting about 60Hz it's easer to hear as it becomes something I could describe as a tone. I then have to turn the volume way down for most of the range, but there's a drop-off starting around 10KHz when I have to start turning the volume up again. At 18KHz it's gone.

 

Warixenjalka

Birdwitcher

• Jan 10, 2018

• #7

nartreb said:

I had to listen to the low end a few times to ascertain that it was an actual sound - sounds a lot like microphone wind noise, my own heartbeat, etc. It's not a clear rumble for me until about 30Hz, and I only hear it with the volume all the way up. Starting about 60Hz it's easer to hear as it becomes something I could describe as a tone. I then have to turn the volume way down for most of the range, but there's a drop-off starting around 10KHz when I have to start turning the volume up again. At 18KHz it's gone.

Click to expand...

I have an similar experience with you. I start to hear about 30 Hz but on the higher end my hearing stopped at about 13 kHz. :eek!:
But I can still hear grasshoppers, treecreepers, goldcrests etc.