A long time ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, in a previous life, I was a musician.  Technically, I am STILL a musician, in that I still play music, and most of the instruments I once did.  So, I guess what I am saying is that I was a PROFESSIONAL musician, making my living playing guitar in bands and studios.  I also used to manage a department in the world’s largest music store chain.  As a result, I learned a lot about recording studios and professional-grade musical equipment.

One thing I learned has morphed into a sort of catch-phrase for Tina and I whenever we embark on a creative endeavor.  Actually, this concept I am about to share has integrated into our lives very deeply.

When you purchase equipment of any sort, you can usually buy consumer-grade or professional-grade varieties.  Professional-grade is typically more feature-rich, higher-quality, more durable, and consequently, more expensive.  In the music industry this is also true, and when you compare consumer-grade versus professional-grade recording equipment, such as effects processors (delays, equalizers, reverbs, etc.), one of the key differences is the frequency response.

Frequency response is the range of frequencies, measured in Hertz (Hz) and KiloHertz (KHz), that the processor is capable of reproducing.  Typically, consumer-grade devices go from around 60Hz to 12KHz.  Whereas professional-grade devices are capable of 20Hz to 20KHz, giving them a wide band of audio information, and thus much better sound.

Now, the strange thing is that the human ear is generally only capable of hearing frequencies as low as 60Hz* (think that annoying buzz of fluorescent lighting) and as high as around 12KHz* (think the lowest sound produced by a dog-whistle, or the high-pitched squeak of a cars brakes as they are wearing out).

That being the case, why would ANYONE want to pay more money for professional-grade processors when the human ear cannot detect the difference?!?

Well, therein lies the secret, and the reason for this seemingly bizarre and off-topic post. It seems that, somehow… some way… the inaudible frequency ranges between 20Hz and 60Hz and between 12KHz and 20KHz “colors” the sound in intangible, imperceptible ways, but ways in which the listener appreciates as “richer,” more vivid, more dynamic… more… “ALIVE.” Those frequencies are the details in which greatness lies. They are the realm of excellence that lies beyond the borders of mediocrity and good enough. They are the “God” that lies within the details.

A very similar thing happens with computer video cards. The human eye can perceive somewhere between 7 and 10 million colors (estimates based on several different scientific studies); however, today’s video cards generate over 16 million colors. Even though the human eye cannot technically perceive those extra 6 to 9 million colors, they affect the “quality” of the image, making it richer, more realistic, more “alive.”

And so it is that we approach every endeavor, citing “20K” to our cast and crew, our co-workers and collaborators, our friends and family, as code for adding those extra, unseen-but-highly-efficacious details to whatever project is at hand. Hopefully, the result speaks for itself, possessing some intangible quality that gives it professionalism and a sense of excellence.

* some people are capable of hearing as low as 40Hz to
50Hz and as high as 15KHz to 16KHz