(31 Jul 10, 01:33AM)Ronald_Reagan Wrote: A couple questions for you makke (because I am very curious); Even though you haven't experienced the "normal" way of experiencing music, does it ever get in the way? Also, does it adjust the way you feel about music (like thinking that those colors dont fit together)? Finally does these colors affect your art (I'm assuming you are a artist, as you are the lead artist on the team)? Sorry if I'm asking too many questions, but you have to know that I'm fascinated by most of the things covered in the book. I'm also fascinated by the way the brain processes information.
I don't think it's all that diffrent from people who don't have mental images go along with the music. If I hit a wrong note on my bass for example, that note will somewhat break the shape/structure, and also look weaker/smaller. But I think someone just hearing would also percieve it as a similar disruption.
If a recording is badly mixed, for example the guitar being too loud, I hear people say "I can hardly hear the rest over this" - I will just hardly see the rest, too.
I don't think it really gets in the way or is that much diffrent from "only hearing" people. It's just a diffrent way to percieve things. If at all, I think it might help a bit (for example when adjusting amps). But since I don't know if others simply hear what I hear and see, I can' t really make assumptions if it's an advantage.
It helps me personally though - a 7th cord always has some green to it, a major has stronger colours than a minor, diminished always adds dark grey... etc. Going from a subdominant7 to the "I" might even inverse some colours.
As to visual art: I don't think there is much influence from one on the other, because what I physically see is not connected to the mental images of sound.
A good song might look like a good abstract (albeit moving) painting to me, but a good painting doesn't sound like a good song - it's just a painting I look at.
If there are any influences, it would be impossible for me to tell.
Just sometimes when I edit audio files, I instinctively look for photoshop tools to adjust the contrast or something :P
Real visuals do influence the abstract things I see in sounds though.
Especially the physical properties of an instrument or object do mix in, for example a snare drum always has some white to it (but also some "sand" from the snares), cymbals some yellow/gold, unless the bell is hit, wich will be red.
A harp has somewhat lengthy streaks in it, an abstraction of those small metal tongues that make the tone. But this only happens if I know the instrument, or know it's material, and how it works.
This actually got me into techno, mainly psytrance. Since those sounds used are abstract, my perception is abstract too. Very nice to look at :)
I think though that many people have synestesia, they just aren't used to seeing them, or cannot access them properly. Especially when talking about music, most things are described visually. A bass may have a "wooden tone" or might sound "bright and metallic". Guitars are dirty, clean, bright or dark; notes are high and low, etc etc...