The Amen Break and the Golden Ratio
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15
  1. #1

    Default The Amen Break and the Golden Ratio

    http://www.constructingtheuniverse.c...0and%20GR.html

    What I first noticed in the wave picture are the distinct peaks representing the beat. I considered the biggest peaks near each end as the limits of a whole.

    Having looked at the geometry of the Golden Ratio a great deal, and its expressions in worldwide art, I have a decent sense of its place along a line. The Amen Break had that feel. For a quick check I used homemade Golden Ratio calipers to examine the peaks. Indeed, peaks pop up at Golden Ratio intervals, as do smaller peaks within them, reminsicent of the fractal structures in nature.

    For more exact visual analysis I examined the wave image in my computer, in which I have a palatte of geometric forms and proportions for quickly identifying an object's ratios. Sure enough, Golden Ratio relationships were indicated among the different peaks. Am I seeing things? You decide. But the appearance of the Golden Ratio may help explain its popularity.

    To appreciate this relationship between the Golden Ratio and sound, it's worthwhile to consider some of the ideal, eternal, unchanging principles of Golden relationships which can only be approximated in nature, and byartists, architects and musicians. I'm not going to re-teach here everything there is to know about this wonderful ratio since some great websites already tell you everything you want to know, such as this and this. Most pertinently, information about the appearance of the Golden Ratio in worldwide music, such as in the work of the classical composers Mozart, Beethoven, Bartok, Debussy and Satie can be found here.

    For our interests, the main principle to appreciate about the Golden Ratio is this: A whole line may be divided in such a way that the length of the whole relates to its large part in the same way that the large part relates to the small part. In other words, the same relationship appears on different scales, comprehending a mathematically balanced whole.
    May explain why I love Jungle and Breaks so damn much!
    Reloop TM4 : Audio6 DJ : Kontrol X1 : Traktor Pro Scratch 2 : Ultrasone DJ1 Pros : Ableton 9 : Launchpad Mini :

  2. #2
    Tech Guru PeteWoods's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Northern Ireland
    Posts
    568

    Default

    Holy shit.

  3. #3
    Moderator of Silly Walks Citizen_Insane's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    20Hz - 60Hz
    Posts
    1,824

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by PeteWoods View Post
    Holy shit.
    Quote Originally Posted by *Otter* View Post
    May explain why I love Jungle and Breaks so damn much!
    ^ Pretty much that.
    Traktor Pro, VCM 600, Custom Midi Fighter, Presonus Firebox, Ultrasone DJ1 Pro
    http://soundcloud.com/citizen_insane/
    Quote Originally Posted by photojojo View Post
    All these subgenre's are like the grandchildren of disco with dubstep and D&B being the bad kids that smoke cigarettes and are in and out of jail.

  4. #4
    Tech Guru VanGogo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    L.A. (lower Alabama)
    Posts
    1,911

    Default

    This is why I love the Internet and DJTT. I have never even heard of the Golden Ratio untill this post. Very interesting info, an a great find! Thanks for sharing.

    Guess it also explains why I love breaks so much too!

  5. #5
    Tech Guru
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    2,597

    Default

    cool!

  6. #6
    Tech Guru dripstep's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    my house in the great white north.
    Posts
    1,727

    Default

    The golden ratio is everywhere. Some see it as proof of intelligent design, some see it as a fluke, but it is all over the place. The statue of David, the nautilus shell, architectural greats are built with the ratio in mind. I never thought of comparing it to the amen break through. It is said that perfection is in the golden ratio, and the most beautiful people in the world have faces that have points matching the ratio. Pretty cool stuff
    2 x gemini PT 1000 . Gemini PS-525 . X1
    NI Audio 6 . Traktor Scratch pro 2
    2007 Macbook Pro
    Quote Originally Posted by The Mighty FV View Post
    manners don't cost a thing dude - never forget that, it'll help you in all walks of life.

  7. #7
    Tech Guru djproben's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Hollywood, CA
    Posts
    2,709

    Default

    ok my mind is officially blown right now.
    "Art is what you can get away with." - Marshall McLuhan

  8. #8
    DJTT Administrator del Ritmo padi_04's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Argentina
    Posts
    6,553

    Default

    Well, this explains a lot.

  9. #9
    Tech Mentor
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    195

    Default

    interesting read, thanks op

  10. #10
    Tech Guru Alex Wild's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    564

    Default

    I think this is bollocks. If you look at lots of quantized drum beats they'll have those same ratios because they're played in 4/4 and the beats are regular divisions of the whole bar. I dont think this is unique to the amen break and i dont think its why the break is so popular. I think that has more to do with the tone of the sound, not the amplitude, which is what the waveform is representing.
    Mixes: www.mixcloud.com/djalexwild/
    Production: www.soundcloud.com/alexwild
    DJM500 : X1 : MBP 15" 2.53 GHz 4 GB RAM : HD25SP : MASCHINE

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •