What is an ASMR artist?

It is anyone who creates something to stimulate ASMR, to represent ASMR, or that is inspired by ASMR.

The most common ASMR artists are video artists, click the following links to learn more about these specific video artists:

• massageASMR
• softlygaloshes
• WhispersRed
• Deep Ocean of Sounds
• Dana ASMR
• Jellybean Green
• WhisperSparkles
• SensorAdi ASMR
• Singing ASMR

Additional ASMR artists cover many diverse fields, click the following links for an example of:

• ASMR-inspired dance
• ASMR-inspired symphony
• ASMR-inspired opera
• ASMR-inspired performance art
• ASMR-inspired cinema
• ASMR-inspired poetry
• ASMR-inspired commercials

To create your own ASMR art just focus on what interests or inspires you about ASMR and express it through some medium like your voice, your movements, your paintings, your writings, your sculptures, your music, etc.

Each ASMR artist has his or her own style and craft.  Express your interest in ASMR through whatever style and craft is best for you.

 

The style and craft of Video/Audio ASMR artists

The style of these artists includes the way they talk, whisper, move their hands, create sounds, gaze with their eyes and more.

The craft of these artists includes the tools they use to capture and share ASMR triggers; the microphones, the video cameras, the editing software, and more.

Creating ASMR triggers is a true art that involves a complex mix of natural ability, developed skills, personal techniques, and appropriate equipment.

There is no single secret, but there are many helpful things you can do to create and record better triggers.

Tips for video/audio ASMR artists 

Below are some tips based on my ASMR experiences, my recording experiences and my biological theory of what causes ASMR (click “Origin Theory of ASMR” link at top of site to read about the theory).

Tips on variety of content

Don’t plan on creating content that will give everyone ASMR.

ASMR triggers are sorta like favorite foods.  Some food items are pleasing to many people, some food items are pleasing to just a few, and no food items are loved by every single person.

Tips on using your voice

The aspects of your voice which can influence the stimulation of ASMR are speed, volume, tone, and emotion.  These aspects can convey that you can be trusted which results in the other person feeling relaxed.

Basically, you want your voice to be the opposite of angry.  Angry voices put others on alert, and this is the flip side of being relaxed.

The emotion of an angry voice is aggressive and negative.  Keep your voice gentle and positive.

The tone of an angry voice is threatening.  Keep the tone of your voice caring, sympathetic, and/or empathic.

The volume of an angry voice is usually loud, but not always.  As anger increases so does volume, with the angriest voices usually being the loudest.  This may explain why the quietest voices, whispers, may be the most associated with ASMR.  But it also may explain why soft voices and normal volume voices can also trigger ASMR – because the alert response is mostly triggered by high volumes and not usually triggered by low or normal volume sounds.

The speed of an angry voice can be slow, normal, or fast.  A specific vocal speed does not therefore seem to be inherent to stimulating an alert response.  This explains why ASMR can be stimulated by voices with different speeds.  Some artists talk slowly, which conveys a calm disposition that may be relaxing to the listener when coupled with the correct emotion, tone, and volume.  And some artists talk quickly, which conveys enthusiasm or expertise that may be relaxing to the listener when coupled with the correct emotion, tone, and volume.

In summary, the emotion and tone which stimulate ASMR have the strictest criteria.  The volume can be low or normal.  And speed may have the greatest flexibility.

Tips on creating sounds

Sounds fall into two categories: natural and methodical.

Natural sounds imitate the natural vagaries of real sounds; these sounds should be random, unsteady, complex, and/or layered in a way that best simulates a real haircut, the actual sounds of opening a package, or other re-enactments of scenarios that commonly trigger ASMR.

Methodical sounds get their soothing ability from their predictability.  These sounds should be steady, slow and non-layered.  A slow and steady tapping or crinkling sound can be very effective at relaxing someone’s mind.

Similar to voices, sounds should not be too loud or abrupt – that is a strong trigger for an alert response.

Tips on recording soft voices and soft sounds

The challenge when recording a whisper or a soft voice, that is not a challenge when recording someone singing or talking, is getting a good signal to noise ratio.

The softer the voice or sound you are recording, the more likely the listener will hear background noises, ambient noise, and internal equipment noise.  The challenge is to get your soft voice, whisper voice, or quiet sound (signal) to be significantly above the other sounds you don’t want (noise).

Here are some ways to get a better signal to noise ratio:

• Move your mouth closer to the microphone (make sure to add a pop filter or foam wind screen).
• Direct your voice or sound directly towards the diaphragm of the microphone (again, a pop filter or foam wind screen is critical).
• Increase the sensitivity of your microphone, often referred to as “gain”.  But this will also result in you picking up more background noises, so be aware of any sounds within 20 yards – even if they are behind a wall, on another floor, or outside.
• Watch out for nearby noise sources: computer fans, heating or air conditioning ducts, or any electronic or mechanical device.
• If background noises continue to plague you, switch from a condenser mic (very sensitive) to a dynamic mic (less sensitive).
• Be aware of source #1 for internal noise: the microphone.  Purchase a microphone that has low internal noise.
• Be aware of source #2 for internal noise: the amp.  The amp may be built-in to a portable recorder, or be external as part of a mixer.  The internal noise produced by amps can vary greatly.

Click the following links for more information about recording ASMR triggers:

• What is step #1 to create a low-noise ASMR recording?
• Recording ASMR triggers with the Blue Yeti microphone