Monongahela

A site dedicated to the review and analysis of potential sasquatch vocalizations, Sasquatch Bioacoustic combines techniques from the domains of intelligence collection, audio analysis and bioacoustic studies to examine the evidence of sasquatch through their vocalizations. ~Monongahela

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

A Closer Look at the Ohio Howl

Near Wellsville Ohio in 1994, Matt Moneymaker recorded a loud moaning sound that would go on to become known as the Ohio Howl. Since its capture, that sound has become associated with the voice of a sasquatch vocalizing somewhere in the hills along the Ohio river. Indeed, in the years to follow,  this howl would be heard and recorded in a variety of locations across North America. It has now become so well known that the Moan Howl forms the basis for many attempts by researchers to lure sasquatch into vocalizing for the recorder.

Such an important piece of evidence for the existence of bigfoot naturally bears closer scrutiny for the purpose of A) identifying unique characteristics, B) differentiating it from known vocalizers, and C) looking for similar patterns in other potential sasquatch vocals. When similar patterns are found, an association is established, and unique characteristics from the newer recordings may be added to the body of knowledge regarding sasquatch vocalizations.


For those interested in how sasquatch communicate with others of their kind, this type of investigation can be deeply intriguing. And in my efforts to examine this matter I've found a large number of researchers with a wide collection of audio captures that fall into the emerging profile of the sasquatch voice. They've been very generous with their ideas and their recordings, and networking with them has allowed me to put many theories together, validate or invalidate several ideas, and make some minor discoveries of my own along the way.

In the weeks and months to come I will be releasing a series of video-spectrograms, similar to the one above. In these spectrograms I will highlight characteristics of these calls and demonstrate their relationship to other sasquatch vocals. With time a profile should emerge which builds a picture of both common sasquatch calls, and some rare and strange sasquatch vocals as well.

In the mean time, let's begin with the Ohio Howl. I'd like to point out three features in this recording that are worth becoming familiar with.

First, the attenuated fundamental. This was first brought to my attention by Bob Densford from Texas. If you watch the spectrogram as it plays, you'll notice a series of stacked lines (all gently curving arches) coinciding with the sound of the howl. The lowest line is called the fundamental frequency (F0), the next line up is a harmonic of that frequency (F1 or 2x the fundamental), and the next up is another harmonic (F2 or 3x the fundamental). Upon closer examination, you will see that F0 is visually dimmer than F1. It is diminished in power, or attenuated. F1 is actually much brighter than F0, stronger than any of the other harmonics, and is where the vocal "resonates" the strongest. This is the note that you hear most clearly with your ears (although the fundamental and other harmonics are contributing to the richness of the sound). Attenuated fundamentals are not unique to the sasquatch, but they do appear in many of the recordings with the best potential for being a sasquatch. They are one of the hallmarks that I watch for when trying to rule a recording in or out.

Second, just after the 7 second mark in the howl recording (14 seconds on the video) there is a softer, flat howl, that sounds like a low "wooooo". This is not readily noticed in the original audio file, but it stands out clearly after cleaning up the dog barks that are stepping on it. More data is needed to back up this theory, but I believe this might be a response to the loud vocalizer, coming from a second sasquatch. I base that idea upon recognition of very similar, low flat howls, in a number of similar recordings. I've even heard this low howl twice while in the woods investigating. Over the weeks and months ahead I will single out this vocal in other video-spectrograms.

Third and finally, I would call your attention to the shape of the howl in the spectrogram. Moan howls have a characteristically long, gentle arch shape to them. Few other vocalizers routinely produce this shape. Coyotes are often more erratic and shorter. Wolves are often very flat and long. Cows can come close, they are deeper and shorter. This type of howl could be produced by man or canine, but the unique form is something to watch for when examining an audio clip. Combine that with other attributes (like frequency range) and the profile of the sasquatch moan howl becomes much easier to recognize.

4 comments:

  1. Nice work, The Ohio Howls and others achieve what is known in phonetics as the /a/ vowel like in the word father. The attenuated fundamental frequency is a product of what is known as source filter theory and typicaly associated with the 1 to 1 oral to pharangeal ratio measurement of the vocal tract only found in humans among extant great apes.

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    1. I heard this same sound here in Australia me and a friend were camping. I am a yowie (bigfoot) enthusiast and have heard the ohio howls in the past before and when me and my friend heard the same sound we knew what it was straight away. What makes me a believer is the fact that the sound we both heard is the exact same sound i mean what animal does Australia and America have in common not really anything which if i could have recorded the sound would have any sceptic scratching their heads

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  2. I live right by Wellsville. I fish up there very often. Didn't realize my area was so squatchy!

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  3. Beaver Creek State Park not far from Wellsville,I've heard this sound more than once along with my wife and friends! I personally have never seen one my wife has! Nothing but eyes staring back at her in the dark but she definatly saw something!!

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