Anyone know how to get their hands on some sulfur hexafluoride?

At the risk of sounding totally reckless, I was reading the Wikipedia article on extended vocal technique when it mentioned helium, which artificially raises the frequency of one's voice, and sulfur hexafluoride, which will lower it. I'm not planning on using it myself (this second anyway), but it sounds really neat -- are there any popular pieces which demand that a vocalist inhale some SF6?

(I realize that this is the most "college-kid" post ever)

Short answer, no.

However, I imagine it would be helpful when singing the Rachmaninoff vespers haha :)

It's extremely temporary.

As soon as the gas dissipates, the effects wear off. You've never tried the whole suck-in-helium thing?? It lasts a few seconds.

And extended use can indeed mess up your vocal chords.

i just had to read this the week after my chem semester ended

It's extremely temporary.

As soon as the gas dissipates, the effects wear off. You've never tried the whole suck-in-helium thing?? It lasts a few seconds.

that's fine; it'd still be useful for voice acting and such.

Dude, a couple SECONDS. :lol: I don't think it'd last long enough to do more than utter one sentence, if you're talking voice acting. That's a lot of helium over time, again which does damage your voice if done frequently.

Dude, a couple SECONDS. :lol: I don't think it'd last long enough to do more than utter one sentence, if you're talking voice acting. That's a lot of helium over time, again which does damage your voice if done frequently.

that's fine when you're voicing ZOMBIES :D

Sulfur hexaflouride lasts a lot longer than helium gas, due to the simple fact that it's heavier than air. You almost have to stand on your head to get all of it completely out of your lungs. But yeah, it's not something I would want to ever subject a vocalist to for more than like... once. Ever. Though I always thought it would be cool to have a whole entire choir take some for some weird effect mid-piece. Did you know it affects wind instruments, too?

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=sulphur+hexaflouride+toxicity&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

I mean you can't just breathe it, but it seems to be relatively non-toxic. If it's not pure it seems pretty bad: http://occmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/38/3/82.full.pdf

Sounds pretty reasonable, actually.

As to getting it, well, I'll let you google for a small-sample chemistry supply company.

It probly wouldnt be a good idea for a vocalist to use that for more than a phrase or two because you could suffocate if you just breathe Sulfur Hexafluoride for minutes on end. It can also damage your cords if u use it too much.

I don't believe that you can use it with instruments, but I'm not sure. It probly works fine for instruments that are built a lot like our voices. Still Helium and Sulfur Hexafluoride DOES NOT ALTER THE PITCH OF YOUR VOICE, merely the timbre. It's like "EQ" your voice. With Helium, you get more high end, and with Sulfur Hexafluoride, you get more low end.

You can take a look at this study and listen to audio samples. It's about helium, but SF6 works the same way.

It works the same with instruments, and it's easiest to demonstrate with wind instruments. It DOES alter pitch. Same amount of energy (frequency/pitch) through a lighter gas means more energy can penetrate in the same given time. Ergo higher pitch.

There's a video somewhere of a band director who had his concert band inhale some helium and play their instruments for the audience. It's quite funny.

the way i understand it, SF6 does alter the pitch, on the principle that the air resonating is heavier than typical earth air.

The only piece I know ask singer to inhale a gas is Song of White Horse by David Bedford, which uses helium to reach the last notes. Inhale SF6 can be very dangerous if isn't proper done.