Gases that Change your Voice

As per experts, there are a total of 4 basic types of voices that define the human voice, namely alto, bass, soprano, and tenor. Have you heard of gases that change your voice? It is generally seen that men have deeper voices compared to women. But sometimes I wonder, do men use gas to make voice deeper? Yes, some gases do change your voice. You will get my point if you have experimented with breathing helium balloons. If not so, then today you will get to know about all this along with the helium voice changer and will study the gas to make voice lower.

1. Working of Voice Tract

You produce sound when your vocal cords vibrate at a frequency or particular rate. This vibration pushes the air surrounding it into your voice box. The motion of this air results in the production of sound waves which are received by the ears of the listener. However, your voice is made up of different inter-mixed tones. (See Why some people hate using voice messages?)

2. Impact of Helium on Voice Tract

As you know, the human voice is a mixture of various inter-mixed tones and when you inhale helium, it makes the higher-pitched tone resonate more. This amplifies the voice, making it sound louder in the mix and, at the same time, it reduces the resonance made by lower tones. And when these two effects combine, they result in a chipmunk-like sound. (See How to make Voice Sound Better?)

3. Reason behind Gases that change your Voice

In gas with light density, sounds travel faster in comparison to gases with more density. This happens because the molecular spaces are more in lighter gases, giving a fast and easy passage to the sound waves. Heavier gases change the pressure of the sound waves. So, the higher the pressure, the deeper the voice, and the lower the air pressure, the lower will be the voice. (See Why my voice isn’t deep?)

4. Voice Changing Gases

The air we breathe is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen and these gases are known to be heavier than the others. Helium is one of the lightest gases with such low density that it is filled in balloons to make them float. Helium may be considered a voice changer, but it is not the only gas with such property. Inhaling any gas which is lower or higher in density than the air, will affect your voice. Other gases like Sulfur Hexafluoride and Xenon also change your voice too. (See What do Tornadoes Sound like?)

5. Inhale Gas to make voice Deeper or Gas to make voice Lower

Several gases can make a person sound deeper than it is, but Sulfur Hexafluoride is considered the best option among the various gases that change your voice. The main reason for choosing it is that it is non-toxic to humans, unlike other gases, which can result in your death within seconds of inhaling them. Xenon gas is also useful in this context, but it is rare and expensive. (See How to have a deep voice?)

6. Results of Breathing Helium Balloons

It may sound funny, but you should remember your body requires oxygen for vital processes and if you are inhaling helium from balloons, you are displacing oxygen with this gas. This may not only change your voice, but it may put you at risk too. 

This will be a very short period when the fun of gases that change your voice can turn into a disaster when you take things over the plane. The same is the case with this, because of breathing helium balloons, you can experience lightheadedness and nausea, and you can pass out too. If you have inhaled helium from the pressurized container, there are more chances of getting sick and the symptoms can be:

• Bluish lips or skin (cyanosis)
• Blurred vision,
• Chest pain,
• Coughing up blood,
• Irregular heartbeat,
• Loss of consciousness,
• Low blood pressure,
• Seizures,
• Trouble breathing, and
• Weakness or paralysis in one or more limbs. (See How Do We Get Sick?)

7. Tips to Avoid Health Hazards While inhaling Gas to make Voice deeper

To enjoy the party without any hard effects from the gases that change your voice, take note of the following tips.

• Avoid large party helium balloons.
• Do not inhale from pressurized tanks.
• Never try this alone because you may need someone if things turn wrong.
• Do not do this while standing to reduce injury in case you pass out.
• Never let children try these tricks because they may have bad reactions to them. (See How To Sound Louder?)

8. Helium Voice Changer Platform

Helium voice changer is a free online voice changing platform that can convert your voice similar to that of the helium inhaled voice. For doing this, you do not have to inhale helium and you only have to download the software to record and upload. (See How do I Sound When I record Myself?)

So, helium and Sulfur hexafluoride are the gases that change your voice. Also, if you do not want to use gas to make voice deeper or gas to make voice lower, you can use helium voice changer. It is always a better option than breathing helium balloons.