Sounds of Frothing

#1: Post by **mckolit** » August 11th, 2008, 4:40 pm

Is there a pitch change in the sound of milk when it has been properly stretched? I steam with a thermometer and I eventually want to do it by feel one day like the zen masters of milk steaming out there. Are there sound cues or visual cues that you guys use?

#2: Post by **cafeIKE** » August 11th, 2008, 5:24 pm

When the bacon stops frying and the paper starts tearing.
When the banshee screams, you've gone too far.

August 11th, 2008, 6:32 pm

"and the paper starts tearing"
Enlighten me? That one no comprehendoing.

#4: Post by **cafeIKE** » August 11th, 2008, 6:55 pm

Fold up a sheet of paper into 1/8ths and tear slowly... or rip a piece of cardboard across the corrugations... the froth can start to make this sound when it's time to plunge the wand.

#5: Post by **cannonfodder** » August 12th, 2008, 1:30 pm

Going by the feel of the pitcher is a good way of going as well. Use the thermometer as a second check. Eventually you will be able to tell how hot it is by feel. There is also a change in sound as the milk hits the sweet spot. There is a shift in the pitch, you will hear it starting to get deeper all of a sudden. On my machine that is around 135F, with carry over it get around 145F from carry over which is good for me.

#6: Post by **Psyd** » August 16th, 2008, 12:16 am

cafeIKE wrote:When the bacon stops frying and the paper starts tearing.
When the banshee screams, you've gone too far.

I'm a sound engineer, and sound designer. I would have killed for this advice ten years ago. I couldn't have said it better myself!

#7: Post by **cafeIKE** » August 16th, 2008, 1:38 am

i used to be a recording engineer... until computers and MBAs f'd up the music business.

Glad to be of service

#8: Post by **Psyd** » August 16th, 2008, 2:42 pm

A Hothouse Flower! Nice! I've given up the music business, too, and now go right to the CEO's I still do a little theatre and film work, but Corporate Meetings pay the bills nowadays. I sure do miss it when it was about the music...

#9: Post by **Marshall** » August 16th, 2008, 5:45 pm

I have a sound designer client. Let's all have a party.

#10: Post by **Psyd** » August 16th, 2008, 10:36 pm

From your posts, I'd guess that this makes you an attorney. If the world were still the place that we were talking about, you would be that sound designers criminal defense attorney. I'm guessing that you're either representing him in business dealings, or liability. When a designer needed an attorney, that was my indication that all the fun had gone out of making music and theatre. I guess that's why my creative impulse steers me towards espresso now.