BiAural Recording

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Kelly Holdridge

Kelly Holdridge

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While looking for stereo mics (still haven't received any replies to THAT one), I came across a link in a search engine to a fellow that specializes in BINAURAL Recording. I'll try to find the link and post it. In the meantime, have any of you tried this technique? His webpage had a picture of this MONSTER microphone/sound-diverter/dual-elephant-trunk looking thing. It kind of looked like The Predator's mouth, in a way. Is this a specialized stereo application for music, or science? I think it is for music, as the picture posted on this site seemed to be in an orchestra hall...
 
My understanding is that binaural micing means using two omnidirectional mics spaced apart the distance of human ears. The idea is to duplicate the sound human hearing is capable of.

Dunno bout binaural, cuz I haven't tried it, but if you've got two of *any* kind of mics, try stereo micing - the sound is wonderful compared to using just one mic. Mount them relatively close to each other, and experiment with angles and distances. The capsules can be touching or apart. Guys who record classical music use this all the time for big and small groups, but I like the sound for close-up micing of voice and acoustic guitar.
 
An update, Kelly. The June 2000 edition of Electronic Musician has a very good article on stereo micing, including loads of stuff about binaural micing, in which the author, Elizabeth Papapetrou (say *that* right the first time without trying), writes: "Even for conventional stereo recording and playback, some engineers are of the opinion that modern binaural methods provide better-balanced and more natural-sounding recordings than other stereo-miking techniques."

Oh, plus, the article has the clearest explanation of stereo micing techniques (with diagrams) that I've seen so far.
 
Thanks, Dobro. I'll try to get to that article. BTW, you mentioned this technique as trying to simulate the human earspace--I think the "elephant-trunk" looking "predator mouth" is meant to simulate the ear tubes.

Which, in a way, doesn't make any sense. Never mind that last thing.

Which begs the question: What are those tubes for, anyway?

Still looking for the link...
 
You're probably checking out Tchad Blake's website...he did the last Pearl Jam CD, but the stuff that I really like is the Latin Playboy's 2 CD's. He puts vacuum hoses on a Neumann binaural head microphone and uses them as mechanical filters. That's his drum overhead, I think.
I've been making binaural mics using skulls--they sound real nice, but a little lacking on the low end. I'm hoping the phantom powered version will improve this--I think it will. Good room mic, and cool on drum overheads, not to mention how they look.
Check out: http://www.tf4.com/webskull
 
Yeah, it WAS Tchad Blake. God, he records Pearl Jam? ugh. (haven't enjoyed them since....TEN)
 
I forgot to add that the 1st Latin Playboy's recording, which is on my list of best recordings of all time, was done for the most part on a 4-track cassette machine. Inspiring, no?
 
Binaural recording through dummy heads, etc. is an interesting idea for research, but it seems like flawed logic if the intent is to create "realism", or "good sound".

The ear/ear-canal, etc. filter the sound-field in a characteristic way. If you record it this way, then play it back, and LISTEN to it, you are going throught the "ear-filter" twice. So it doesn't seem like a good idea. It seems as though the goal should be to reproduce the UNFILTERED sound field at the ear location. Hence, stereo mike pairs, but no hoses, dummy heads, imitation ear canals, etc. Your real ears will supply that when you listen to the recording.

Agree ?

Rick
 
A much debated subject...

The one interesting aspect of binaural recording is the ability to create a 360 degree field when played back on high quality headphones, something that i believe is not possible to do with traditional stereo mic'ing. The effect is very eerie. Close your eyes, and you can hear the sound source in front of you, then behind you...it's very cool and weird. Try it yourself by putting up a couple omnis where your ears are, then have a friend walk around you in a circle with a shaker and record it.

Do a search for "binaural"--there are some recordings online that you can check out. One good one is a dog barking around and around the mic...on good phones, you can hear the 360 degree effect...

As far as binaural recording being the "best" way to do stereo recording, "no" is probably the answer for a variety of reasons, one of which is the fact theat the effect is lost when played back on speakers. But it sure is fun.

Yesterday, I picked up a Crown SASS mic, which is 2 PZM's permanently arrayed in a mic the size of a shoebox, which is supposed to be able to do binaural recording...I'll let you know how it sounds when I fire it up...
 
I agree with tonewoods.
Bin-aural recording isnt meant for recording music.(at least not pop/rock)
I just cant believe that some of you think it sounds "good" on drums. I would describe it as "interesting" but not usable in a mix.
If you listen to your recordings through a normal stereo set of speakers you wont be able to locate anything at the place it was.
That is because of the "double-filtering" mentioned earlier in this thread.
Also with dummies and hoses you will loose a lot of frequencies that you will need later on in the mix.
 
Personally, I'm trying to make "bad" drum recordings. I'm recording in mono (RCA 44BX overhead, AKG D19 on snare, EV 666 on kick), and filtering the kit to take up as little sonic room in the mix as possible, and still be effective. I'm using stereo mic'ing techniques, including binaural mics, for the vocals and other important instruments...the blend is a lot more interesting to my ear than drum tracks that insist on hogging the entire sonic scene...
 
Yeah, that's what I tell the guys in the band. "I meant to screw up your drum track, dude!"

Sure, I've got Neumann's and other expensive large diaphragms layin' around. I MEAN to record with cheap-o condensers. That's what I MEANT to do.

Hell, if they want that polished percussion, they can pay me for it. In the meantime, suck my cheap mic!

jus' kiddin round
 
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