Binaural Recordings 1

Isaac Silva Ura

Hazel Burns
IMC 0110
13 of november of 2014

Binaural Recordings
Your impression of the binaural recording?
Binaural Recording was a really interesting experience to listen. You start listening
without knowing what will happen. Suddenly you hear the sounds as if you were present at that
location. For instance when you hear the barbershop, it gives you the impression that he is
cutting your hair. It causes you touch your head and see if it is real or it is just a recording you
are listening.
What is a binaural recording?
Binaural recording are recordings that, with the help of special microphones, captures
exactly as the human ear hears. According to About Technology Binaural recordings are stereo,
recorded using special microphones and techniques that reproduce audio in a spatially correct
stereo image to the actual event (Shambro, J. 2014). So with the help of some headphones you
will have an exact reproduction of the sound to the point that you will feel like you are
experiencing that moment in real life.

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How are they made?
Binaural recordings are made using a special microphone also known as dummy head
microphone that simulates the human ears and head so you can hear in all directions around you.
Two microphones are used which allow it to detect the location of sounds around in the same
way that we do it naturally. Baffling, a barrier in the middle between the microphone lobes,
allows the space between them to be exactly like human ears.
How do they work?
Like said before, dummy head recording is used to capturing the audio, using a bust that
includes pinnae, the visible part of the ear outside of the head. Each persons pinnae are unique,
and the directionality of the sound is learned by each person. Pinnae ridges reflect and refract the
sound wave before it enters the ears, and the sound produced varies according to the direction of
arrival of the sound. So, binaural recording are used to reproduce the sound exactly like human
ear does.
Why do binaural recordings need to be listened to on headphones?
First of all, you can listen binaural recordings through normal speakers, you just wont be
able to get the 3D natural effect. Because they are recorded as two completely audio channels,
and they are meant to be listened also as two audio channels, in other words with headphones.
With normal speakers, the sound from each speaker will get mixed together during the travel to
your ears and your brain cant make sense of the directional cues.
References

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Olszewski, R. (2000). A beginners guide to Binaural recording. Recovered the 12 of november
of 2014 from http://www.fivehorizons.com/feature/binaural.shtlml
Kall Binaural Audio. (2010). What is binaural audio? Recovered the 12 of november of 2014
from http://www.kallbinauralaudio.com/what-is-binaural-audio/
Head acoustics. (2012). Binaural Recording Systems. Recovered the 12 of November of 2014
from http://www.head-acoustics.de/eng/nvh_binaural_recording_systems.htm
Shambro, J. (2014). What is Binaural Recording? About Technology. Recovered the 12 of
November of 2014 from
http://www.homerecording.about.com/od/microphoneplacemetguides/g/What_is_Bianura
l_Recording.html