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   RANDOM LINKS: Binaural Experience

Random Links provides an opportunity to share online web resources. Listed sites may focus around a specific topic or be truly random. If you have a collection of hot links you'd like to share please let us know ().

Microphone: Neuman KU100

A stereo recording provides the listener with a sense of depth created by the placement of speakers in such a way as to recreate the acoustic stage of the original sound source - such as a band or orchestra.
     In stereo presentations the soundscape is "before us" and we do not necessarily participate "within it" as a listener actually would if on location while the recording was being made. Binaural recordings, on the other hand, place the listener within the context of a concert or soundscape.
     The term binaural means 'hearing with two ears'. A binaural recording uses two audio tracks to transmit two distinct audio signals - one to each ear. Headphones are essential in listening to binaural recordings as the sound for the right ear must enter that ear and so with the left.
     What is unique about the binaural process is that the sound is recorded with microphones placed exactly at ear level providing the listener with a 360 degree virtual acoustic environment. This is done using either a set of very small microphones worn next to each ear of the recordist, or through the use of a dummy head microphone such as that illustrated to the left. The result is that when the listener puts on headphones a sense of being on location is created.
     The KU 100 dummy head microphone system illustrated above is made by the German company, Neuman. As illustrated is is a replica of the human head with a high-quality microphone built into each ear. When the recorded sound is played by one perceives a sound image almost identical to that one could hear on location. This system is used in radio drama, special effects for film, outdoor nature recordings, acoustic evaluation, and scientific research.
     There are other binaural microphone systems that give a similar sense of 3-D reality. Proscenia has used Core Sound binaural microphones for years.
    The random links listed here provide links to many examples of binaural recordings as well informational articles and resources. Listening to sound files must be done with headphones as binaural sound is ear specific and the effect is lost when loudspeakers are used.