Binaural v Holophonic

[DRuM]

Hi. Last time I posted here, I posted about the Binaural dummy head experiment and linked this http://freespace.virgin.net/roman.fi...ne,%20Mike.mp3 which is a very impressive piece of work. Continuing discussion about 3D sound, I'm curious about another technique called Holophonic.

I wasn't aware of the term Holophonic which is another method giving similar results. However, I had heard examples of Holophonic years ago and didn't realise what name they came under. Here are 3 examples of them
( which sound amazing)

Matchbox:
http://www.holophonic.ch/archivio/te...Holophonic.mp3

Haircut:
http://www.holophonic.ch/archivio/testaudio/capelli.mp3

Blowdry:
http://www.holophonic.ch/archivio/testaudio/phon.mp3


Woman in ears:
http://www.holophonic.ch/archivio/testaudio/voce.mp3



I read on a different messageboard where someone said due to the different techniques of Binaural and Holophonic, that Holophonic is more realistic. I really don't know, I certainly can't tell. All these recordings are very realistic and vivid to my ears. Can anyone shed any light on the sonic differences or tell me which is the better way of producing realistic 3D sound with the most depth, etc. There doesn't seem to be as many Holophonic recordings available as there are field recordings in Binaural.

 

[DennyL]

I haven't heard of holophonic, and I can't answer your question. I know that a binaural recording is made using a dummy head with microphones instead of ears. Do you know how holophonic recordings are made?

Binaural had it's day in the 1970s, and the BBC even produced a play in binaural. I have been wondering whether it (or holophonic) might be revived now with the increasing interest is MP3 players and headphone listening.

I was listening to binaural recently (a CD of demos passed to me by someone on this site) and I think the gimmicky demos (people walking around a room, whispering in your ear, etc) are stunning, but with music demos, where the musicians stay put, then a lot of the binaural advantage goes away, and you could forget you're not listening to a conventionally recorded piece. Just a preliminary opinion.

 

[storm_]

incredible these samples are stunning! i can hear the exact position of the objects like they was real. Surely the holophonic tecnique is far better

 

[MaZa]

Quote:

but with music demos, where the musicians stay put, then a lot of the binaural advantage goes away, and you could forget you're not listening to a conventionally recorded piece. Just a preliminary opinion.

Imagine classical music with instruments completely surrounding you, and you could almost pinpoint every instrument and their distance from you.

Or Ambient music. That would be extremely soothing when the melodic harmonies (or controlled disharmonies) surround you. Though ambient is mainly made with computers, 3d effect can be added without dummyheads and such.

 

[DRuM]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennyL I haven't heard of holophonic, and I can't answer your question. I know that a binaural recording is made using a dummy head with microphones instead of ears. Do you know how holophonic recordings are made? Binaural had it's day in the 1970s, and the BBC even produced a play in binaural. I have been wondering whether it (or holophonic) might be revived now with the increasing interest is MP3 players and headphone listening. I was listening to binaural recently (a CD of demos passed to me by someone on this site) and I think the gimmicky demos (people walking around a room, whispering in your ear, etc) are stunning, but with music demos, where the musicians stay put, then a lot of the binaural advantage goes away, and you could forget you're not listening to a conventionally recorded piece. Just a preliminary opinion.

Wow, if the BBC produced a play in binaural and it sounded as good as the dummy head mp3 above, then that must have sounded amazing.


Interesting articles I found about the basic differences.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_recording

http://www.sound-ideas.com/holophonic.html

 

[BlackUtopia]

Quote:

I was listening to binaural recently (a CD of demos passed to me by someone on this site) and I think the gimmicky demos (people walking around a room, whispering in your ear, etc) are stunning, but with music demos, where the musicians stay put, then a lot of the binaural advantage goes away, and you could forget you're not listening to a conventionally recorded piece. Just a preliminary opinion.

I think binaural recordings provides a speaker-like soundstage, which is significant, especially for IEMs. The only time binaural recordings don't really show their advantage over stereo recordings is with solo instruments.

 

[Ace o' Spades]

everytime I hear the Kunstkopfumgang im IRT, Dr. Theile, Sabine, Mike thing, when she whispers in my ear I get the worse goosebumps. The matchbox demo was amazingly realistic also. I prefer Holophonic since it has amazing depth.

 

[F107plus5]

The whole thing was a lot of fun! But the matchbox coupled with just a little bit of imagination was a surprizingly effective event!

Thanx.

 

[syndrome]

I like the blowdryer, it almost feels like a real one :O

 

[Skrying]

These type of recordings are very cool.

Its amazing that you can even get the full effect on a pair of Koss Plugs.

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by syndrome I like the blowdryer, it almost feels like a real one :O

Definetly. That one was just plain fantastic.

 

[Meyvn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skrying These type of recordings are very cool. Its amazing that you can even get the full effect on a pair of Koss Plugs.

I'd disagree; I wouldn't say the FULL effect, just enough to be quite impressed.

 

[threEchelon]

Quote from http://itotd.com/articles/335/holophonic-sound/:

"Ordinary holograms are produced by mixing reflected laser light with a second beam hitting an object from another angle; the resulting interference pattern of the two waves is what’s actually recorded on film. Expose the film to the same wavelength of light again, and a 3D image emerges from the interference pattern. Italian inventor Hugo Zuccarelli wondered whether a similar process could be used to record sounds, since after all, sound waves can form interference patterns with each other just as light waves can. His holophonic process starts with a type of binaural dummy head, but it reportedly records the interference pattern formed by mixing the sound with an inaudible, digitally superimposed reference signal. Zuccarelli believes that the human auditory apparatus, when listening to sounds, adds the same signal to the input, effectively decoding the interference patterns previously recorded. All that may sound like a bunch of mumbo-jumbo—and Zuccarelli certainly has detractors who claim “holophonic” sound is nothing more than binaural with maybe a few bells and whistles. All I can say is: hearing is believing. The holophonic recordings I’ve heard are simply remarkable—much more impressive than conventional binaural recordings—but I encourage you to listen for yourself and form your own opinion."

 

[Skrying]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meyvn I'd disagree; I wouldn't say the FULL effect, just enough to be quite impressed.

Lol, Okay? Of course you're not going to get the FULL effect, I think you really took the statement way to seriously.

 

[storm_]

imho the matchbox is really impressive