[mrjeffrivera]

I'd love to duplicate the virtual hair cut techniques (binaural, holophonic, ceteral whatever you want to call it) on another project. A radio drama type of project. But how do I do it??

Should I get a couple of condensor mics or should I use a Wave Panaroma software? Both? Has anyone else done this successfully? And more importantly how can I do this cheaply?

I've read a number of postings on this subject all over the internet but I don't seem to get a very clear picture about it or how I can do it.

 

[Omega]

Plenty of info online, search for "binaural recording." The main constraint is finding a pair of good quality stereo microphones that are small enough to fit in your ears. If you don't want to use your own ears, you can use a generic dummy instead.

The essentail bits of binaural recording are very simple. Get small mics. Put mics in ears. Record. Don't overprocess it. You don't need anything fancy, really.

 

[mrjeffrivera]

Will it sound just as good as the Virtual Hair Cut? Do I just plug the two microphones into an adapter and then into the recorder?

What about making sure it sounds like something or someone is walking and talking from the front or from behind, does it work well with that?

 

[krmathis]

How about a Neumann Binaural Head?

Recreation of the human head, with microphones placed in the ear channel. To make a realistic recording.

 

[mrjeffrivera]

that's very good, does that work just as well or better than getting two condensor mics? Is that the same thing as holophonic sound, is it just as good as the virtual hair cut?

 

[threEchelon]

Go here: http://www.soundprofessionals.com/

and search for "binarual". They have a range of binaural mics.


I bought a pair of these for a friend of mine and they sound great.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrjeffrivera /img/forum/go_quote.gif that's very good, does that work just as well or better than getting two condensor mics?

Since it mimic a human head, with outer ear and all, I am certain it will record a more realistic sound than "just" two condenser microphones.

 

[mrjeffrivera]

thanks so much!!

 

[Omega]

Everybody's head and ear shape is different, so everybody has a different HRTF (head-related transfer function). If you want to get the best binaural results for your ears, you should record using your ears. The dummy heads are generic, like a cross-trainer shoe. Decent for most, great at nothing. I imagine the dummy heads are better for generating good binaural recordings for a wide range of people, unless you happen to have a very average head/ears.

 

[japc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Everybody's head and ear shape is different, so everybody has a different HRTF (head-related transfer function). If you want to get the best binaural results for your ears, you should record using your ears. The dummy heads are generic, like a cross-trainer shoe. Decent for most, great at nothing. I imagine the dummy heads are better for generating good binaural recordings for a wide range of people, unless you happen to have a very average head/ears.

Yeah, but how do you propose to plant the microphones deep enough in your own ears to make it real? Else the job is better accomplished by a dummy head.

 

[Omega]

Quote:

Originally Posted by japc /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah, but how do you propose to plant the microphones deep enough in your own ears to make it real? Else the job is better accomplished by a dummy head.

Who says the microphones have to be planted deeply?

 

[japc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Who says the microphones have to be planted deeply?

Don't they ? On dummy heads the microphone is where the eardrum is.

If you put outer from there the sound experience won't be the same.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Everybody's head and ear shape is different, so everybody has a different HRTF (head-related transfer function). If you want to get the best binaural results for your ears, you should record using your ears. The dummy heads are generic, like a cross-trainer shoe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omega /img/forum/go_quote.gif Who says the microphones have to be planted deeply?

Well, if you care about the head shape ("the dummy head are generic") then you certainly want to place the microphone as close to the eardrums position as possible. I am sure that has at least the same impact on the ending sound as the shape of the head.