A Brief Guide to Binaural Recording Techniques

Binaural recording techniques are a great way to give listeners an immersive experience and provide them with rich, three-dimensional sound. They are also used in some audio games, mood enhancers, and other audio programs to improve the perception of sound. 

However, many people don’t know where to start with these techniques or how they work, but no worries, as they can consider ASMRMicrophones.com for better understanding. If you want to learn them but don’t know how then the following details are just for you. The following guide will help you go through the fundamentals of binaural recording and explain why these techniques are so effective.

Fundamentals of Binaural Recording –

  • A Glossary of Terms

A binaural recording is an audio recording that has two channels – a left channel and a right channel. The two media capture stereo sound when listening to it through headphones. Therefore, a binaural recording aims to create a 3-dimensional sound field that listeners can experience by wearing headphones.

  • A Simple but Effective Way to Map Head and Pinna Positions

The human head is more than just an object that allows humans to move their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Its shape changes how sound reaches the ears in a process known as sound localization. This process is enhanced by the outer ear, known as the pinna. The pinna is a part of the ear that varies in size, shape, and texture between different individuals. It also has openings that enhance your ability to locate sounds.

Binaural Recording Techniques –

Binaural techniques are a form of an audio recording that uses two microphones to capture stereo sound. To do this, the microphones must be placed next to each other at the same distance from the sound source. The microphones then capture precisely what the ears hear and the position of the listener’s head. 

Stereo is created by dividing each channel sound into its left and proper channels and then playing both tracks through headphones simultaneously or one after another. It is possible to do this with two microphones or headphones. The most common binaural recording techniques are:

  • Headphones for Stereo –

The most common binaural technique used in regular stereo recordings. Since two microphones capture all sounds, there will always be a binaural signal. While it may not be apparent initially, you can notice subtle differences between the left and proper channels because of the distance and angle between your head and the microphones.

  • Field Recording –

This recording technique was popularized in the early 1960s. The primary purpose of this recording technique is to capture sounds from the environment without interfering with them. This makes it a great audio source for ambient sounds meant to be played in an indoor environment such as a restaurant, café, or hotel. The most common field recording approach involves placing microphones very close to the sound sources, so they can capture every detail and reduce any artificial reverb that may have been added later.

  • Multi-Person Recording –

It is a method of recording that is often used for music, sound effects, and voiceovers in a virtual environment. Unlike most recordings for this purpose, the microphones used for this recording must be placed in front of the participants. This is because even though the microphone system has a beam-forming technique that can ensure good stereo sound from all directions, there will always be distortion when sounds come from more than one direction.

These are the fundamentals and various techniques of binaural recording. While it may seem like an advanced technique that experienced professionals can only use, it is critical to understand how binaural sound works. This is because creating a good sound cape that captures a location’s full essence depends on the different details put together to recreate the scene.