Binaural recording made simple (but expensive)

You don't have to be a dummy to capture that "you're really there" stereo sound, but a dummy head may help


If you're a hi-fi buff then you have probably heard about binaural recording, which is aimed at people with two ears. If you're listening to live music, in fact, you're essentially using a microphone in each ear. Binaural recording simply puts a mic where your ear drum would be, but using a dummy head. Keeping the two tracks completely separate provides playback with stunning realism, apparently. (I've not had the pleasure, yet*)

Binaural recording is obviously an inconvenient way to capture things, compared with a good old Blumlein pair, but Japan Trend Shop has found a simple way to do it in the field, using a Binaural Recording Mic from Otokinoko. Sure, it looks silly, and it mimics a very small head, but the results could be interesting. The main drawback, however, is the $3,899.00 price tag.

* Here are some binaural demos that work if you have headphones and MP3 player software, but some of the links are dead. There are better ones at Try Jasper Slotboom (Cello & Contrabass).