Synthesist Jonas Fasching shared this video, exploring the psychoacoustic possibilities of binaural recording of a synthesizer.
Binaural recording uses a pair of microphones, positioned similarly to human ears, to capture what a person would hear in the same position.
The video demonstrates how you can use binaural recording to capture real-world reverb and mix it with your synthesizers.
Here’s what Fasching shared about the technical details:
“In this video, I am trying to record a Synthesizer, the Novation Peak, in Binaural with the SR3D Binaural Microphones. I am recording the sounds of the synthesizer in a skatepark and i capture the sound of the room and the reverb with these binaural microphones.
While Fasching demonstrates the technique with a synthesizer, the same approach could be used with any instrument.
Note: The term ‘binaural’ simply means ‘involving two ears’, rather than a specific technique. The term is used in several ways relating to recording and electronic music synthesis:
- Binaural recording refers to using a specialized microphone, as demonstrated in the video, to capture sound the way a person would hear it in the same position.
- Binaural mixing refers to mixing with psychoacoustic processing, in order to create an immersive spatial stereo mix.
- Binauaral beats refers to the psychoacoustic effect of hearing a ‘phantom’ tone or beat when you listen to two closely related tones in your left and right ear. For example, if you listen to a 440 Hz tone with your left ear and a 444 Hz tone with your right ear, you would hear a 4 Hz tone or beat (the difference between 440 & 444).
- Binaural synthesis is a term used to refer to two different concepts:
- Artificially creating the psychoacoustic effects of spatial audio; and
- An approach to sound synthesis that uses a separate channel to generate audio for each ear, instead of using a single synthesis channel and then using panning or effects to create a stereo effect.
What these have in common is that the effects are best heard, and in some cases only heard, when listening with headphones.
Nothing new, they just record as this is Live recording
But use it not as Lie album version, but as spatial fx
Need to record Live in studio?))) Interesting angle of view to record own material
I don’t think the description of binaural beats is very accurate.
“If you listen to a 440 Hz tone with your left ear and a 444 Hz tone with your right ear, you would hear a 4 Hz tone or beat (the difference between 440 & 444)”
Sorry, but what does a 4 Hz TONE sound like? What you hear at those frequencies is beating (thus the term beats), which is a modulation of amplitude, not a tone. When the tones are mixed, they add up and cancel, producing a modulation in amplitude of the resulting signal. But when heard through headphones and the tones don’t actually mix, you hear something similar that is an illusion produced by the brain as it perceives both tones together.
I think you might have misread the article, which specifically says what you mansplained.
That’s why I quoted what was said, pointing out what’s inaccurate about it (specifically the use of the term tone). But apparently you’re the one who misread. Sorry if I somehow offended you with what you call ‘manslpaining’. Maybe someone else can explain to you gently and in terms you can understand the problem with the term “4HZ tone”.
The butthurt is strong with this one!
That’s your response? Wow.
I think Grandier asked a valid question. A question that I thought was well worded and quite inoffensive.
I, for one, was quite looking forward an equally well worded response in the hope of perhaps learning and understanding.
But no, you immediately responded with negativity and basically name calling.
I think it’s very clear to see where the “butthurt” is here.
“I, for one, was quite looking forward an equally well worded response in the hope of perhaps learning and understanding.”
Well, this IS the internet!
As I understand it, though, the difference between a beat and a tone, in this context, is perceptual/subjective. It can vary from person to person and also by individuals over time.
If the difference in Hz is below around 20Hz, most people will perceive it as ‘beats’, Over around 20Hz, and it will be perceived as a tone.
I dug around a bit to see what science has to say on this, and found that there’s actual science on this stuff. Here’s an example:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10198548/
The study found that people can perceive ‘binaural beats’ in the range of 1-30Hz. Below approx 20Hz, people tend to perceive the difference as a ‘beat’, and above, as a ‘rough tone’.
Based on the science, the original post looks accurate. If you happen to know more or have a different take, please share a comment with the details. Thanks!
Thank you Synthhead.
You’re a legend.
That’s a great article / study.
Im not sure how much you understand from that paper?
to sum it up
since this is an “unexpected” and and odd effect there were somewhat esoteric theories that this also may have other effects on your brain.
they run test with this vs. plain white noise and watched the EEG.
cant tell a difference. means there is no prove that this has any other effect on you than simply hearing a different sound. 😉
“Goodin et al. [5] did not find any differences in average spectral power for the experimental condition compared to a white noise control condition.”
lala – glad you checked out the paper.
Nowhere do I suggest, though, that the ‘binaural beats’ effect has any significance beyond being a psychoacoustic curiosity.
Agreed – seemed like a legit comment to me.
you have input frequency A on ear A, you have input frequency B on ear B,
you think you hear C, a sound that isnt the input stimuli (not A and not B).
see I explained it without foggy terms 🙂
binaural recording in a non-treated room?
Would you capture an impulse response in a treated room?
an IR captures the room, not the instrument. When recording instruments, you want to do this in a treated room without echo, regardless if monoaural or binaural.
This young man bought himself a binaural microphone and made a Utube video. Nothing wrong with that. But he exposes his lack of knowledge and experience regarding recording. Again, nothing wrong with that. Just a bit embarrassing.
Phil – you’re completely missing the point of the video.
The goal is not to record the instrument, but the room’s response. He’s bringing it in as an effect to capture how the synth sounds in that space.
¹No time to watch the vid, but this is just a IR reverb capture thing then? Are those usually recorded with binaureal mics? Isn’t stereophonic recording adequate / typical to capture of this?
its a really bad demo,
trying to show of room reverb and doesn’t use claps,
and tries to show of IR and doesn’t remove the trigger impulse.
but here goes the weird panning of binaural recordings on stereo speakers. nobody needs that. yuck.
meh
why is this reposted here?
thx for wasting everybody’s time.
Guy reads headline, gets mad that the post is about exactly that, then leaves an unironic complaint about wasting people’s time.
Someone bought gear and doesn’t know how to use it and how to show it off. And now I am supposed to clap applause to that? I dont think so.
Nowhere in the book of binaural recording (or any recording really) does it say that a treated room is absolutely necessary
i do believe in spooks! i do!
“I’d turn back if I were you!”
lol