AudioAficionado.org  

Go Back   AudioAficionado.org > Audio & Video > Headphones, Personal Listening Gear

Headphones, Personal Listening Gear Personal Listening at its Best

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-26-2019, 04:18 PM
bugeyed bugeyed is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Default Not impressed with binaural recordings.

I have never enjoyed headphones as much as speakers, but I do enjoy them for casual listening. I just can't "believe" the image without a center image out in front. Anyway, I was intrigued by the claims made by some regarding well done binaural recordings. I acquired some tracks by Chesky & others & yes there is a sense of the space of the venue, but it seems that most of the recordings were made with the primary instruments either far left or right not in front where I expect them to be. Even on one of the demo tracks by Dr. Chesky, he demonstrated the process with speech at different distances from the microphones, but again he was to the right & left only. No effort was made to demonstrate what binaural recording can do to reproduce a realistic live performance with musicians in front. Does anyone have any info about this, or recommend some recordings that recreate a decent soundstage with headphones?
Kev

Last edited by bugeyed; 01-26-2019 at 04:27 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-28-2019, 10:56 PM
bugeyed bugeyed is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Default

I have been listening to the Lenny White, Explorations in Space & Time. I have been concentrating on getting Lenny”s drum kit to be front & center & it’s been fun. The exercise is made a bit easier because I have sat about 5’ from Lenny while he played on stage. I have the mental image of him to go with the sound of his kit. As I said; it’s been fun reliving that experience & it helps my brain to create the proper soundstage. Now if I could hear Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola & Chick Corea along with Lenny White, the illusion would be complete.
Kev

Update: I think I am learning a bit about the reality of these binaural recordings & what I was expecting. I was hoping that the recordings would replicate how far in front of the mics the artists were. Giving the sense of some separation from the listener & the band. Instead, most recording that I have listened to, Perfume Genius being the latest, the soundstage does wrap around & there is a center image, but it’s still in my head mostly. Is there any hope that this recording technique will ever be used to create an experience of a third row center seat with the musicians out in front. I feel like i’m sitting on the floor in the middle of the band! Interesting, but not a convincing soundstage.

Just thinking: I notice, when watching a video recording, if the person speaking moves away from the microphone, the audio level drops more than I would expect it to if I were listening live. What's that about? Are microphones not able to act like our ears when the distance from the source increases? Could this be the reason that binaural recordings sound like I am listening to a band that is in my face? If the microphones are at 3rd row center would I not be able to hear the band? Hmmmmmmm.

Last edited by bugeyed; 01-29-2019 at 10:10 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-23-2019, 01:57 AM
fx101 fx101 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 3
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by bugeyed View Post
I have been listening to the Lenny White, Explorations in Space & Time. I have been concentrating on getting Lenny”s drum kit to be front & center & it’s been fun. The exercise is made a bit easier because I have sat about 5’ from Lenny while he played on stage. I have the mental image of him to go with the sound of his kit. As I said; it’s been fun reliving that experience & it helps my brain to create the proper soundstage. Now if I could hear Stanley Clarke, Al DiMeola & Chick Corea along with Lenny White, the illusion would be complete.
Kev

Update: I think I am learning a bit about the reality of these binaural recordings & what I was expecting. I was hoping that the recordings would replicate how far in front of the mics the artists were. Giving the sense of some separation from the listener & the band. Instead, most recording that I have listened to, Perfume Genius being the latest, the soundstage does wrap around & there is a center image, but it’s still in my head mostly. Is there any hope that this recording technique will ever be used to create an experience of a third row center seat with the musicians out in front. I feel like i’m sitting on the floor in the middle of the band! Interesting, but not a convincing soundstage.

Just thinking: I notice, when watching a video recording, if the person speaking moves away from the microphone, the audio level drops more than I would expect it to if I were listening live. What's that about? Are microphones not able to act like our ears when the distance from the source increases? Could this be the reason that binaural recordings sound like I am listening to a band that is in my face? If the microphones are at 3rd row center would I not be able to hear the band? Hmmmmmmm.
Actually, it depends on the recording. You're right, many recordings are made with a dummy head "in the action". However, recordings from the audience's perspective do exist!

Check out Ottmar Liebert's "Up Close" album (I believe all the songs are tagged as binaural). It's more of a "front row" perspective, but you definitely get a vivid soundstage even with mediocre headphones.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Audioaficionado.org tested by Norton Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:19 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.10
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
©Copyright 2009-2023 AudioAficionado.org.Privately owned, All Rights Reserved.
Audio Aficionado Sponsors
AudioAficionado Subscriber
AudioAficionado Subscriber
Inspire By Dennis Had
Inspire By Dennis Had
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Harmonic Resolution Systems
Wyred4Sound
Wyred4Sound
Dragonfire Acoustics
Dragonfire Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
GIK Acoustics
Esoteric
Esoteric
AC Infinity
AC Infinity
JL Audio
JL Audio
Add Powr
Add Powr
Accuphase - Soulution
Accuphase - Soulution
Audio by E
Audio by E
Canton
Canton
Bryston
Bryston
WireWorld Cables
WireWorld Cables
Stillpoints
Stillpoints
Bricasti Design
Bricasti Design
Furutech
Furutech
Shunyata Research
Shunyata Research
Legend Audio & Video
Legend Audio & Video