Very interesting observations. You are an acute listeners, which is
appreciated.
Regarding the tightness you describe and feeling compelled to keep you
head still. This is I feel is a major drawback on Ambi reproduction.
Depending on the how the decoder is configured a sound localized at one
position will produce energy at all or nearly all the speakers. This is
the case even without reflections, for example, if you are artificially
creating a soundscape. With small speaker arrays (I mean small in
distance, not number of speaker) I have noticed that the localization
shifts even by leaning my head one way or another. Of course this is
true with all electroacoustics, but obviously if you have eight speakers
producing output for a sound located at speaker 1, instead of only sound
being emitted from speaker 1, then there is a greater potential for this
proximity phenomenon to occur. That being said Ambi is all about
soundscape reproduction, and with a properly configured system than it
works extremely well.
Regarding the bass drop off, I can't say that I've ever noticed this
effect. It should be noted that both recordings have a high pass filter
at 250 Hz (to eliminate wind noise and handling noise). I think on the
website, I noted it for one but not the other or some reason. I presume
that you are talking about frequencies slightly higher though?
Regarding the containment on the Northeast Night Woodland Stream. It is
true that I was in a pretty densely forested as I walked straight into
the woods without a trail, the only clearing was the stream, which was
pretty small.
Normally I'd love to hear your surround sound recordings, but currently
only have access to a stereo playback rig.
-charles
On 8/28/10 12:06 AM, Rob Danielson wrote:
>
> Thanks for the tips, Charles.
>
> I couldn't get my core audio card connected to
> Java Ambisonics Player, but this app started out
> looking very promising. The good news is Video
> Lan Player played the DTS format quick as pie!
>
> I'll run quickly through some of my responses.
>
> A. Instantly--- I'm aware that my "head" is doing
> something unusual to create space in the
> recording. I need more practice processing the
> "cues" provided by the array.
>
> B. I would characterize the new mental effort as
> a "tightness--" like my brain is struggling to
> use very fine differences to infer a larger
> wholeness. I don't feel enveloped in air-- but I
> do sense a potential space. I feel compelled to
> keep my head very still. There's a sense of a
> lurking open-ness that extends mostly towards
> sounds I attend to. A fulfilling exception is in
> the rear field of the tree frogs in "Northeast
> Night Woodland Stream." These sounds do fill the
> rear dynamically from left to right and from left
> rear to left front with echoes that suggest some
> containment going on. Trees I presume.
>
> C. Next, an impression I've noticed a number of
> times with ambi pieces made in wide open spaces.
> The sound of sources in the distance drop off
> more rapidly than I'm used to with spaced arrays.
> Its like there's more contrast within the "reach"
> into space. I not able to make out a "horizon"
> (typically bass and sustained lower midrange
> elements that come from far great distances).
> These bottom registers and even those of the
> tree frogs feel under-represented. The locust
> strain that rises unexpectedly out of the
> distance is very striking. Usually, robust
> sounds like this also carry cues of nearby
> reflective surfaces. The sounds that linger in
> the space in both of the ambi recordings feel
> "dryer" and more separate. The effect has strong
> merits as an aesthetic to explore and I can see
> why people like it.
>
> D. The grasshoppers are fantastic! The movement
> and localization in proximity to the speakers is
> very, very precise. I could pluck them from the
> air. When they are fairly stationary in phantom
> locations between the speakers, my ears play
> tricks. It sounds like some high frequencies are
> rapidly oscillating back and forth between
> speakers. Its likely my brain stuttering trying
> to place cues that I'm not used to sorting out.
>
> Thanks for sharing these works. I've learned a
> lot trying to put my responses into words. These
> comments are more about my listening abilities
> than the recordings probably. :-)
>
> I can post some spaced surround work or maybe
> someone else wants to jump in? Rob D.
>
> =3D =3D
>
> At 2:24 PM -0400 8/27/10, Charles Veasey wrote:
> >
> >
> >For windows, a very good one is Visual Virtual Microphone:
> ><http://mcgriffy.com/audio/ambisonic/vvmic/>http://mcgriffy.com/audio/am=
bisonic/vvmic/
> >
> >For cross platform try Roger Klaveness's Java Ambisonics Player.
> >Currently his site is messed up in that the html requires a download to
> >view it, so here are both the info and software link:
> >
> ><http://sites.google.com/a/klaveness.info/www/ambplay.html>http://sites.=
google.com/a/klaveness.info/www/ambplay.html
> ><http://sites.google.com/a/klaveness.info/www/AmbisonicsPlayer.zip>http:=
//sites.google.com/a/klaveness.info/www/AmbisonicsPlayer.zip
> >
> >There are more including a Windows Media Player plugin refer to the Wiki=
:
> ><http://www.ambisonia.com/wiki/index.php/Playback_Software>http://www.am=
bisonia.com/wiki/index.php/Playback_Software
> >
> >peace.
> >Charles
> >
> >On 8/27/10 3:56 AM, Rob Danielson wrote:
> >>
> >> At 10:14 PM -0400 8/26/10, Charles Veasey wrote:
> >> >
> >> >Here are some nature recordings I made with the TetraMic using the
> >> >Motu Traveler and Edirol R-44.
> >> >
> >>
> ><<http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29.1193=
700776>http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29.11=
93700776><http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29=
.1193700776>http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-=
Message: 29.
Subject: 1193700776
> > > >
> >>
> ><<http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29.3106=
570230>http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29.31=
06570230><http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-29=
.3106570230>http://www.ambisonia.com/Members/cveasey/ambisonicfile.2008-08-=
Message: 29.
Subject: 3106570230
> >> >
> >> >-charles
> >>
> >> Hi Charles-
> >> I've come across these very titles before and was curious to hear them=
.
> >>
> >> Grassy Plains Day Insects: Badlands
> > > Northeast Night Woodland Stream: Algonquin Provincial Park
> >>
> >> Is there a 5.1 format I can quickly play on my
> >> surround speakers connected to the audio card in
> >> my computer? I'm thinking of poly file formats
> >> that play with one click using a browser rather
> >> than downloading and loading files into
> >> multitrack apps, using special decoding plug-ins
> >> or streaming coax to a tuner? Hopefully there's
> >> one staring me in the face as I'd very much like
> >> to hear your work. If not, I'll give it another
> >> try to get Ambisonic files playing in Reaper or
> >> Logic v7 or ? Are there clear set-up directions
> >> for the easiest means you can point me to?
> >> Thanks, Rob D.
> >>
> >> =3D =3D =3D
> >>
> >> >
> >> >On 8/26/10 12:40 PM, Rob Danielson wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> Hi--
> >> >> I'd love to hear some samples of the surround
> >> >> work people are realizing with these arrays. Rob
> >> >> D.
> >> >>
> >> >> =3D =3D =3D
> >> >>
> >> >> At 7:10 PM +0300 8/26/10, Marinos Koutsomichalis wrote:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >There are also the soundfield ambisonics
> >> >> >microphones - I' ve work with them outdoors but
> >> >> >always not in extreme conditions. I' m quite
> >> >> >happy with their sound !
> >> >> >
> >> >> >I read somewhere though that Chris recently used
> >> >> >one in his trip to antarctica..
> >> >> >
> >> >> >m
> >> >> >
> >> >> >On 26 =C9=FC=C9"=C9=A1 2010, at 5:51 =C9 .=C9 ., Bernie Krause wro=
te:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >> Four 4060s aligned in a tetrahedral pattern will provide the
> >> basis for
> >> >> >> ambisonic surround that can be delivered by anything from 3
> to over
> >> >> >> 150 channels. And, yes, the surround provided by an MKH 30 and
> >> two 40s
> >> >> >> facing opposite directions (used by Martyn, Chris Watson, and
> a few
> >> >> >> others) provides a wonderful double MS result that can likewise
> >> be re-
> >> >> >> programmed in an ambisonic configuration. The beauty of the
> >> double MS
> >> >> >> configuration is that only three channels are needed.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> Bernie
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> On Aug 26, 2010, at 6:48 AM, Martyn Stewart wrote:
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> > I actually had a chance to use the DPA surround setup on a
> project
> >> >> >> > and was very impressed with them. I'm told they are the same
> >> >> >> > capsules as the 4060's. I use normally 2 MKH 40 back to back
> >> with 1
> >> >> >> > MKH-30 effectively.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> > > > Martyn
> >> >> >
> >> >> > > > Sent from my iPad
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > On Aug 26, 2010, at 6:19 AM, clay
> >> >>
> >>
> >><<dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com><dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com>=
<dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com>
> <dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com>
> >> <dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com>
> >> >> <dan.cesonrocks%40gmail.com>>
> >> >> >>wrote:
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> On Thu, Aug 26, 2010 at 8:29 AM,
> >> >> >>corticalsongs
> >> >>
> >>
> >><<corticalsongs%40yahoo.com><corticalsongs%40yahoo.com><m=
ailto:corticalsongs%40yahoo.com>
> <corticalsongs%40yahoo.com>
> >> <corticalsongs%40yahoo.com>
> >> >> <corticalsongs%40yahoo.com>
> >> >> >> >> >wrote:
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>>> Any thoughts on using surround sound for wildlife? Are
> the mic
> >> >> >> >>>> specs
> >> >> >> >>> suited to wildlife?
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>> I would say that all you need is 4 mics to start. As far as
> >> I can
> >> >> >> >>> tell the
> >> >> >> >>> fancy surround mics are all pretty noisy right now, perhaps
> >> thier
> >> >> >> >>> intended
> >> >> >> >>> use was the concert hall or foley stage. If you are
> recording a
> >> >> >> >>> jungle at
> >> >> >> >>> night, they would be fine, but as Dan pointed out, they are
> >> >> >> >>> probably too
> >> >> >> >>> noisy for most quiet places in North America.
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>> David
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>> __._,_.
> >> >> >> >>>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> I was thinking three mics would work, if one were
> Figure-8, plus
> > > >> >> >> front and
> >> >> >> >> rear facing cardiods?
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> There is something called a Tetramic that might be useful,
> >> but still
> >> > > >> >> relatively noisy.
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >><<<http://www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php>http://www.core-sound.com/T=
etraMic/1.php><http://www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php>http://www.core-sou=
nd.com/TetraMic/1.php><<http://www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php>http://www=
.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php><http://www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php>ht=
tp://www.core-sound.com/TetraMic/1.php
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> clay
> >> >> > > >>
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> --
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
>
>
>
|