naturerecordists
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Hooke binaural wireless headphones

Subject: Re: Hooke binaural wireless headphones
From: "Dan Dugan" dandugan_1999
Date: Mon Jul 6, 2015 3:07 pm ((PDT))
> The term binaural has a long and confusing history. There were a number o=
f early vinyl LPs that used the term to mean Stereo. By the same token, 3D =
is another term often misused to imply additional dimensionality, not neces=
sarily three literal dimensions (plus, wouldn't it truly be 4D, since it ch=
anges over time?). It's maddening for engineers when terms are misused, I k=
now, but the average joe won't understand the difference=E2=80=94it's just =
another marketing term at this point.

Yes, and binaural gets re-discovered every generation. Anybody here remembe=
r Holophonics? But more people than ever are listening on headphones now. I=
=E2=80=99m hoping for binaural telephony myself.

> Assuming this product ever gets off the ground, I would bet most people w=
ho buy those headphones will simply record and be satisfied. But some are g=
oing to say "Gee, this is great, but it's still got issues. I wonder if the=
re's a way to make it better?" I bet at least some of those people will end=
 up here. Either way, I think the more people we get paying attention to th=
e world around them, the more they may advocate for controlling noise pollu=
tion in the future. It all starts with awareness.

Amen. It=E2=80=99s a rude shock to learn how loud the environmental noise w=
e=E2=80=99re accustomed to really is.

> I'm a ham radio operator (K9LOL), and that hobby is also faced with bring=
ing new members "into the fold." They're trying to tackle it head on with s=
illy things like comic books because that's what they think kids read, but =
the fact is that it's often people who were attracted for some other reason=
, such as emergency preparedness. I'd be willing to bet the age demographic=
 for nature recordists tends to skew to the same end of the spectrum. Is an=
yone on this list under the age of 20? How about 30? Anyone under 40?

Here=E2=80=99s the recent Workshop crowd:
https://www.facebook.com/179818918746387/photos/pb.179818918746387.-2207520=
Message: 000.
Subject: 1436220095./905990886129183/

Lots of gray hair.

> I plan to do some experimenting with binaural recording by building my ow=
n dummy head. I realize there are a lot of limitations with HRTF, EQ, etc, =
but in my mind it's the best system we have yet for trying to aurally recre=
ate an environment with something most people have it can afford. I was flo=
ored by a demo my dad showed me when I was a kid (nostalgia alert: I rememb=
er he played it for me on a Sony CDP-101 that had an engraved plate on the =
front presenting it to him and acknowledging it as the first Sony CD player=
 manufactured in the U.S.=E2=80=94as my dad screwed the cover on the case!)=
. I was floored, and I'm still amazed by how well it can transport me to an=
other place.

It doesn=E2=80=99t have to be a head to get the =E2=80=9Cbinaural hit=E2=80=
=9D (wow effect when people hear it for the first time on headphones). Ther=
e are simpler constructions of a few blocks of wood that sound great.

-Dan

> - Charles
>
> On Jul 6, 2015, at 7:19 AM, Bernie Krause  <mailto=
:> [naturerecordists] <=
com <>> wrote:
>
>> =E2=80=A6and, unless the recordist desires variable spatial shifts, he/s=
he must stay perfectly still facing one direction for long periods of time =
which is more difficult than what one might expect. If one is worried about=
 stomach gurgles, then don=E2=80=99t drink coffee before recording, and pop=
 a Tums (or some kind of antacid) just prior to switching on your recorder.=
 Dan=E2=80=99s idea of the shoulder mounted mics works really well, though.
>>
>>
>> Bernie
>>
>>
>>>
>>> The key is head-related transfer functions (HRTF). The problem is that =
they are individual. I expect breakthroughs in this area in the next few ye=
ars.
>>>
>>>> The problem with any personally worn mic rig is noise, starting with t=
he
>>>> wearer's breathing, and also clothing rustle and movement noise on the=
 rig
>>>> itself and its cables.
>>>
>>> Yep, but it isn=E2=80=99t that hard to stand still and breathe silently=
. The biggest problem I=E2=80=99ve had with my recording vest (shoulder mic=
s) has been stomach gurgles. Of course with mosquitoes the game is off.
>>>
>>
>> Wild Sanctuary
>> POB 536
>> Glen Ellen, CA 95442
>> 707-996-6677
>> http://www.wildsanctuary.com <http://www.wildsanctuary.com/>
>>  <>
>> SKYPE: biophony
>> FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/BernieKrauseAuthor <http://www.faceboo=
k.com/BernieKrauseAuthor>
>> TED Global talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/bernie_krause_the_voice_of_the=
_natural_world.html <http://www.ted.com/talks/bernie_krause_the_voice_of_th=
e_natural_world.html>
>>
>
>
>






<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the naturerecordists mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the archive e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU