Addictronics

Holophony is an audio recording technique that utilizes the placement of two microphones in the location that your ears would normally be (also known as a binaural recording). When the sound is played through headphones, the user experiences the sensation of actually being there. Their brain decodes the delay of sound from one microphone to the other and off of surfaces and objects. Not only is it left and right dependent but also front, back, up down… Every direction is carefully decoded by your brain to accurately “show” you where it is coming from.

The space in which the sound is recorded also plays a major role. A small room will not have the same sound as a large open area. Walls will reflect sound differently than trees and every scenario has its own qualities. By closing your eyes it is easier to place yourself where the recording took place.

Directions to listed to holophonic/binaural recordings

• You must wear headphones or earphones!
• Ear buds are preferred due to the inner ear and lack of head strap.
• Closing your eyes enhances the effect and allows you to depend on your ears more than what you see.
• Getting the volume level is important to make the sound more believable to your brain. Playing a sample file is recommended so that the proper volume levels are reached.
• Make sure that the headphones are on the correct ear, otherwise it is very confusing to listen to and the entire effect is lost.

To get the volume level correct try playing this audio clip and adjusting your volume to get the most realistic results.

Hair Dryer

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After Hearing my first holophonic recording (Virtual Barbershop) I was hooked.

Virtual Barbershop

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That got me thinking and I decided to build my own Holophonic Recording Device. My plan is to acquire a manikin head and drill out the ear canals. Then insert microphones into the head and have the microphones in the ear canals. Lastly I will come up with scenarios and different locations to record some audio and post them on this page!

Project Progress

• 5-20-07 Setup holophonic project page
• 5-20-07 Purchased manikin head pictured below off of ebay
• 5-21-07 Found a stereo microphone that uses a single mic jack. Otherwise I would have to find a way to plug in two microphones.
• 5-21-07 Ordered the lapel microphone pictured below.
• 5-23-07 Won ebay bid for stereo condenser mic.
• 5-30-07 Received Griffin mic and manikin head in mail.
• 5-31-07 Assembled manikin head and microphones.

Here is the manikin head and stereo mic I plan to buy.

Today the manikin and microphone arrived! I was very excited as I opened my package to find a head wrapped in newspaper, it was like Christmas…. In that odd demented sort of way.

The Griffin Microphone in all it’s glory.

First I took apart the mic. It is a very simple 2 microphone, 2 diode setup.

I Unscrewed the bottom of the head to find that it was filled full of expanding foam. It gives the head plenty of denseness and will help it withstand bumpy car rides and stuff being packed on top of it.

Next I drilled a 1″ hole up the center of the head and a small hole in each ear. All three align in the center of the head. I took my Griffin stereo microphone and stripped the wire back so that there was enough length between the microphones that one could go in each ear.

The main wire goes down the hole in the neck and it secured with a zip-tie so that I don’t accidentally yank it out. (Sorry about the blurry picture.)

First Recordings after project completion turned out great. I had lots of fun carrying around a manikin head and my laptop to various locations to see what the audio would yield.

Backyard Pond

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- Very tranquil with trickling water and birds in the background.

Other Recordings by Other People

• Bell

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• Matches

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• Scissors

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