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Author Topic: binaural recording equipment  (Read 46086 times)

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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #15 on: July 17, 2011, 09:27:38 PM »

The Sound Profesionals make good stuff.  It's pricey though.

I'll tell you, those in-ear just look like the microphone capsule attached to a wire.  Not sure how they do the ear wrap around (maybe it's just shrink wrap tubing getting set (cooled) in a mold of some sort.  Some kind of wind sock would be necessary with those, at least for rides.  Recording a concert and you wouldn't have to worry about anything.

Maybe reproducing a set of those will be my next project.  Once I figure out something to cut the wind.

Those tie clip ones ARE the mic capsule attached to a headphone wire.

Here's what I do.  Cut the ends off a set of headphones.  Using headphones with two wires works better than the single wire ones, but I imagine you can use either.  Mark the left and right sides before you cut the ends off.  Next, just take the mic capsule and solder on the ends of the wire. I tin the ends of the wire first, then using a 15watt solderig iron, just a quick hit and you should be good.  I put a dab of hot melt glue to act as a strain relief, then cut a short length of shrink wrap tubing, het it with the heat gun and bingo!  DONE!  As I said, you can make those for a FRACTION of what they are selling them for.  Even buying the soldering iron for the first set and you'll spend less...

Just do a little research on the mic capsules, make sure they have a good range (frequency, not distance)...  
« Last Edit: July 17, 2011, 09:35:41 PM by kirky »
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #16 on: July 18, 2011, 12:02:49 AM »

So, should I go for that pair on eBay?
The ZoomH2 has a powered socket of 2.5v so I doubt I would need the 1.5v battery pack.
That pair is about as much as I can afford at the moment but no use throwing money away.
I really can't make my own - my fingers are far too old and stiff to attempt that sort of thing now, alas (10 years ago I'd have done it with ease).
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #17 on: July 18, 2011, 01:38:54 PM »

Personally speaking...  Those wouldn't work for me.  I've never been able to get those to stay put in my ears just sitting around listening to music, never mind at a theme park.

When is your trip?
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #18 on: July 18, 2011, 02:25:45 PM »

Two weeks tomorrow!  :o
Yes, I know what you mean, this type always seem to drop out of my ears on a regular basis as well.
However, for recording a ride (with the help of a rubber band, I'm sure I could cope).
I think I may them a try - if only to see what I can manage. I can always upgrade. I started recording with a tiny tape recorder (those things you take vocal notes with) and upgraded to the mini disc and then to the ZoomH2
The ZoomH2 supports ordinary mics and powered mics so it's probably worth a try. (if I can remember to switch to the powered mic setting of course) :D
4-6 day delivery so plenty of time.
Binaural mics seem very scarce over here (other than iPod earphones with mic - not quite the same thing). Amazon have none at all. I wonder if they are legal here?
« Last Edit: July 18, 2011, 02:28:08 PM by eyore »
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #19 on: July 18, 2011, 03:17:21 PM »

kk..  Had an idea, but I can't execute it in a couple of weeks.  I didn't notice the little clear plastic things soundprofessionals uses to keep the mics in your ears.  Those are the types of things that the DIYer has trouble competing with.  I've had trouble sourcing the little clips for the mics to attach to a tie of something, and I'm seeing SP.com sells them for like $26 a pair!  UGH!

Anywho, let me know how those work out.  I'v thought about hacking a set of those earbuds too but wasn't sure how well they would capture the sound.
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #20 on: July 18, 2011, 07:19:43 PM »

You may be able to help me over this bit though.
These mics use a (not included) battery pack using a 1.5 volt battery.
The ZoomH2 has a powered mic socket rated at 2.5 volts.
Any idea if this would damage the mics (as it's 1 volt over what he supplies)?
I'm not sure what the rating is for these mics - electret condenser lavalier microphones.
I'm thinking it may be 1.5 - 9 volts as standard. Is that right?
Don't want to spend another £15 on a battery box if I don't need it.
Hard enough persuading my wife to let me spend £30 on another toy  :-\
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #21 on: July 18, 2011, 08:25:55 PM »

I'm totally guessing at:  No, I don't think that would be a problem at all.

If anything, the 2.5v will probably perform a little better.

As I mentioned, I'm pumping 9-10v through mine with no problem.  I should have taken a picture of my face though as I was plugging my battery box into my $400 recorder for the first time.  Really hopping that I was following the build directions correctly.
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needmagic

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #22 on: July 18, 2011, 09:30:52 PM »

I wonder if it similar to mine when my recorder fell off my bag top, the mic lead disconnected (causing the file to fail finalising) and then dropping on the floor splitting the case open.  Fortunately the build quality of Zoom H1 is good which meant I could clip the casing back together and it worked fine - unfortunately I lost 55 mins of recording.  Don't know why but I thought of the Mel Brooks film 'Life Stinks'
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #23 on: July 18, 2011, 10:44:03 PM »

Do you have the silicon jacket for the Zoom?
I've dropped mine a few times (too much equipment, too few hands) and it's just  bounced. Such a robust little thing.  :D
I'm still undecided about this. I'm thinking " video, live/induction recording, photos, double photos for making 3D,...is it too much and then thinking, make a binaural recording for each ride I take - I can still video whilst doing it - best of both worlds".
Decisions, decisions.............
I'm pretty sure a rubber band (tied to the earphone with a lark's head - look it up if you were not a scout) looped over the ear will keep them in place.
I'll try it with a similar shaped pair, I think.
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #24 on: July 18, 2011, 10:50:14 PM »

Binaural is nice, however I don't listen to many of mine...

I like clean sounds, and recording what's going on in the theater won't get you that.  I was there for a few days and can't beleive how many times I heard phones ring,  texts coming in, going out, people talking, etc.  If you do late night recordings and can minimize the other stuff, maybe, but I just don't care for the dirty recordings.

I'll continue to do them when I can, but I don't put a lot of time/energy into them anymore.
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #25 on: July 18, 2011, 11:16:24 PM »

On the plus side, most rides sound the same "live" (ie noisy) so just one recording per ride would probably do.
I asked myself this question:
If they sold a couple of official CD's of Binaural recordings of the rides, would I buy them.
I reckon I would from the "relive the actual sounds of the ride" angle but, like home movies and photos, probably wouldn't listen to them often.
I can't see any reason why I couldn't record and video at the same time so maybe no real extra work/time involved.
Heck, I'm starting to convince myself now!  >:(
On the negative side. Having been raised on mono records etc (and very rarely bothering to use the home cinema for the surround sound), do I really care about the new higher quality stuff? The very worst of the new stuff is far superior to what I grew up with so differences between the modern HQ players is small in comparison.
More soul searching to do, I think.
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #26 on: July 19, 2011, 01:42:58 PM »

When I did my recording, I tried not to move my head...  I didn't want to further confuse thelistener as to what was left and right by me looking around.

So, I'm not sure I would do a lot of audio and video at the same time...

And make sure your wife doesn't wisper stuff in your ear!  Nothing ruins a recording faster than, "where are we going after this?" right into the microphone...
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #27 on: July 19, 2011, 03:31:24 PM »

It's my son who jabbers all through the rides  >:(
There's also my smoker's cough of course. I don't notice it until I play back stuff  :-[
Well, I've gone and ordered them. We'll have to see what happens.
I haven't bought the battery box as it's lower power than the ZoomH2 provides.
I'll report back in a few weeks. Estimated delivery is 2-3 days so it should arrive in time.
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eyore

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #28 on: July 20, 2011, 02:14:00 PM »

Well, I ordered them and they arrived the next day (today).
Tried them with the ZoomH2 (played some music on my PC with speakers to the right and made some noises to the left) and yes, the Zoom powers them fine  ;D
Played back the recording and I'll swear I could hear the sounds coming from exactly where they should be. I could hear the sound from the 2.1 speakers coming from where the speakers were situated (eerie feeling) and I'd swear that the three speakers were still playing (had to take the headphones off to check).
I made a few noises on the left hand side (rustling paper, moving things etc) and, sure enough, they sounded as though they were coming from the source! (I even looked around to see what was making the noise - duh).
Quite impressed with them and the concept.
It's going to be interesting to try them out "in the field" (or "park) .   8)
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kirky

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Re: binaural recording equipment
« Reply #29 on: July 20, 2011, 04:48:03 PM »

Excellent...  I wasn't sure how they would pick up, looks like they are perfect!

It's amazing how positional two mics can be, although weonly have two ears..  Go figure!  I did a little looking around and the data sheets on many of the mic capsules I say had operating voltages anywhere between 1v and 10v usually.  So, 2.5v is good, although don't be surprised at how easily you can overload them in loud environments.  But know that a simple battery box will probably solve that...

Can't wait to hear some of your recordings...
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