What Is Binaural Music?

Binaural music recreates the experience of live music being played.

Binaural refers to the use of both ears in listening. Binaural music refers to music specifically recorded to recreate the natural listening environment. Using this method gives a listener the opportunity to hear music as it was initially played.

History

The first attempt at binaural music broadcast happened in 1881 using telephones. The listeners placed a telephone earpiece on each ear to listen to the opera music being performed. Binaural music has since improved with the invention and proliferation of both stereo headphones and compact discs.

Recording

Binaural music reproduces the effect the distance between your ears creates. For most binaural recordings, a dummy head is used. Microphones are attached on either side of the head, creating a 360 degree recording space. As the music is played, two tracks of audio are recorded: left and right.

Function

When played back through stereo headphones, the corresponding track will play into each ear independently. This recreates the music as if the listener were there listening in person. Binaural music may be played over a loudspeaker, but will lose its effect due to blending of the two tracks.

References

• Waisman Center: Binaural Hearing & Speech Lab
• Headwise: Taking Sound in Another Direction

Resources

• UC Davis: Binaural and Motion Tracked Binaural Sound