Binaural Recording - Some Questions

[Julian J. Ludwig]

Hello everybody,

A customer asked me for a binaural recording, and I have some doubts about the technique. I'm thinking of using the Neumann KU100 microphone or a pair of Brüel & Kjær.

What kind of processing I have to use after recording?

This is an action scene with gunfire, grenades and helicopters interacting with three actors. We will probably make the weapons in post production, and not on location.

My biggest concern is using the KU100 in different locations, and keeping the 3D image.

Thank you for your help. thumbsup

Cheers

[tom_lowe]

Originally Posted by Julian J. Ludwig

Hello everybody,

A customer asked me for a binaural recording, and I have some doubts about the technique. I'm thinking of using the Neumann KU100 microphone or a pair of Brüel & Kjær.

What kind of processing I have to use after recording?

This is an action scene with gunfire, grenades and helicopters interacting with three actors. We will probably make the weapons in post production, and not on location.

My biggest concern is using the KU100 in different locations, and keeping the 3D image.

Thank you for your help. thumbsup

Cheers

Binaural really is only useful when listening over headphones, as that's the only way it recreates the recording accurately, over speakers it never sounds quite as good.

No processing is required as with M/S.

I would record all your weapons separately (there's lots of good info out there on suitable mics etc) and just use a mono boom mic on set to get any dialogue and guide tracks that you can the replace after.

If all those actions are going on during shooting, the sound from location will sound messy and un-clear and not have much impact.

I'm sure more people will elaborate on this too.

[PoxyMusic]

Originally Posted by Julian J. Ludwig

My biggest concern is using the KU100 in different locations, and keeping the 3D image.

It's good that you recognized this before recording! Multitracking with Binaural means to have to really think about maintaining accurate/consistent stereo placement. The weapons made in post may not fit into your binaural recordings very well, unless you "worldize" them. (worldize means taking your studio recordings, them playing them back and re-recording them in a real-world setting...kind of a lot of work) If the director has only a passing knowledge of binaural, he should know that it's a very specific technique and is not well suited for most dramatic situations.

You wont be doing any bianural recording with the B&Ks (Old school! B&Ks are now DPA), unless of course you stick them in a dummy head. Binaural by definition means mics placed inside a dummy head. Otherwise it's an XY or ORTF recording.