Topic: Question about binaural microphones

[jimsix]

Hi. I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool taper, I'm a musician and a newspaper guy — what a combination.

I like the idea of mics in earbuds  to use with my Edirol R-09, but am unclear on something. If I get a budget set of earbuds — like around 70 bucks — can I use them right out of the box with my Edirol R-09 or will I have to buy a battery pack to power them?

Thanks for taking the time to deal with a know-nothing like me!

Appreciate it.

Allbest,

Jim

[dmonkey]

I have a pair of those SP-TFB-2 mics from Sound Professionals. I've used them a few times with my R-09 but always powered by a preamp (Church 9100) -- and the results were really pretty nice. I believe that you may encounter more distortion if all you're doing is powering from the R-09, especially at a loud concert. I know when I used my SP-CMC-8's with only R-09 power there was quite a bit of distortion when I taped a loud show, but the recording is still very listenable.

That said, it certainly is worth experimenting to see how they sound w/o any additional power. I'd tape something you aren't too concerned with and experiment.

[boojum]

The binaural earbuds-as-mics is a great idea, if you want to stand like a statue for the whole concert.  You are the mic stand.     You might want to think about that.

I have done binaural that way, but only as a person in motion recording the sounds around me.  Quite interesting.

Cheers

[guysonic]

Those mics will more or less work in good way with R-09 'mic power' turned on in the menu. 

Some have found pure acoustic recording with direct connected mics a bit too noisy to be fully satisfied using R-09 preamp.

For amplified music, R-09 works fine just by itself from my experience posted at:
http://taperssection.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=dc5cb19c3eae03a2a98a47d2a8b6b290&topic=81782.msg1103544#msg1103544

[digifish_music]

Hi. I'm not a dyed-in-the-wool taper, I'm a musician and a newspaper guy — what a combination.

I like the idea of mics in earbuds  to use with my Edirol R-09, but am unclear on something. If I get a budget set of earbuds — like around 70 bucks — can I use them right out of the box with my Edirol R-09 or will I have to buy a battery pack to power them?

Thanks for taking the time to deal with a know-nothing like me!

Appreciate it.

Allbest,

Jim

I do care about audio quality and noise from my gear. I generally use a Sound Devices MixPre (when I can) with and R-09 and pair of NT1-A's, NT4/NT5's and AT-3032's (recently purchased...and very very impressed so far).

When I use the SP-TFB-2 (High Sensitivity models) direct into the R-09 mic preamp + plugin-power on, I am impressed with what $69 can do...very impressed. The battery box will buy more headroom for loud sources (from 105 dB to 120 dB). I am fairly confident you won't need a battery box.

This was my first ever recording with them...headphones on!

http://www.digifishmusic.com/public/Binaural_Test_190kbps.mp3

The following examples are hosted on Freesound...that seems to be down when I posted this, but will be back soon, Europe just woke up...

Thunder
Leaves falling in a rain forrest
Didgeridoo
Cave tour

For more, type in "SP-TFB-2" in the search page ( http://freesound.iua.upf.edu/searchText.php ) to pull up examples. You can preview low-quality versions of the sound by pressing the play button, or of you set up a login you can download the high-qulity originals.

digifish

[digifish_music]

The binaural earbuds-as-mics is a great idea, if you want to stand like a statue for the whole concert.  You are the mic stand.     You might want to think about that.

I have done binaural that way, but only as a person in motion recording the sounds around me.  Quite interesting.

Cheers

You can, of course, tape them either side of a post/column etc or on a wall or something not moving



digifish

[jimsix]

Thanks for all ther answers so far.

Now, suppose I wore the binaural mics while, say, playing acoustic guitar and singing?

Or playing and singing with an accompanist on electric guitar?

Am I still going to record just what I would normally hear?

The thought is intriguing.

Jim

[attheshow]

Yes, essentially. The in ear binaural mics will record the sound as you hear it. You'll even be able to distinguish sounds from different locations. However, playback is only really effective over earphones. It will not sound quite right played back over traditional stereo speakers.

[guysonic]

 Singing and playing acoustic guitar while headwearing mics can be super nice for vocal, but less ideal for the guitar that voices away from you mostly off the instrument's front side.  

Several headwearing customers have tried placing a large mirror angled so you can see the guitar while playing.  

Perhaps most more practical is a 4' square sheet of +1/2" plywood, maybe with a small glued mirror (tile?) so to again 'see' the precise reflection angle.  This seems to nicely boost the guitar in the recording, and varying the 'mirror' angle gives some tonal/loudness adjustment..  

And of course, simply sitting/standing directly facing close to any fairly clear corner wall of the room will also bounce guitar back into your face.
Not my favorite for just looking kinda dumb, like there should be a dunce cap in the picture, so I'd suggest using this with only sympathetic fans present.    

There's a few with more mic and guitar instrument budget, and opt for my boom-mounted LiteGUY HRTF dummy head (no ears) for stereo-surround (not headphone only binaural type) recording.  Hear several of over dozen Collings instruments in the studio session section at: www.sonicstudios.com/mp3_2slp.htm#inskeep