What is Binaural Recording?

What is Binaural Recording?

binaural

Binaural recording is a technique based on the broader science of binaural beats:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binaural_beats

The simplest explanation is as follows, a frequency is played to one ear and a slightly different frequency is played to the other.  No such phenomenon occurs naturally in nature and the auditory processing centres of the human brain don’t know quite what to do with it.  By coincidence they interpret the sound as emanating from within the brain itself. 

The technique can be used to produce a 3D recording using only stereo headphones.  Make sure to use good quality headphones for the best effect and make sure that left goes to left and right goes to right:

The power of binaural beats continues from here.  In a process called brain wave entrainment, neurons within the brain can be induced to produce certain brain wave patterns.  For example those with insomnia can listen to a binaural recording designed to induce a delta brainwave pattern consistent with deep (dreamless) sleep:

A popup industry has emerged around binaural beats with a company called IDoser which uses binaural beats promising to replicate the effects of various street and pharmaceutical drugs.

http://www.i-doser.com/

Does it work?  The general scuttlebutt on the internet is that it does have an effect but the general consensus is that it’s not the same as the real thing.

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