These subtle differences in time received and intensity are called interaural time and level differences respectively. One ear will hear the sound first and it will be more intense (louder). This additional distance will cause each ear to hear the sound slightly differently. How it works in real life:Ī sound that originates on our right side must travel further to reach our left ear. This feat is possible thanks to the natural spacing of our ears, our heads, and interaural differences in time and intensity.

Within milliseconds of sound waves entering our ear, we already know its pitch, location, and what produced them. The three combine to produce instant feedback in response to sound. The relationship between our ears, head and brain is fascinating. To fully understand how this works, we must do some research on human hearing. That’s because binaural recordings replicate what environments sound like to humans. It is as if you are really standing in the recorded environment. You can hear sounds all around you and can pinpoint their location. Listening to binaural audio creates a 3-D landscape of sound inside your head. Links on this page are affiliated with Sovrn and Amazon Associates networks. So what exactly is binaural audio and how does one record it? This article will answer both of these questions. It’s used in everything from ASMR videos to music claiming “life-changing” abilities. “Binaural” is a term that gets thrown around a lot in our industry.

Binaural mic