Binaural Recording

Binaural recording is a unique way of recording audio by spacing two microphones apart by the distance between ear canals in the human head. This type of recording is designed for listeners using headphones. Often the microphones are placed inside a dummy head with pinnae (outer ears) to match the way sound is perceived. Binaural recording is similar to stereo, except that stereo does not factor in ear spacing. The sound produced more accurately reflects the sounds being recorded.

Binaural recording has been used in the past, as far back as 1881. Then, the Opera Garnier used microphones in the front and sent recordings to listeners wearing special headphones along a telephone line. In the 1920s a radio station in Connecticut also broadcasted binaural recordings, but it required listeners to have two radios to listen. This was too expensive for most people at that time.

More recently, binaural recording has been used everywhere, from Pearl Jam recording some tracks on their album entitled "binaural" to the Pixar film Monster Inc. where John Goodman and Billy Crystal made a binaural recording. The availability of headphones and lower recording costs than in the past have been the major reason behind the resurgence of binaural recording.

Another use for binaural recording is listening to relaxing sounds while sleeping. Many people claim that they can sleep less and feel less stressed by listening to sounds like waterfalls or the ocean. These recordings can also be used for meditation or other short breaks during the day.

If you have a pair of headphones, click here to listen to a binaural recording of a thunderstorm on YouTube.

References:

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

http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/binaural-recording-could-it-be-a-natural-insomnia-cure-1829572.html