Auditory Illusions : Holophonic Sound

update: July 27, 2008 – Mike Costa emailed me tonight with this tidbit.. I thought I’d share the information and link. Thanks to Mike for the 411.

Hey, I just got a Stumble Upon your bog about “holophonic sound” today and though you might be intersted to know that it was more-than-likely recorded with one of these: A Neumann KU 100, two microphones that are essentially a replica of a human head. Now you know!

These super clear audio files are called holophony (holophonic sound recordings) and are designed to be listened to with headphones for the best effect. They have been recorded with a dummy head that has two microphones, one in each ear. The shape of the head and ears are designed to be similar to a human head to most closely replicate real human hearing. It’s pretty incredible.

Grab your headphones and have a listen. While the content itself isn’t that engaging, the sound effects will probably have you listening a second time.

more examples at www.holophonic.ch




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125 Responses to Auditory Illusions : Holophonic Sound

  1. Will says:

    Thanks to this site I now finally know which way to wear my headphones. Thanks!

  2. Michael says:

    WOW! For a few seconds I not only heard and felt the audio, but i saw it floating around me. the match box sent shakes through my head. amazing.

  3. May says:

    Crazy. I’m sitting here in the dark, and I just got chills when the barber whispered into my left ear. Awesome, awesome stuff.

  4. guillermo says:

    Watch this late at night when you’re tired. It is eery…

  5. Scratch says:

    It’s just amazing. I almost screamed when he whispered to my ear :D I thought someone was in the room with me !

  6. captainO says:

    ffs it’s called “stereo”

  7. Lawren says:

    Thats is amazing!!!! It sounded insanely real! Amazing idea and great technology.

  8. cagri aras says:

    when virtual barber shop audio began, i turned around to look where the hell the sound was coming from!! was prtty amazing

  9. carlos says:

    wow…this was just awesome, i thought i was getting a haircut lol. and the girl’s voice was like whoa!…

  10. I like the effects, but nice accent on the barber and his helper. “My mama, she make-sa a nice-a pizza pie. You no like?”

  11. saranya says:

    This haircut conversation was really amazing ………

  12. You spelled “auditory” wrong in the title of this webpage; otherwise I love the site!!
    Chris

  13. kyle says:

    thats crazy. I could smell sulfur when he lit the first match. I had to turn around.

  14. terry says:

    This was the most remarkable thing I have stumpled upon yet! Not since the booth at disneyland have i heard this sort of thing done as well. each one is mad briliant and gave me goosebumps. Many congrats!qtr – T

  15. Jimbob says:

    When the barber whispers in your ear it gives me the creeps! The woman on the other hand, mmmmmmm, could do with a bit more of that.

  16. lol says:

    That one woman was hot!

  17. Meow says:

    the haircut was simply awesome :D

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  19. Big Dave says:

    Funky Monkey !
    Got a Buzz Cut !!

  20. Pingback: Audio virtuale « Panettore

  21. Duane Roelands says:

    Wow, someone has invented…panning from the left channel to the right channel. This is going to revolutionize audio. If only Pink Floyd had done stuff like this thirty years ago. Oh, wait… they did. If only Led Zeppelin had done stuff like this on “Whole Lotta Love”. Oh, wait…they did.

    *yawn*

  22. Hema says:

    Wow… It is really nice.

  23. polodunet says:

    Queen the rock band did a good exemple of holophony in the song Bicycle :) i heard that song lot of time for that :) if you never heard that song without headphone you missed a great aspect of Queen lol

  24. Jodie says:

    The woman’s voice is so sexy, I had to listen to it about three times.

  25. Elphaba says:

    Wow.

    That seems to be the only way i can describe these audio files. I’ve listened to some but Never something as realistic as this.

    Much appreciated whoever posted this.

  26. Wenji says:

    Amazing!!! I hope all the movies I watch have this effects!

  27. pot head says:

    Mary Jane Kids! Get it while it’s hot! She should sell smokes (tobacco…).

  28. Andy says:

    u shd listen to “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast” by Pink Floyd (released in 1970)

    There is a sequence of a guy making tea and scrambled eggs and eating his breakfast, all from the perspective of a point in the room, with sounds moving from left-right side as the person moves across the room.

    (they pioneered 3-D sounds in music using multiple mics and panning between L&R abt 40 yrs ago)

  29. cristina valenzuela says:

    I am a University English Teacher in Mexico, I asked my students to listen to the “Barber Shop” as an assignment for their listening comprehension practice and they totally loved it!!! Now other teachers that heard about it are using it in their classes.

    I would like to have more of these exercises.

  30. jefferson says:

    its like theres really a barber i coul even feel them!

  31. brandon says:

    i was stunned by it i thought i rlly got one

  32. Alex says:

    Wow.
    That’s phenomenal.

    The matchbox one was brilliant. I had my eyes closed and it felt so real.

    Didn’t like the bag over the head though, creeped me out!

  33. Josh says:

    when he did the plastic bag over my head i actually FELT it go over my head! CRAZY!

  34. AC says:

    haha at the end it sounds like I was still sitting in the chair but he just kicked me out.

  35. Shailaja says:

    Too Good…

  36. Derek says:

    gave me the shivers hearing something that i can’t see, made me think i was crazy!

  37. dejan says:

    What is the woman saying?
    What does it mean?

  38. sam says:

    da lady one creeped me owt…wah waz she sayin?

  39. Yaniv says:

    OMG that was brilliant! the matchbox sure fooled me, I didn’t know what to expect !!

    AMAZING !

  40. Tyrone Hernández says:

    Was very interesting…!, try you close your eyes..!
    Muy Interesante… Tratén cerrando sus ojos..!

  41. chafik says:

    crazy i tought my home was hunted by damons…..i get realy scared till my friend told me that its just a new technology of sound….amazing

  42. Roger says:

    Brilliant, it seems so real check it out

  43. David says:

    It was BRILLIANT!

  44. Trish says:

    *YIKES*

    That was totally AWESOME and a bit creepy!

    Yes, close your eyes for the best experience!

  45. Rusty says:

    Virtuel haircut is awesome..but its not playing it all?any help

  46. Andres says:

    que loquera

  47. Never Fear says:

    Wow! Incredible! I thought a woman was really talking to me for a sec.

  48. amit rajput says:

    its really good listen to virtual haircut.

  49. Doss says:

    !!! What A Amaaaaaaaaazing sound What A Amaaaaaaaaazing sound What A Amaaaaaaaaazing soundWhat A Amaaaaaaaaazing sound What A Amaaaaaaaaazing sound