Building A Simple Binaural Setup
In this example of building a simple binaural microphone setup, a polystyrene dummy head was purchased, as shown in Figure 9. This was accurate and similar enough to a human head to create the binaural illusion.
A hole in the base for mounting the dummy head was already there, however another had to be drilled in order the feed cables to the microphones in the ears, see Figure 10.
Holes were also drilled into the ears to house the microphones, joining up to the hole drilled into the base. It was important to make sure the ear holes were symmetrical so the microphones would pick up sound evenly, Figure 11.
Figure 9 Original Dummy Head
Figure 10 Dummy Head Base Holes
Figure 11 Drilling Dummy Head Ears
Figure 12 shows how a wire was fed through the ear and hole in base enabling the cables to be pulled through. These were XLR mini cables which fitted through easily and were the correct connection for the microphones.
Figure 12 Dummy Head Cables
The microphones were then attached, in this case Shure Beta 98's were used. A cardboard sleeve was slotted into each ear canal hole to prevent the microphones from moving once the microphones were placed inside, see Figure 13.
Figure 13 Dummy Head Microphone Fitting
A tube was used to protect and stop the cables moving around in the base of the dummy head and a metal pole to enable it to be mounted to a microphone stand, Figure 14. These were both foamed in before a plastic plate was fitted to the base for protection and to make the head more presentable.
Figure 14 Dummy Head Mounting Pole
It was also important to label which cable was left and which was right for convenience when it came to recording using the dummy head microphone, as shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15 Labelling Dummy Head Cables
Figure 16 Finished Binaural Dummy Head
Figure 16 shows the final product which has a clean professional look and is easily mountable to a microphone stand so it can be positioned in any way desired. It is capable of capturing an accurate binaural sound recording.