Binaural Recording

A stereophonic recording system using two microphones placed in the relative juxtaposition of the human ears.

Whereas the German kunstkopf system uses an artificial head with correctly modelled pinnae, the binaural recording method relies either on the recordist using his/her own pinnae with the microphones placed in the ears, or else artificial pinnae attached to the microphones themselves. The intention is to increase the fidelity of acoustic space conveyed to the listener on reproduction through headphones.

See also: Binaural Hearing, Stereophonic. Compare: Monophonic, Pan.