On 13 Sep 2003 15:57:04 GMT, "All Ears" wrote:

Did anybody try to place microphones in test persons ears, to see if
shape/mass of cranium and "ear layout" changes the physical reception of
sound?

That certainly has been done, and is the basis of several binaural
systems, but of course whatever the sape of your ears, you hear both
live and recorded sound with the same pair!
--

Stewart Pinkerton | Music is Art - Audio is Engineering

In article , All Ears wrote:
Did anybody try to place microphones in test persons ears, to see if
shape/mass of cranium and "ear layout" changes the physical reception of
sound?

Yes. It does. Read up on binaural recording techniques.

The problems:

- To do it right, you need to measure a person's head very well.
- Then, you build a dummy head, and place the microphones inside.
- Playback has to be through earphones; speakers won't sound right.
- When you move your head while listening, there is a conflict between
what your ears are telling you and what your vestibular canals are
telling you.
- The best sound is heard by the person whose head was measured for the
recording.

Listening to a generic binaural recording is apparently more realistic
than more normal stereo techniques, but not anywhere near as good as
being the model for the dummy.

-dsr-

--
Network engineer / sales engineer available in the Boston area.
http://tao.merseine.nu/~dsr

Ref: cranium ear variables...ear shape..ear wax, etc.

All Ears..

Drat! you're digging into the beginning of a myriad
of variables. I'm sure that the tunnel with air in it
does cause variables.

Now back up a bit in the audio chain..

1. Recording variables based on preferences of the
recording engineer/director, etc.

2. Amplifier variables..based on the Designers
concept of how the amp should sound based on
his setup at the time of development. Cost
considerations, etc

3. Wiring variables going to the speakers.

4. Varying concepts on speaker design.
Each design has its own audio signature.

5. The utilization of air to transport the
audio output of the speaker to the individual.
Literally fraught with variables...atmospheric
pressure, humidity and others factors not well
understood at this time.

6. Acoustic reflective issues of the room itself
in relation to the individual's sitting location.
Changeable with a slight move of the head or chair
location.

7. Your point of ear-cranium variable.
One might add the "ear-shape" to this.
Slow accumulation of ear wax.

8. The real "biggie" is the next step..
..the ear-mind complex where, after all
the variables external to the ear impulse
to the brain occur..then, the ear/mind
must interpret what is is receiving..I contend
this is based on such a mass of variables
that no two humans have the same setup.
It has to do with previous listening experience
and the mind and its ability to compare what
is being sensed at the moment with what is
remembered. An unknown pit of variables.
See the following point.

9. Mental process of making comparative judgements
on what it has heard in the past and what is
currently being heard in a real-time environment.
This element probably varies greatly from person
to person. It is this process that is not well
grasped or acknowledged by some in this audio
domain. I contend this "comparative process"
is going on when you listen closely..the air
around a flute..the blare of trumpet bell and
the timbre of it. It is close to your memory
of what the instrument "should" sound like or
is preferred by you.

10. Other variables not known at our present state
of development. Mental processes out of balance
due to chemical balances in the body...other
unknowns that reflect the non-linearity of the
frequency response of the ear itself.

Now, accepting that these and many others are present out
there in the audio chain...is it a mystery that some
individuals hear more, some less and some interpret what
they hear entirely differently? The group that contends
"all is the same" are closing their eyes to many of these
variables. This ole audio domain is not fully grasped
at this point in time.

The upshot of all of this is:

Select the components that you prefer, be it cables, amps
or speakers. Always, the key factor here is that "you"
select what is best to your sense of good audio. Be wary
of those that know what is best for "you". Accept their
strange "sense of humor". Then go buy what you prefer!!
You will be happier with your audio system!

Leonard...

__________________________________________________ _____________

On Sat, 13 Sep 2003 15:57:04 +0000, All Ears wrote:

Did anybody try to place microphones in test persons ears, to see if
shape/mass of cranium and "ear layout" changes the physical reception of
sound?

KE

"Dan Ritter" wrote in message
...
In article , All Ears wrote:
Did anybody try to place microphones in test persons ears, to see if
shape/mass of cranium and "ear layout" changes the physical reception of
sound?

Yes. It does. Read up on binaural recording techniques.

The problems:

- To do it right, you need to measure a person's head very well.
- Then, you build a dummy head, and place the microphones inside.
- Playback has to be through earphones; speakers won't sound right.
- When you move your head while listening, there is a conflict between
what your ears are telling you and what your vestibular canals are
telling you.
- The best sound is heard by the person whose head was measured for the
recording.

Listening to a generic binaural recording is apparently more realistic
than more normal stereo techniques, but not anywhere near as good as
being the model for the dummy.

This is quite interesting. If it could be possible to place some small
measurement mics. inside a persons ear and capture the physical frq.
attenuation in the ear. It would also be possible to make a model of how to
equalize a "standard" or " generic" binaural recording to fit individual
ears. Going even further, this "personal sound model" could even be combined
with the result of a hearing test.

It seems like these digital room correction systems are on their way anyway,
so why not go further in the adaption of the sound?

KE



-dsr-

--
Network engineer / sales engineer available in the Boston area.
http://tao.merseine.nu/~dsr