Rory PQ explains what Binaural Recordings are and demonstrates how to use Logic Pro’s Binaural Panner device to place individual sounds at different spatial positions.
Binaural panning is an effective method that emulates human hearing by allowing you to position the direction of a signal source so your ears perceive the sound as coming from either in front, behind, above, below, and to the left or right of the listening position when using a stereo output. This alternative approach to panning is a great mixing technique used to place individual sound sources at different spatial positions.
Placing individual sounds at different positions in the mix is an important part of the mixing process that adds depth and a sense of physical space. During this process, a signal is commonly sent through a pair of stereo outputs. This sounds good and works. However, human hearing is capable of interpreting sounds at different positions, and stereo pairs are not able to send individual sounds out at separate spatial positions. All spatial information for each sound is combined in the stereo pair which really only gives us left and right positions.
The problem with placing all stereo information in a stereo pair is that every person has different anatomical proportions and conditions such as hearing loss that influence the way we perceive sound signals. With these physical differences, each person listening to the same sound source will hear binaural signals differently. Also, producing a perfect recording so everyone can hear a sound source the same would be impossible. This limitation has led to the development of binaural technology that emulates human hearing, allowing us to create binaural recordings that translate in a more natural way.
Binaural recordings are reproductions of sound that emulate the way human ears hear it. The word ‘binaural’ means ‘using both ears.’ When you listen to a binaural recording, you’re able to perceive a true three-dimensional acoustic experience.
This all sounds great, but it’s unlikely many people will have access to the technology required to make binaural recordings or would want to make this type of recording because they do not translate properly on common stereo speakers and systems. One of the drawbacks of binaural recordings is that they are intended to be played back on headphones or a dipole stereo that utilizes cross-talk cancellation. For a majority of us listeners, specialized listening environments are not suitable.
Binaural recordings are created by using special microphones that simulate a human head. This method is often achieved using a technique known as ‘dummy head recording,’ where two microphones are built into the ear canals of a mannequin head, which allow it to detect the location of sounds around it the same way people do.
Having a better understanding of binaural hearing sets us up to talk about one of Logic Pro’s most misunderstood and often overlooked features, the Binaural Panner.
The Binaural Panner feature in Logic Pro makes it simple to extend panning abilities in your projects to help elevate the listening experience of your audience. This brilliant addition to Logic Pro’s arsenal allows you to change the way your sounds are heard and perceived by emulating an environmental space in which your sounds can exist. However, like binaural recordings, the output signal is best suited for headphone playback.
To get started using binaural panning, first ensure ‘Surround’ is selected in Logic’s Advanced preferences pane. Next, select the channel strip you wish to apply the effect and set the ‘Output’ slot to Binaural. The standard pan control will then change to a binaural panning control. Double-clicking on the control will bring up the Binaural Panner interface, giving you more options to transform your sounds.
Controlling the panning effect in the Binaural Panner is done by positioning the panning pucks on the panning plane at the top of the window, and then adjusting any other additional parameters to dial in the effect. Below are the main interface elements:
The Binaural Panner is fairly easy to operate and a whole lot of fun to play around with. Let’s look closer at the interface controls and how they can be used to enhance your mix.
Note: If in Planar mode, use the Extended Parameters sliders to control the vertical offset and tilt of the circular plane. Watching the 3D image when changing them will help you get a clear idea of their functions.
Note: When using multiple Binaural Panners on several channel strips, it’s recommended to turn off this option and route the output of all the Binaural Panners to an aux channel strip loaded with the Binaural Post-Processing plugin. The Binaural Post-Processing plugin is only available in aux and output channel strips and allows you to apply various compensation modes to all routed Binaural Panner outputs at once, which also saves CPU power.
The Binaural Panner is unique to Logic Pro and is not found as a native feature on other popular DAWs. It is an excellent mixing method worth playing around with. However, it’s not something you will want to use with mono or low-frequency instruments like kick and bass. The effect really shines on higher frequency content like percussion, leads, pads, leads, and vocals.