Cool new Hearing aid/ In ear technology

Gogar · 10-21-2011, 03:59 PM

This is a neat gadget you might like, since you guys like gadgetry.

This is a Sensaphonics "Active-Ambient 3D" In-ear monitoring system, which is a single -or- dual driver custom-fit ear mold, by Dr. Michael Santucci.

Mounted in the middle of each earbud is an tiny omnidirectional condenser mic which creates a true-binaural representation of the sound on stage. The resulting condenser-mic sound can be mixed in to your regular ear-mix, thus providing all the spatial cues that you normally would hear if you didn't have the earpieces in, but at a much lower volume. Volume of the ambient sound can be stepped in increments from 'normal' natural volume down in 4 dB steps to -36 dB.

Normally for in-ear setups the monitor technician will put some mics on the stage and blend them in, like in this pic of nostatic's hero:

Unfortunately, this setup provides no spatial cues, all you hear is this really wide representation of what might have been on the stage, and you get to hear the lady in front of the mic and all about her kids' soccer game all night long.

But, with the binaural mic system, spatial cues are retained and you can hear in front, behind, and to the sides just like you didn't have earpieces in. You walk over to your amp, and you hear your amp. Walk over to the drummer, and you hear the drums. At a much-reduced volume. SWEET!

Buckterrier · 10-21-2011, 04:12 PM

What?

Gogar · 10-21-2011, 04:29 PM

Precisely!

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Nice pic of Vic. When are you in LA next? Actually my g/f is flying back from Denver tonight. She had a show open at RMCAD: http://www.rmcad.edu/galleries/philip-j-steele-gallery

Towards the original point, one of the early projects at our institute was 10.2 surround systems. You can do some serious spatial localization with that, but it doesn't fit in your ear

Gogar · 10-21-2011, 05:38 PM

We were supposed to play at the El Rey last night but had to cancel because Hubert S. is ill. Vegas tonight and Belly Up tomorrow.

peppy · 10-21-2011, 06:23 PM

That is pretty cool, but couldn't you just use a hearing aid with the volume turned way down?

I guess since I don't know what spatial cues are you can't.

peppy · 10-21-2011, 06:39 PM

Oh, sort of like an FM system for hearing aids.

Gogar · 06:44 PM

Yeah, if you had a hearing aid with a built-in set of really great earphones, and you had seperate volume knobs for 'reality', or 'music.'

peppy · 10-21-2011, 06:54 PM

Is this new technology? I wonder when it will trickle down to the hearing aids.

I am guessing the ear monitors are a part of the whole sound system.

Gogar · 10-21-2011, 09:35 PM

Its not "new", per se, it's just new as far as one technology being combined with another.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Cool. What were the other in-ear devices used to wear? I remember seeing similar things in your dressing room.

WolfeMacleod · 10-21-2011, 09:50 PM

If not already, those things should be shown at the NAMM show.

Speaking of which, Gogar....and Dave....are you going to be there? (And anyone else?) I'll be there for the first time since 2008.

slodave · slodave's Garage

I'd love to go, but someone would have to invite me. I don't have a regular in.

WolfeMacleod · 10-21-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slodave

I'd love to go, but someone would have to invite me. I don't have a regular in.

I'll see if I've got any passes available...not sure what the allotment is this year.

slodave · slodave's Garage

That would be awesome, Wolfe!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Vic Wooten is my hero, too!!