AudioComics in 3D
December 13th, 2011 Comments Off
Last night Bill, Elaine, and I had a great meeting with two incredible collaborators on our next BIG AudioComics project after Ttitanium Rain Vol. 1 (and yes, there are two equally great volumes to come). While I can’t talk about the project or collaborators yet (obviously), I can say three things: 1) this will be the first AudioComics production to be recorded in Los Angeles, which we’re excited about, 2) our collaborators are two of the coolest guys livin’ and workin’ in Hollywood, and 3) this will also be the first AudioComics piece to be recorded in 3D holographic sound.
Now the actual term here is 3D binaural sound, or Kunstkopf binaural sound, but we’re sticking with “holographic” as it just sounds groovier. We had discussed, Bill and I, recording a production in 3D a long time ago…before Starstruck in fact. We’ve decided to try it now as this piece screams out for holographic sound! While 3D sound works wonders when you hear it on your stereo speakers, the sound is even better with the headphones on. Kunstkopf literally means “art head,” referring to the German-manufactured Ku81 microphone. This mic is literally a head, nicknamed “Fritz:” a mannequin or solid rubber head with microphones set inside the inner ear chambers. The actors are then positioned around the head, and the action is literally choreographed around the listener. Likewise any specific live SFX happens around the head, so that when you slip on the headphones and close your eyes, you are convinced that someone is speaking six inches from your left ear, that someone is whispering right into your right ear, and something is rapidly gaining speed right behind you scaring you enough to make you TURN AROUND TO MAKE SURE NOBODY’S THERE…nope, it’s all in your head.
To give you an idea of what 3D sound is like in audio drama, we take you to the ZBS Foundation, where you can buy, in addition to Starstruck, CD’s and downloads of ZBS’s “Cabinet of Dr. Fritz” series, which was originally produced for NPR, back when NPR actually aired audio dramas. http://www.zbs.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=5_31 for compact discs, and http://www.zbs.org/catalog/index.php?cPath=5_32 for Mp3 downloads. They’re worth your time to hear, and will give you an idea of what we have planned.
