Handheld Binaural
Recorder
The live music recordings on this page have been made using the ViAcoustics Handheld Binaural Recorder. The recordings are 16 bit/44 kHz binaural recordings that are best listened to on high quality headphones for maximum fidelity and spatial effect. The HBR was developed in Austin, Texas, Live Music Capitol of the World, and the folks at ViAcoustics are lucky enough to be friends with some of Austin’s finest musicians. These live recordings were made as part of the “Research and Development” effort ViAcoustics undertook to develop the Handheld Binaural Recorder into a turnkey system for high quality digital recording. It’s also a great opportunity for me to post some music from some of my Austin music friends.
In most cases, the recordings you are listening to were made by setting the unit on a microphone stand in front of the stage at a live music event. After setting the input levels, the recorder was started and I walked away and let the system to all of the work while I enjoyed the music, food and party. At the completion of the recording session, the CF or PCMCIA disk drive with the recordings is plugged into the notebook computer, I spend a couple of minutes trimming the songs I want from each file, rip the WAV file to an MP3 and post it to my website. My friends are often listening to their live recordings on the web the next morning when they get home after the gig!
Check out a few of my Austin Music Friends (MP3 files)
Ryan – We heard Ryan play this song, Martyr’s Lounge, at a recent Austin Party in honor of a good friend’s birthday. This party featured a number of the Kerrville Folk Festival musicians and was a classic Austin music party.
Joe G – From the same party as the tracks above, here’s a couple of tunes by Joe G.
Run Amuk – This band forms once a year to celebrate the anniversary of a party that started in our backyard in Austin over 20 years ago. The party still lives as an Austin tradition and is known as the “Hat Party”. Amongst the annual band members are Gordon Gunn, Len Hause and Mike Kearny (aka Legs Akimbo). Mike may well be one of the best guitar pickin' “sidemen” in Austin. You can hear his licks in the background of all of the tracks below, particularly on Hot Rod Lincoln.
Jerry Sires – Also at this years Hat Party was Jerry Sires, also featuring sideman Mike Kearney. I just love to listen to Mike pick. Also, the squeezebox in these tracks is pretty hot.
Emily Kaitz – Emily has been one of our favorite singer songwriters for many years. Her songs will always make you smile. I recorded these songs live at Artz Rib House during her latest visit to Austin:
Shallow End of the Gene Pool
Pico De Gallo
Susy Rosens Nose
Tornado Season in Tulsa
Polk Shelton – Polk is an attorney, songwriter and 4th generation Austinite. He’s also my wife, Cyndie’s, uncle. Polk writes and sings some real great Austin music.
Shotgun
Willie Nelson Picnic
Mexico
Writing on the Wall
