Directional Sound

Q&A about the latest versions
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zap
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Hi again

Any one of you has experience with directional sound.
I know it can't be done (for now) by Pano2Vr. But I'm pretty shure thomas has hooked on.

I wanted to prepare and buy a Samson Zoom H2
any one experience with this device. Can the sound in 360mode be added afterwards as multiple files or does the soft reckognize position and we just define the main direction leaving the rest to the soft.

What alternative options do I have to add directional sound.
For the dvd preparation in one of my posts I think using AfterEffects and Premier will do the job.
But what about doing the job on 360 photos.

So concrete:
1. Is it worthwile to use the H2
a) for future pano2vr implementation
b) for directional sound at all
2. Any idea on the workflow to add directional sounds (QTVR or any other method/program) now in a pano

3. Any alternative thoughts.

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RBilsland
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I already own a Zoom H2 and so far I've had no problems with the device. I too bought it with the idea of placing directional sound within a panorama but as of yet I haven't done this. I have recorded surround clips ready to use but admittedly I haven't been trying too hard, just waiting for directional sound to be released in Pano2VR.

The H2 has 2 mics pointing forward with 90 degrees separation and 2 mics pointing backwards with 120 degrees separation. When recording surround it uses all 4 mics and records 2 stereo files onto the memory cards, on for the front pair of mics and one for the back pair of mics.

Hope this helps,

Bob Bilsland.
smooth
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Hello Zap,

I also have a the H2 Zoom and it's a fantastic recorder.
It's only downfall is the plastic construction. Doesn't look plastic so it's surprising when you lift it.
I have recorded sound also in preparation for Pano2VR directional sound. You should have already seen my sample pano with directional sound on this forum (if your use a PC).

Really though, 360 degree recording is not necessary unless it's just background sound to a standard panorama. You want 2 channel stereo for each sound direction. Meaning you will have a separate audio file for each direction.

The H2 Zoom comes with good accessories also. Really I think you would be hard pressed to find a better recorder for the money.
I got mine from ebay with bonus 4GB card and a set of Sampson stereo headphones from the USA and had them set over to Australia.

Regards, Smooth 8)
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Mowog
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Old stuff, but if you work with QTVR, you can add sound with CubicConnector (development stopped?), LiveStage Pro (development stopped), or SoundSavr (company dead and it only works on old Mac OS, although I think it can run in OS9 Classic mode on a PPC machine (but not Intel)).
m_stoss
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Great to hear that this shall be a feature of 2.3. I just had a client asking me to do directional sound which I did in the past with CubicConnector. I want to leave QT alone but I'm afraid Thomas has a tough timetable anyway...

This is, what my client had in mind: http://karlshorst.premiumpano.de/weihnachtskonzert.html

Michael
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360Texas
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Michael, Great panorama. Enjoyed the bi-directional audio. Did you use a monopod? or short pole? I know how difficult it is to nadir. How did you get your hands to HOLD the glass ball? I usually just use a picture of my camera.. or not at all.
Dave
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zap
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Can only agree to 360texas
Great Panorama. And directional sound really adds something to it.

Sadly cubiconverter is Mac only as I'm PC only.
Will have to wait for thomas pushing the sound development into Pano2VR
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m_stoss
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Hello Dave and Zap,

thank you very much. This was my first cliffhanger type pano (dec. 2006) and I had used my standard Manfrotto monopod for this. Looks as if it was much farther away. I was surprised how easy this could be done (there are stitching errors of course) and did more cliffhangers with more confidence ever since - but never swinging above the heads of people again (!). Very risky and it came to my mind first after the shooting. :-(

I don't like the mirrorball patch that much (I use it sometimes though) but since it was a christmas concert in a church I was quite happy with it this time. To get the right impression, I took a photograph of me holding a childrens toy ball in my hands from around the same distance like the original distance, wearing the same sweater. Than I masked the ball in PS and replaced it with the mirror ball. You can do this with your camera as well, otherwise it sometimes looks very artificially placed over the nadir.

Maybe I should have told some people around me, that they were going to be in the image (you know whom I mean...)

The sound in this very special situation simply NEEDED to be directional, it contributes so much to the feeling of space. I still used my G4 mac back then, so no problem with CubicConnector. But yes, Thomas, go on ;-) give us directional sound!

Yours,
Michael
jwesq
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Reading these messages - and waiting, waiting, waiting for Thomas - how's the move going? I've just gone and bought an H2 - whole load of new skills to learn - exciting.

John
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hum@no.id
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Directional sound with panoramic ambient channels, together with absolutely our still pano textures - looks miserable and sad...

Still waterfall with ambient 'waterfall noise' - absurdity

Baby chorus with jelled faces but with sounding voices - it's wax figures Madame Tussauds... or like from horror movie... yes this looks for GOTHS - the ONLY:)))

YES this really works! eg. Immersive Video technologies - http://demos.immersivemedia.com/... BUT this not our business yet...

DSound - this is a premature way (IMO) *I know this was earlier used QTVR (in prehistorical timeses looks Cool)
Last edited by hum@no.id on Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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360Texas
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Few minutes ago I uploaded work flow for sound and free sound loop .swf for you to use in embedding sound into your Pano2vr.

The sound controller does use volume control and L/R directional slider bars.

Have fun.

http://gardengnomesoftware.com/forum/vi ... 7901#p7901
Dave
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jwesq
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Hi,
hum@no.id wrote:Directional sound with panoramic ambient channels, together with absolutely our still pano textures - looks miserable and sad...

Still waterfall with ambient 'waterfall noise' - absurdity

Baby chorus with jelled faces but with sounding voices - it's wax figures Madame Tussauds... or like from horror movie... yes this looks for GOTHS - the ONLY:)))
I don't really think this is fair comment - it depends on the sort of work you are doing.

One of the projects I am involved with is for seriously disabled people. VR is the best medium I have found for giving them the experience of being out in the 'real' world with the ability to control where they want to loook and go to.

VR sound might appear absurd, miserable and sad to you but for not for those who have spent years not being able to experience these things. And it's for these people that I'm pushing Thomas.

John
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hum@no.id
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I'm formerly professional musician and sound engineer... Understanding in 'sound' was my duty

BTW. In ~1990th equipment (in former job) has installing specialists from Austria (NEVE VR LEGEND) LOL
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zap
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Hi

What settings do those of you, using the H2, setup to record sounds.
My aim would be to setup in a way to have maximum capabilities once the functionalities are available for implementation in Pano2VR or any other program.

Cheers
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thomas
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jwesq wrote:Reading these messages - and waiting, waiting, waiting for Thomas - how's the move going? I've just gone and bought an H2 - whole load of new skills to learn - exciting.
Sorry, but moving turned into a nightmare (f.e. I had no real internet until Sunday...., still no real bath room, boxes everywhere...) but now my PC is running, the two Mac minis are still in boxes but I hope I can start working again tomorrow.
MfG, Thomas
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