Setup for choir recordings in virtual churches

Researchers have developed a novel setup for choir recordings in virtual recreations of historic churches, specifically focusing on the Maulbronn Monastery Complex and the Maior Ecclesia in Cluny. This approach leverages binaural room impulse responses to simulate real singing conditions within an anechoic environment, allowing singers to perceive reflections via open headphones while being recorded with a headset microphone. The study highlights the influence of room acoustics on both performance and perception of singing, providing insights into how virtual spaces can be used to recreate historic auditory experiences. While the current setup is static, the research also discusses potential improvements and initial steps toward analyzing the recordings, offering a promising method for future studies in sacred sound and space.

Palenda, P., Aspöck, L., Morent, S., & Vorländer, M. (2023). Setup for choir recordings in virtual churches. 2023 Immersive and 3D Audio: From Architecture to Automotive (I3DA), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/i3da57090.2023.10289329