On Saturday night, the Catalan composer Nico Roig sang in the ear of each of the spectators who attended L'auditori de Barcelona to hear the presentation of his latest album, This cold is worth nothing. The sound of each instrument acquired a palpable texture and the singer's voice resonated in the bodies of those present, who were immersed in a 360º sound bubble. It was possible through the binaural microphone system, in which both the audience and the musicians hear the show through headphones. There were those who attended in groups, others went alone, but from the moment the show began, each one was immersed in an individual journey. In these concerts it doesn't matter where you are located, the volume control is with the spectator and from the first to the last row you can hear as if you were in the center of the scene.
It is not the first concert that Roig's band has performed with this method. Binaural sound is a technology that has been used in the entertainment scene for years. It is used in a variety of applications where precision in auditory perception is crucial for an immersive experience, such as in virtual and augmented reality. It refers to a specific way of recording audio that mimics the way human ears pick up sound waves, allowing the creation of a three-dimensional audio experience. To get the full effect you have to use stereo headphones, you don't get the same impact with speakers.
Nico Roig and his band once again demonstrated their ability to create sounds that penetrate deeply into the listeners' minds. Their music is a sober sound, without too many ornaments. Each note has a reason for being. It combines acoustic instruments, such as strings and winds, with electronic sounds. The result is a fusion of classic, contemporary and experimental elements, which makes it difficult to pigeonhole into a single genre. His lyrics, in Catalan or Spanish, focus mostly on personal stories, although on stage the musician is not afraid of improvisation in some verses.
Can you experience binaural sound at home with a pair of headphones? Of course. For those who are curious, Nico Roig's music and other audio of this type can be found on online platforms for free, although the experience of experiencing it live is irreplaceable.
