How it all started?
The experience of RV and binaural sound began when the management of the Overseas Cluster ordered innovative digital native modules to cover the Route du Rhum 2018. The digital experience group, based in Malakoff, and which was created at that time, produced an RV module and a binaural podcast on the theme of "Boating on board a sailboat" with an ultramarine skipper. (Click here to find the article and the video)
This first experience won us over, especially because the narration, design and manufacturing guidelines are totally different from what we are used to doing for 2D TV.
Afterwards, we wanted to push a little further, and create an RV module with binaural sound, always valuing an artist from overseas. An opportunity with the Delgrès group was confirmed. On tour throughout France, we wanted to record a sound check or a rehearsal of the group.
What is the technical equipment for this recording?
We therefore contacted Nathalie Gallet from Medialab and Lidwine Hô from the Innovations and Development department to elaborate this new project. They had already intervened on the first experience in support. With them we estimated our technical needs.
The Medialab had just received a 360° camera "Insta Pro 2". Nathalie and Lidwine came to present it to us. We welcomed them in our new Social room. While Nathalie was deciphering with us the functionalities of the camera, Lidwine was advising us on the audio equipment necessary for the capture. To complete the video equipment loaned by the Medialab, (Insta Pro 2), we bought the Zoom H3VR recorder and we purchased the multitrack "Sound Devices PIX 270i" to test it, as the Malakoff radio service was looking to equip itself with this type of equipment.
D-Day
On D-Day, the sound check of Delgrès took place in the concert hall La Batterie (Guyancourt). So we installed, as planned, in the middle of the stage the Insta Pro 2, the H3VR fixed on the camera. The multitrack was receiving in madi the divergent tracks and the final mix from the front console.
Arrived in post-prod, the choice was quite obvious between the different tracks recorded to start on the MO JODI track. The image editing done with Nathalie Gallet on Adobe Première consisted essentially of stitching, synchronizing and dressing the module. As for the mixing done on Reaper, we worked with Lidwine Hô. After she imported the multitrack audios into the software, processed the different sources (equalization, compression, etc.), then spatialized the instruments, we tried to give a specific presence to each instrument according to its placement in space and from the point of view of the telenaut.
Finally, FB 360 Encoder allowed us to create spatialized masters adapted to social networks, Facebook and Youtube, the only ones able to play video in 360.
The result is quite close to what we hoped to obtain, namely an experience that gives the impression of being exclusively on stage with the band, and being able to choose one's angle of vision and sound perception.