Inverse alt-Blumlein shuffling demonstrations

Improved Localization for Binaural Recordings and Stereo Program Material Using ‘Blumlein Shuffling’

Institute of Acoustics’ Reproduced Sound 2025

Author

Affiliation

Jonathan J Digby

University of Derby

Published

March 28, 2026

Instructions

Earphones
Please ensure you are using a pair of earphones in the standard two-channel stereo configuration.

All equalization, loudness, and spatial processing should be: bypassed, off, or disabled.

Important: Before continuing put your volume control to its lowest level setting.

Loudness Calibration

If you prefer to skip this step please scroll directly to Audio demonstrations

After adjusting your volume level to a minimum, press
Press to Stop the looped audio

Slowly increase your volume level until the low- and high-pitched noise bursts are at the same level (equally loud).
You may notice that changing the overall listening level affects the loudness of the two noise bursts at different rates.
You can continue to adjust the volume level (up and down) until both high- and low-pitched noise bursts are well balanced; or thereabouts.
STOP IMMEDIATELY if the noise bursts are too loud.

Earphones calibration signal

If you are unable to match the loudness of the noise bursts before the volume is too high, please discontinue the calibration.
You could try using a different pair of earphones.
Please continue

Audio demonstrations

Excerpts from commercially available two-channel stereo program material are presented below.

There are two versions of each 15-second snippet: A and B.

One is the inverse alt-shuffled version for earphones; the other is the original release.

After listening to both snippets make a note of your preferred version for earphone listening.
This is for your reference, only. It is not a test – there are no wrong answers.

Feel free to listen to each snippet as many times as you wish.
The entire collection will usually take less than 15 minutes.

Please wait for each item to complete, or press to Interrupt playback.
Audio will not automatically switch after selecting the next clip.

If you have completed the Loudness Calibration there is no need to adjust your volume control;
however, feel free to adjust your volume control to a preferred listening level.

Version B

List of audio recordings

Barbra Streisand (1985) ‘Pretty Women / The Ladies Who Lunch’, The Broadway Album [CD]. Columbia - CK 40092
Can (1973) ‘Bel Air’, Future Days [CD]. Spoon Records - spoon CD 009
Count Basie (1966) ‘One O’Clock Jump’, Live At The Sands (Before Frank) [CD]. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab - UDSACD 2113
Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968) ‘Suzie Q’, Creedence Clearwater Revival [CD]. Fantasy - 98501
Erik Satie;Pascal Rogé (1984) ‘Le Picadilly’, 3 Gymnopédies & Other Piano Works [CD]. Decca - 475 7527
George Benson (1980) ‘Give Me The Night’, Give Me The Night [CD]. Warner Bros. Records - 03453-2
Grace Jones (1985) ‘Don’t Cry - It’s Only The Rhythm’, Slave To The Rhythm [CD]. Island Records Ltd. - MMTCD1849
Herbie Hancock (1964) ‘Cantaloupe Island’, Empyrean Isles [CD]. Blue Note - 7243 4 98796 2 1
Howlin’ Wolf (1962) ‘Spoonful’, The Chess Box [CD]. Chess - CHD3-9332
John Williams (4) (1981) ‘The Raiders March’, Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [CD]. Silva Screen - RAIDERS 001
Michael Jackson (1979) ‘Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough’, Off The Wall [CD]. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab - UDSACD 2287
No Artist (1994) ‘Three People Describing Their Location Within The Sound Stage Talking Simultaneously’, “My Disc” The Sheffield / A2TB Test Disc [CD]. Sheffield Lab - 10508-2-T
Steely Dan (1977) ‘Peg’, Aja [CD]. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab - UDCD 515
The Band (1968) ‘The Weight’, Music From Big Pink [CD]. Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab - MFSL 1-346
The Beatles (1967) ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [CD]. Apple Records - 0946 3 82419 2 8
The Jimi Hendrix Experience (1968) ‘All Along The Watchtower’, Electric Ladyland [CD]. Reprise Records - 6307-2

Version ID

Click to Reveal the Version ID’s

For all clips…

Version A is the original.

Version B is shuffled.

(inverse alt-Blumlein shuffling method; as described in the research paper)

We thank you for your interest.
Feedback is encouraged.

Mr Jonathan Digby (Principal investigator)
Researcher
Email: j.digby1@unimail.derby.ac.uk