Dummy head recording (also known as artificial head or Kunstkopf) is a method used to make binaural recordings, that allow a listener wearing headphones to perceive the directionality and the room acoustics of single or multiple sources.

There are three main ways of making a recording that encodes directionality information:

True dummy head recording uses an artificial model of a human head, built from selected acoustic materials to emulate the sound-transmitting characteristics of a real human head, with two microphone inserts embedded at the "eardrum" locations,

Simulated dummy head recording processes a signal electronically to imprint the HRTF information associated with a specified direction.

Finally, a pair of specially-designed microphones can be worn by a volunteer, fitted inside their ears, to make use of actual intra-cranial acoustics.