Global sound microphone system

Abstract

A microphone system includes a portable frame for mounting linear pick-up microphones such that each of the microphones has its diaphragm facing outwards from the frame and the diaphragms form a generally elliptical pattern. A microphone with a substantially hemispherical pick-up pattern is mounted on the frame such that it is directed upwards and a second substantially hemispherical pick-up pattern microphone is mounted on the frame directed downwards. The linear pick-up pattern microphones are equispaced about the perimeter of the frame. There is a hand or camera grip depending downwards from the frame. The microphones of the frame can be electronically connected to the respective channels of a multi-channel sound system, or to the channels of a multi-channel digital mixer which in turn can be connected to a multi-channel sound recording device. The microphones may be selectively electronically connected and disconnected to adapt the system for a predetermined sound playback configuration.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates in general to microphone systems and more particularly to global sound microphone systems which are portable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere are a number of existing "surround sound" systems which use digital or analogue equipment to record and reproduce sound. The goal of such systems is to recreate the sound environment. To recreate a sound environment, the surround sound system must be designed with an awareness of the human brain's ability to determine, within all three dimensions, where a given sound originates. The ear has two independent functions, one, to hear (auditory), the other to sense the motion of the listener or of an object in space identified by the listener (vestibular). Realistic sound production must give the listener a sense of vestibular as well as auditory function, thus, the motion of the listener or object in space identified by the listener is important to the perception of reality. The brain is able to recogni...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Preferably, the means for mounting a microphone having a substantially hemispherical pick-up pattern maintains the orientation of the microphone such that the hemispherical pick-up pattern of the microphone is normal to the plane of the elliptical pattern of the linear pattern microphones and the substantially hemispherical pick-up pattern is directed upwards.

Advantages of the present invention are that a portable system to faithfully, reproduce multiple sounds as recorded, and which permits recording while the object / system is in motion, is provided.

A further advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that the microphone system may be hand-held.

An advantage of an embodiment of the invention is that the microphone system may be used in conjunction with a camera to achieve holographic sonic results.

Problems solved by technology

This format has not achieved universal acceptance due to the fact that while it was meant for consumer use, there was not enough material available that was recorded for four channels.

The limitation of this process is that the microphone must remain stationary in order for the signal levels received at the microphone diaphragms to remain uniform; it also only has four channels.

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