Multichannel Microphone Pinna Simulation for 360 Video
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multichannel microphones fail to integrate seamlessly with camera systems, obstruct the camera's field of view, lack companion software for immersive sound rendering, and are cumbersome to install, making them unsuitable for 360-degree video and virtual reality applications.
Innovation Solution
A multichannel microphone with an eight-microphone spherical housing, featuring four microphone pairs separated by baffles to simulate human pinnae, integrated with a quick-release clamp for easy mounting on pole stands, and paired with software for head-tracking data processing to render immersive positional audio.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a multichannel microphone is mounted on top of a pole stand to enable 360 degree recording, then immersive sound recording capability is improved, but it obstructs the camera's field of view and cannot be mounted on existing pole stands that already carry cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The microphone array is mounted on the side of the pole stand rather than on top, utilizing the lateral dimension. This allows the microphone to record 360 degree immersive sound while not obstructing the camera's upward field of view, resolving the spatial conflict between audio and video equipment placement
2Reliability
If existing multichannel microphones are used for 360 degree video recording, then sound recording capability is provided, but they lack companion software to render the recorded sound and are cumbersome to install
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the microphone array, pole stand mounting system, and rendering software into a single integrated product. The microphone array includes built-in preamplifiers and connects via a single cable to a recording device, while the included rendering software automatically processes the multichannel audio, eliminating the need for separate components and simplifying installation and operation
Solution Approach 2:
The microphone array is designed with universal mounting capability through a clamp that can attach to various pole stand sizes and configurations. The system provides multiple microphone patterns (omnidirectional, figure-8, cardioid) and recording modes (stereo, multichannel, Ambisonics) within a single device, making it adaptable to different production scenarios without requiring additional equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
A production work flow optimized multichannel virtual reality microphone that has its own rendering software allowing for the recording, rendering, and playing back of immersive, head-trackable positional audio for 360 video, gaming, and virtual reality applications. The multichannel microphone used to record multiple binaural sound perspectives, has eight microphones coupled to a rotatable disc frictionally mounted on the outside of a truncated spherical shell, an internal, detachable clamp for attaching the shell to a vertical pole stand, and easily accessible microphone output connections configured as four stereo microphone pairs, spaced closely to an average set of human ears. The microphone output connections are located on an internal support member. These are accessible through upper and lower lids and a door. Four small baffles simulating the pinna of the human ear reside on the disc, separating the paired microphones.