Apparatus and Method for Microphone Positioning Based on a Spatial Power Density

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for automatically determining the optimal position and orientation of microphones—both real and virtual—in a given acoustic environment. It utilizes a calculated spatial power density map, based on the detected positions and strengths of sound sources, to estimate the best locations and directions to place microphones in order to capture the most accurate and clear sound recordings. The system adapts to complex environments and does not require prior knowledge of the number or location of sound sources.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Conference rooms with multiple speakers to automatically position microphones for clear voice capture.
• Live concerts or theater performances to place real or virtual microphones for optimal sound pickup.
• Recording studios for dynamic adjustment of microphone placement as musicians or sound sources move.
• Surveillance and smart home systems to automatically focus on and record relevant sound events.
• Telepresence or teleconferencing technologies that require high-quality spatial audio reproduction.
• Virtual reality and augmented reality systems for realistic positioning of virtual microphones based on sound scenes.
• Post-production audio engineering, allowing the simulation of various microphone placements for the best mix.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Automatic determination of optimal microphone position and orientation, saving setup time and effort.
• Enhanced audio recording quality by adapting to the actual sound field in real time.
• Works in unknown or changing environments without requiring manual entry of sound source positions or counts.
• Supports both physical and virtual microphone placement, broadening flexibility for diverse applications.
• Improves listener experience by faithfully reproducing the spatial characteristics of the original environment.
• Adaptability to different use-cases, from entertainment to business, surveillance, and smart environments.
• Reduces the need for expert acoustic engineers during microphone setup.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

An apparatus for microphone positioning is provided. The apparatus comprises a spatial power distribution determiner (10) and a spatial information estimator (20). The spatial power distribution determiner (10) is adapted to determine a spatial power density indicating power values for a plurality of locations of an environment based on sound source information indicating one or more power values and one or more position values of one or more sound sources located in the environment. The spatial information estimator (20) is adapted to estimate acoustic spatial information based on the spatial power density.