Magic Arrays - Multichannel Microphone Array Design applied to Multi-format Compatibility

摘要

This paper describes the principles and design procedure of Multi-format-compatible Microphone Arrays for a range of different segment coverage angles and for Omnidirectional, Hypocardioid, Cardioid and Supercardioid microphones. At present the only practical solution available for the main microphone array for a multiple format recording is to use different microphone arrays for each of the required formats This paper shows how this jungle of main microphone arrays can be replaced by a single 5 channel microphone array that will supply signals that are directly compatible with 5 standard formats : mono, two and three channel "stereo", four channel "quadraphony", and "multichannel" with the full 5 channels. The specific reproduction format can be chosen either during the production process as a function of the desired support media, or by the consumer from a multichannel media product according to their own particular listening configuration.