Abstract: The present invention provides an adaptive directional microphone system for enhancing an acoustic signal from a second direction and for reducing an acoustic signal from at least a first direction different from the second direction, the system comprising:

Abstract: A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

Abstract: A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

Abstract: An in-the-ear hearing aid having multiple directional microphones connected to a signal processing unit. The connection of the microphones can be reversed by a selector switch to selectively switch the hearing aid between a left-ear configuration and a right-ear configuration.

Abstract: A new acoustic sensing device or directional microphone having greater sensitivity and reduced noise. The directional microphone or acoustic sensor has a rigid, one micron thick, polysilicon membrane having dimensions of about 1 mm×2 mm. The membrane is supported upon its center by rigid supports having torsional and transverse stiffness. The differential microphone is useful in hearing aids, telecommunications equipment, information technology and military applications.

Abstract: The production of a hearing aid device can be simplified by the use of a microphone module with a plurality of microphones. To attach and electrically contact the microphones, the invention provides a microphone carrier with three-dimensionally directed conductor traces in MID technology. In a complicated microphone arrangement with a plurality of microphones, a single microphone module can thereby be used on which all microphones of the hearing aid device are attached and electrically connected.

Abstract: An adjustable microphone apparatus including a sound box defined by a peripheral wall surface and adjoining first and second surfaces with an interior as a portion of a sound guide channel for guiding wave forms between a sound absorbing hole and a sound perceptible portion of a microphone in a housing with a movable piece slidably engaged with at least one of the surfaces to move within the interior of the sound box altering the sound wave path through the guide channel upon movement of an accessible portion of an actuator coupled to the movable piece so as to provide a variable sound filter.

Abstract: A microphone array for providing a focused field of optimum audio reception is disclosed. The array has a series of interconnected microphones spaced within a housing. At a midpoint of the spaced microphones is an illuminated polarized centering marker which gives the user a visual signal that the user is located within the optimum filed of audio reception. The housing can be placed on the top front edge of video monitor and has slideably mounted removable feet, which allow the microphones to be aimed more accurately at the user. The array is foldable along a midpoint, which allow for compact storage. The folding mechanism is a hinge, which has a hollow core, and openings which allow the internal wiring to interconnect two wings of the array without exposing the wires. The wings are held in their longitudinally oriented position by a latching mechanism of pins in one wing which snap fit into capture boots within the other wing.

Abstract: A noise canceling pickup with an electret is provided with a cylinder body having a front cover and a rear cover, said front cover is provided with sound passing holes, said cylinder body is provided with an oscillating membrane of the electret, a back electrode sheet and a back electrode base, wherein said cylinder body is composed of a front cylinder body and a rear cylinder body, said oscillating membrane is provided into said front cylinder body, said rear cover of said cylinder body is provided with at least one sound passing hole, and said rear cover is provided with electric elements therein. With the arrangement according to the present invention, the distance between the opposite front and rear sound passing holes can be made smaller. The noise canceling pickup with an electret, can be used in the higher frequency band and in a wide frequency range to cancel the noises more effectively.

Abstract: A capacitance microphone including: (1) an electrically conductive element that includes a surface which, when placed at (at least approximately) the focal point of a parabolic surface, receives sound energy reflected from the parabolic surface at a plurality of angles which are substantially perpendicular to the surface at the point of impingement; (2) an electrically conductive stalk for supporting the electronically conductive element; (3) a layer of piezoelectric material coating the surface; (4) a layer of insulating material covering a substantial portion of the stalk, but not covering the surface; and (5) a layer of conducting material covering the piezoelectric material and a substantial portion of the insulating material. Preferably, the surface approximates a spherical or hemispherical surface, the center of which is at the focal point of the parabolic like surface. The invention also includes a microphone assembly incorporating a parabolic surface and the above described capacitance microphone.

Abstract: The invention provides a microphone for the simultaneous pickup of both ambient background noise and speech in vehicles such as automobiles, aircraft, and marine vessels. The apparatus provides a plurality of cartridges that simultaneously exhibit frequency and polar response characteristics tailored to noise and speech, respectively. In an embodiment of the invention, a single housing contains both a directional microphone and an omni-directional microphone for use in an automobile. In an alternative embodiment, a microphone array having both directional and omni-directional outputs are derived from microphones contained in a single enclosure.

Abstract: An intermediate connector (14) is provided between a microphone unit (2) and a cylindrical housing (4). The connector (14) electrically connects the grounding part of the microphone unit (2) and the cylindrical housing (4) substantially by the shortest path while blocking mechanical vibrations. As a result, undesired high-frequency noises attributed to surrounding strong electric field are removed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a modular hearing aid device having a microphone module that comprises a microphone module housing and at least one microphone, and having a hearing aid device module that comprises a hearing aid device module housing, whereby the microphone module housing supplements the hearing aid device module housing to form a housing of the hearing aid device having a uniform effect, and whereby the microphone module and the hearing aid device module are detachably connected, and whereby the hearing aid device module comprises at least one microphone.

Abstract: A hearing aid assembly having a directional microphone mounted externally to a hearing aid body is disclosed. The hearing aid, which may be, for example, an in-the-canal (ITC) or completely-in-the-canal (CIC) hearing aid, has a mounting arm attached to an external surface of the hearing aid body, and the mounting arm in turn has a directional microphone mounted therewith. The mounting arm provides mechanical and electrical connection between the directional microphone and the hearing aid. The mounting arm is also configured such that, upon insertion of the ITC or CIC hearing aid into the ear canal of a wearer, the microphone is located in the region above the tragion portion of the ear.

Abstract: A highly discreet and accurate voice pickup device includes a standard miniature pressure gradient type microphone element provided and mounted very close to the side of the user's head, preferably near the user's ear. The microphone element is oriented so that its direction of maximum sensitivity is parallel to the side of the user's head, and points toward the user's mouth so that it will pick up the user's speech sounds as the sounds diffract and travel along the side of the user's face and head, to the microphone element. The microphone element can be configured with low pass networks at front and rear ports of the microphone element, which cooperate with air volumes within the microphone to provide additional directional properties that advantageously vary with frequency and further enhance the noise-rejection capability of the microphone element.

Abstract: A directional micro-phone is disclosed which comprises a microphone array (3) having a plurality of microphone elements (4,5,12,13) of which the element (4) is a rear element and the other elements arc forward elements. A processor (19,31) is connected to the elements. The processor can be a hardware processor for processing signals or it can be a software controlled system for processing signals. The processor one of the forward elements (5,12,13) and thereafter establishes a window of opportunity for receipt of the wave at the rear element (4). The window of opportunity is set such that only waves emanating from a particular direction will arrive in that time frame, thereby enabling acoustic waves from that direction to the process by the microphone and other waves from different directions eliminated. The angle of arc of the microphone from which acoustic waves are received and processed can be set by changing the size of the window of opportunity t3-t2.

Abstract: A microphone construction for use in a hearing aid wherein a faceplate separates a switching mechanism from a microphone having first and second acoustic ports. The first and second acoustic ports are placed into acoustic relationships with first and second acoustic opening within the faceplate by first and second acoustic passages, respectively. The switching mechanism is positionable between a first position wherein the first and second acoustic ports are in an acoustically receptive state and a second position wherein either the first or second acoustic port is in an acoustically receptive state and the other acoustic port is in an acoustically unreceptive state.

Abstract: A directional microphone system is disclosed, which comprises circuitry for low pass filtering a first order signal, and circuitry for high pass filtering a second order signal. The system further comprises circuitry for summing the low pass filtered first order signal and the high pass filtered second order signal. A method of determining whether a plurality of microphones have sufficiently matched frequency response characteristics to be used in a multi-order directional microphone array is also disclosed. For a microphone array having at least three microphones, wherein one of the microphones is disposed between the other of the microphones, a method of determining the arrangement of the microphones in the array is also disclosed.

Abstract: A direction finder arrangement advantageously employs a plurality of transducers to derive a plurality of predetermined polar directivity patterns each of which has a predetermined spatial orientation pointing in a predetermined fixed direction relative to each of the other polar directivity patterns. The polar directivity patterns detect a plurality of amplitude values of a propagating wave approaching at different angles relative to the plurality of spatially oriented polar directivity patterns. Then, the detected wave amplitude values are processed to determine an estimate of a direction toward the source of the arriving wave. More specifically, the detected amplitude values are processed to obtain an estimate of the directional orientation of a hypothetical polar directivity pattern pointing toward the source of the arriving wave.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating the direction of arrival (“DOA”) of a source signal includes microphones for transducing the source signal, amplifiers in signal communication with a corresponding one of the microphones, analog-to-digital converters in signal communication with a corresponding one of the amplifiers, and a digital processor in signal communication with the analog-to-digital converters for estimating the direction of arrival of the source signal; where a corresponding method for estimating the DOA of the source signal at one of several microphones includes estimating the measured signal spectral covariance matrix (“Rx”), and estimating the angle of the DOA responsive to the measured signal spectral covariance matrix.

Abstract: Custom designed polar patterns for a microphone of a portable computer are achieved. A custom designed polar pattern permits a microphone in a portable computer to suppress sources of spatially-dependent noise internal and external to a portable computer system. A custom designed polar pattern is generated by specially configuring the boot of a microphone by varying the hole sizes of the boot and/or varying location of the microphone element in the boot. In addition, the shape of a particular polar pattern may be adjusted by inserting acoustic absorption material into the boot, forming enclosed walls into the boot, or rotating the top shell of the portable computer which contains the microphone relative to the bottom shell of the portable computer. Thus, a directional response of a microphone may be form-fitted to a particular portable computer configuration.

Abstract: A hearing aid device of the type having a first and second port for receiving sound to the device. The hearing aid device includes a switch assembly operable to switch between a first mode and a second mode of operation, such as directional and omni-directional. The device further includes a microphone component having a front chamber, a rear chamber, a front inlet, a rear inlet, and an extra inlet. In the first mode the front inlet receives sound channeled from the front port, the rear inlet is blocked, and the extra inlet receives sound channeled from the front port to allow sound pressure to excite the rear chamber. In the second mode the extra inlet is blocked, the rear inlet receives sound channeled from the second port, and the front inlet receives sound channeled from the front port.

Abstract: A paraboloid receiving dish having a base, a receiver coupled to the base, and a plurality of petals pivotably connected to the base. The petals are moveable between an open position and a closed position with each of the positions forming a reflector having a parabolic shape.

Abstract: An arrangement of five figure-of-eight microphones is configured in such a way that receive signals that are at least approximately proportionate to sin(&agr;), cos(&agr;), sin(&agr;)*cos(&agr;) or Sin2(&agr;) are generated, i.e., first and second order directional microphones can be created. A method for processing signals is also configured in such a way that suitable receive signals are selected and various trigonometric functions that are dependent on the orientation &phgr; of the main lobe are generated and combined with the receive signals in such a way as to produce controllable directional microphone arrangements with first and/or second order characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention includes a compact and economical construction of a microphone wherein the housing is preferably constructed of two identical halves that form a chamber in which the microphone is retained. The housing also includes first and second acoustic passages in an acoustic relationship with the first and second ports of the microphone and extending to an exterior surface of the housing. A switching mechanism is preferably rotatably secured to the housing such that when the switching mechanism is in a first position, the first and second passages are in an acoustic receptive state and when rotated to a second position only one of the acoustic passages is in an acoustic receptive state.

Abstract: There is provided a microphone apparatus with an adjusting mechanism that prevents wind noise generated at a sound absorbing hole from perceptively inputted in the structure having a microphone built-in at the back of a panel with a sound absorbing hole. A sound box is structured between a sound absorbing hole of a panel and a sound perceptible portion of a microphone, and a movable piece that slidably moves in the sound box is formed. A screw rod is annexed to the movable piece, and a disk screwed with the screw rod is restricted and interposed between a tubular portion, serving as an outer frame of the sound box, and a support portion formed at the lower portion. A part of the disk is exposed to the front surface side from a slit of the panel, and the disk is rotated to move the movable piece, whereby changing a resonant frequency of a ventilation space of the sound box and a ventilation cross.

Abstract: A microphone array for providing a focused field of optimum audio reception is disclosed. The array has a series of interconnected microphones spaced within a housing. At a midpoint of the spaced microphones is an illuminated polarized centering marker which gives the user a visual signal that the user is located within the optimum filed of audio reception. The housing can be placed on the top front edge of video monitor and has slideably mounted removable feet, which allow the microphones to be aimed more accurately at the user. The array is foldable along a midpoint, which allow for compact storage. The folding mechanism is a hinge, which has a hollow core, and openings which allow the internal wiring to interconnect two wings of the array without exposing the wires. The wings are held in their longitudinally oriented position by a latching mechanism of pins in one wing which snap fit into capture boots within the other wing.

Abstract: A microphone capsule for an in-the-ear hearing aid is disclosed. The capsule can include a top plate having first and second spaced openings defining front and rear sound inlets, and a directional microphone cartridge enclosing a diaphragm. The diaphragm is oriented generally perpendicular to the top plate and divides the directional microphone cartridge housing into a front chamber and a rear chamber. A front sound passage communicates between the front sound inlet and the front chamber, and a rear sound passage communicates between the rear sound inlet and the rear chamber. Front and rear acoustic damping resistors are associated with the front and rear sound passages. The acoustic resistor pair provides a selected time delay, such as about 4 microseconds, between the front and rear sound passages. The use of two acoustic resistors instead of one levels the frequency response, compared to the frequency response provided by a rear acoustic damping resistor alone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor vehicle mounted directional microphone assembly for use in hands-free cellular telecommunications. The microphone assembly is comprised of a case and a removable directional microphone module. The case is adapted to mount and lock the module in a plurality of different orientations, thereby enabling the assembly to accommodate various mounting arrangements within the vehicle. The module is releasable, however, from its locked position to permit re-orientation of the microphone with respect to the case, if desired. The module is also completely removable from the case to permit mounting of the module within the vehicle in mounting arrangements independent of the case.

Abstract: Directional sound acquisition is obtained by combining directional sensitivities in microphones with signal processing electronics to reduce the effects of noise received from unwanted directions. One or more microphones having directional sensitivity including a minor lobe pointing in the particular direction of interest and a major lobe pointing in a direction other than the particular direction are used. Signal processing circuitry reduces the effect of sound received from directions of a microphone major lobe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly directional audio response that is flat over five octaves or more by the use of multiple colinear arrays followed by signal processing. Each of the colinear arrays has a common center, but a different spacing so that it can be used for a different frequency range. The response of the microphones for each spacing are combined and filtered so that when the filtered responses are added, the combined response is flat over the selected frequency range. To improve the response, the output of the microphones for a given array spacing can also be filtered with windowing functions. To receive the response from other directions a “steering” delay may also be introduced in the microphone signals before they are combined. The invention also extends to two and three dimensional arrays.

Abstract: A hearing/speaking configuration (1) having a housing (2), having sound-reproducing means (20) accommodated in the housing (2), and having sound-receiving means (19) designed without a boom, wherein the sound-receiving means (19) is accommodated in the housing (2), as is the sound-reproducing means (20), wherein a first sound passage opening (16) and a second sound passage opening (25) are provided in the housing (2) and the sound-receiving means (19) has a directional characteristic with a main direction (28) and an extinction direction (30), and wherein the extinction direction (30) extends from the sound-receiving means (19) to the sound-reproducing means (20).

Abstract: A microphone apparatus which includes a directional microphone having an axis of sensitivity along which the directional microphone is sensitive to sound. A light source is mechanically coupled to the directional microphone to produce a beam of light in a direction substantially commensurate with the axis of sensitivity as a visual indication thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for use as an in-the-ear hearing aid. The apparatus includes a housing having a shell and a face plate, wherein the shell is molded to custom fit a hearing aid wearer's ear. A first non-directional microphone system is included having a first output signal representative of the sound received. A second non-directional microphone system is included having a second output signal representative of the sound received. A switch mechanism is included having an operator extending through the housing for switching the in-the-ear hearing aid between a non-directional mode and a directional mode. In the directional mode, the microphone system is adjustable to account for component tolerances. The switched directional/non directional microphone feature is employed in a custom in-the-ear Contralateral Routing of Signals (CROS) or Bilateral Routing of Signals (BiCROS) two instrument hearing aid system.

Abstract: A directional dynamic microphone includes a protective cover, a diaphragm in air-tight engagement with the cover, a voice coil, and a magnet with a core pole member and a tubular pole member and disposed rearwardly of the diaphragm. The magnet has an outer front circumferential portion which is spaced apart from an annular wall of the cover to confine a sound passage therebetween, an outer intermediate circumferential portion which engages the annular wall and which defines a sound port opening outwardly and radially for air communication with the sound passage, and an outer rear circumferential portion with sound holes angularly displaced therein and smaller than the sound port. Each sound hole extends inwardly and radially for air communication with a rear major side of the diaphragm. A phase shift effecting sheet veils the sound port so as to impart the microphone with a unidirectional characteristic.

Abstract: An attention direction of a robot, indicated by a face, eyes or the like thereof, can be aligned with a directivity direction of a microphone array. Specifically, an acoustic signal from a sound source can be captured, and input signals for individual microphones can be generated. A direction of the sound source can be estimated from the input signals. A visual line of the robot, a posture thereof, or both, can be controlled such that the attention direction of the robot coincides with the direction of the sound source. Then, the directivity direction of the microphone array can be aligned with the attention direction. Thereafter, voice recognition can be performed with an input of a delay sum corresponding to the directivity direction.

Abstract: A hearing aid has a directional receiving system with a more efficient direction into the patient's ear than away from the patient's ear.

Abstract: The invention provides a directional optical microphone, including a housing having an open wall portion closed by a membrane attached thereto, the membrane having an outer surface and an inner surface facing the inside of the housing; a first light waveguide accommodated within the housing, having an output end portion for transmitting light towards the inner surface of the membrane, and a second light waveguide having an input end portion for receiving light reflected from the inner surface; the output and input end portions being positioned in close proximity to, and in optical isolation from, each other, and at least one aperture made in a wall of the housing, the aperture having a cross-sectional area of not less than 1 mm2, for admitting sound waves into the housing to impinge on the inner surface of the membrane.

Abstract: A directional microphone includes a yoke, and a magnet and a washer disposed in the yoke. An annular cap body encloses a surrounding wall portion of the yoke, and has a plurality of first air passages extending from a front portion through a rear portion of the cap body and are angularly spaced apart from each other, and second air passages formed in the front portion and having radial first sections and axial second sections. A voice coil is disposed around the washer and the magnet within the yoke. A diaphragm is disposed adjacent to the front portion of the cap body and is connected to the voice coil. A protective cover has an annular surrounding wall coupled to the front portion of the cap body without covering the second air passages, and a perforated cover plate disposed proximate to the diaphragm. An air chamber unit is coupled to the rear portion of the cap body and is in communication with the first air passages.

Abstract: A microphone array for providing a focused field of optimum audio reception is disclosed. The array has a series of interconnected microphones spaced within a housing. At a midpoint of the spaced microphones is an illuminated polarized centering marker which gives the user a visual signal that the user is located within the optimum filed of audio reception. The housing can be placed on the top front edge of video monitor and has slideably mounted removable feet, which allow the microphones to be aimed more accurately at the user. The array is foldable along a midpoint, which allow for compact storage. The folding mechanism is a hinge, which has a hollow core, and openings which allow the internal wiring to interconnect two wings of the array without exposing the wires. The wings are held in their longitudinally oriented position by a latching mechanism of pins in one wing which snap fit into capture boots within the other wing.

Abstract: A hearing/speaking configuration (1) having a housing (2), having sound-reproducing means (20) accommodated in the housing (2), and having sound-receiving means (19) designed without a boom, wherein the sound-receiving means (19) is accommodated in the housing (2), as is the sound-reproducing means (20), wherein a first sound passage opening (16) and a second sound passage opening (25) are provided in the housing (2) and the sound-receiving means (19) has a directional characteristic with a main direction (28) and an extinction direction (30), and wherein the extinction direction (30) extends from the sound-receiving means (19) to the sound-reproducing means (20).

Abstract: A directional microphone assembly for a hearing aid is disclosed. The hearing aid has one or more microphone cartridge(s), and first and second sound passages. Inlets to the sound passages, or the sound passages themselves, are spaced apart such that the shortest distance between them is less than or approximately equal to the length of the microphone cartridge(s). A sound duct and at least one surface of a microphone cartridge may form each sound passage, where the sound duct is mounted with the microphone cartridge. Alternatively, each sound duct may be formed as an integral part of a microphone cartridge.

Abstract: An acoustic source location technique compares the time response of signals from two or more pairs of microphones. For each pair of microphones, a plurality of sample elements are calculated that correspond to a ranking of possible time delay offsets for the two acoustic signals received by the pair of microphones, with each sample element having a delay time and a sample value. Each sample element is mapped to a sub-surface of potential acoustic source locations and assigned the sample value. A weighted value is calculated on each cell of a common boundary surface by combining the values of the plurality of sub-surfaces proximate the cell to form a weighted surface with the weighted value assigned to each cell interpreted as being indicative that a bearing vector to the acoustic source passes through the cell.

Abstract: In a hearing aid with a directional microphone system having a signal processing unit, an earphone and a number of microphones, the output signals of the respective microphones can be interconnected with one another with different weightings for generating an individual directional microphones characteristic by using one or more delay elements and the signal processing unit. The invention is also directed to a method for the operation of such a hearing aid.

Abstract: A directional microphone includes a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a front volume and a back volume, electronics for detecting signals corresponding to movements of the diaphragm, and front and back inlets for the front and back volumes, respectively. To obtain additional low frequency roll-off in the directional microphone, the directional microphone includes an elongated acoustical conduit connecting the front volume and the back volume. The acoustical conduit may be external or internal to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a directional microphone, in particular having symmetrical directivity, having an interference tube with a tube axis which is provided with a row of sound inlets arranged at least approximately parallel to tube axis, and which incorporates an electroacoustic transducer in its inside in the vicinity of its rear end face. It is further provided that the row of sound inlets is arranged non-symmetrically to tube axis opposite the outer periphery of interference tube.

Abstract: A microphone may use boundary layer technology in concert with a concave reflector to produce improved sensitivity. The concave reflector may be arranged with respect to a boundary layer creating surface such that the sound waves are concentrated at the boundary layer creating surface. Thus, an intense compression layer is formed proximate to the boundary layer creating surface. A transducer may arranged in opposition to the boundary layer creating surface to convert the boundary layer energy into an electrical signal.

Abstract: A method wherein an auralization is performed, in that a plurality of spatial pulse responses are incited from various locations in the same room, and are received via a multi-channel receiving apparatus, for example, a directional microphone or a plurality of directional microphones at one location, and are recorded. For the reproduction, a multi-channel loudspeaker arrangement of vertically configured loudspeakers and of horizontally configured loudspeakers is used, at least two loudspeakers being required to reproduce sources in one line from point to point that are able to be localized, at least three loudspeakers for reproduction in one plane, and at least four loudspeakers in one room.

Abstract: A microphone assembly for mounting in an electronic communication device, and wherein the microphone assembly comprises one or more sound inlet port(s) with channels (7), and one or more microphone(s) inside a housing (1). One or more controlling means (5) are an integrated part of the microphone assembly, said controlling means comprising a sound inlet part (6) composing a button and being surrounded by a second casing part (8), the button being loaded by a spring (9). The housing (1) comprises a terminal (2) for grounding the microphone, a terminal (3) connected to e.g. a battery, and a terminal (4) for signalling out.

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.