Abstract: A microphone array, comprising N microphones, wherein N is greater than or equal to 3 is provided. The microphones are substantially equiangularly arranged over a circular arc subtending an angle ?, wherein ? is less than or equal to 2?, with the directional axes of the N microphones facing substantially radially outwards. Each of the N microphones have a substantially common directivity function ?(?) defining the directional response of the microphone, wherein ?=0 is the directional axis, and the directivity function ?(?) is arranged such that a sound source in acoustical free field is effectively captured by no more than two consecutive microphones in the array. By arranging the directivity function in this manner crosstalk between non-adjacent microphones can be minimized, which has been shown to improve auditory localization performance.

Abstract: Electronic devices having digital reverberators are disclosed, together with a method of reproducing sound for a user with the digital reverberator. The digital reverberator uses digital surface absorption filters positioned in the reverberator to simulate absorption of energy as digital audio data samples are reflected from virtual surfaces. The position of the digital surface absorption filters enables known frequency-dependent surface absorption characteristics of real materials to be directly implemented using the filter coefficients of each digital surface absorption filter. This enables virtual acoustic spaces to be designed quickly without the need for the digital reverberator to be manually tuned for each space.

Abstract: Electronic devices having digital reverberators are disclosed, together with a method of reproducing sound for a user with the digital reverberator. The digital reverberator uses digital surface absorption filters positioned in the reverberator to simulate absorption of energy as digital audio data samples are reflected from virtual surfaces. The position of the digital surface absorption filters enables known frequency-dependent surface absorption characteristics of real materials to be directly implemented using the filter coefficients of each digital surface absorption filter. This enables virtual acoustic spaces to be designed quickly without the need for the digital reverberator to be manually tuned for each space.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention improve upon the prior art array by having more carefully defined directivity functions designed to meet two criteria, being firstly to minimise cross-talk between non-adjacent microphones in the array, and secondly to design the array response such that it approximates stereophonic panning curves that have been shown to provided for good auditory localisation. One embodiment therefore provides a microphone array, comprising N microphones, wherein N is greater than or equal to 3. The microphones are substantially equiangularly arranged over a circular arc subtending an angle ?, wherein ? is less than or equal to 2?, with the directional axes of the N microphones facing substantially radially outwards.