Abstract: Sound received by a microphone is allowed to travel to the output, such as loudspeakers, only if the sound is coming from a desired direction. A pair of conventional microphone elements are spaced-apart within the microphone and the time it takes for the sound to pass between the two elements is measured and if within a prescribed time, then the microphone is "turned on" so that sound is permitted to reach or be gated to the output. Preferably the desired or acceptable source of the sound is from generally directly in front of the microphone, i.e., where the user of the microphone usually is located so that sound coming in from either side of the user or ambient room noise is blocked from being transferred to the output.