Abstract: A method of forming a beampattern in a beamformer of the type in which the beamformer receives input signals from a sensor array, decomposes the input signals into the spherical harmonics domain, applies weighting coefficients to the spherical harmonics and combines them to form an output signal, wherein the weighting coefficients are optimized for a given set of input parameters by convex optimization. Formulations are provided for forming second order cone programming constraints for multiple main lobe generation, uniform and non-uniform side lobe control, automatic null steering, robustness and white noise gain.