Abstract: Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for recording three dimensional audio. According to an example embodiment of the invention, the method may include orienting a three-dimensional (3-D) microphone with respect to a predetermined spatial direction, selectively receiving sounds from one or more directions corresponding to directional receiving elements, recording the selectively received sounds in a 3-D recorder having a plurality of recording channels, recording time code in at least one channel of the 3-D recorder; and mapping the recorded channels to a plurality of output channels.

Abstract: A boundary microphone includes: a base made of metal; a cover that is made of metal and has a plurality of holes through which a sound wave is guided; a microphone unit that converts sound into an electric signal; and a microphone unit holder slidably provided on the base and holds the microphone unit. The microphone unit holder has a knob. The base has a hole through which the knob of the microphone unit holder penetrates the base. The knob of the microphone unit holder and the hole of the base are so provided that the microphone unit holder can be moved with the microphone unit by a movement of the knob within a range defined by the hole.

Abstract: In reverberant environments, reflected waves including an echoic sound and a muffled sound affect and disable recognition of sound arrival directions. As a result, the subjective clearness of the sounds deteriorates. In order to enhance the clearness of a reproduced sound in a reverberant environment, a pre-processing filter unit corrects an input sound signal portion having a frequency band relating to human auditory recognition on a sound wave arrival direction, and speakers reproduce the sound signal. The correction involves attenuating an input sound signal in the frequency band portion, based on the relationship between the frequencies of the input sound signal and the magnitude of influence to the recognition of the sound wave arrival direction. This attenuation is achieved by filtering using filter coefficients that are set by a first filter characteristic setting unit using hearing characteristic parameters that are set by a hearing characteristic setting unit.

Abstract: An apparatus including a microphone array and a removing system. The microphone array includes a binaural microphone system having first and second transducers, and a voice microphone system having at least one third transducer. The removing system is configured to remove, from signals created from the binaural microphone system, components corresponding to sound of a user's voice sensed at the at least one third transducer.

Abstract: An angle-dependent operating device and method for obtaining a pseudo-stereophonic audio signals, such as through the parameterization of a fictitious opening angle ?+?, where ? is the fictitious left-hand opening angle (situated to the left of the main axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized), and ? is the fictitious right-hand opening angle (situated to the right of the main axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized), where it may be that ???. This is provided for the situation of fictitious opening angles ?+? which are asymmetric with respect to the principal axis of the monophonic audio signal to be stereophonized.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an acoustic transducer configured to detect a sound wave according to changes in capacitances between a vibrating electrode and a fixed electrode. At least one of the vibrating electrode and the fixed electrode being divided into a plurality of divided electrodes, and the plurality of divided electrodes outputting electrical signals. The disclosure includes a digital interface circuit coupled to the divided electrodes. The circuit includes a recombination stage, which supplies a mixed signal by combining the first digital processed signal and the second digital processed signal with a respective weight that is a function of a first level value of the first processed signal. An output stage is included, which supplies, selectively and alternatively, a first processed signal, a second processed signal, or a mixed signal.

Abstract: A system and method for tuning a speech recognition engine to an individual microphone using a database containing acoustical models for a plurality of microphones. Microphone performance characteristics are obtained from a microphone at a speech recognition engine, the database is searched for an acoustical model that matches the characteristics, and the speech recognition engine is then modified based on the matching acoustical model.

Abstract: There is disclosed a microphone, a circuit, and a method. A microphone capsule may include an electret microphone and a field effect transistor (FET). A floating DC voltage source may have a first end connected to a drain terminal of the electret microphone capsule and a second end. A load resistor may be connected between the second end of the floating DC voltage source and a source terminal of the electret microphone capsule. A voltage follower may have an output connected to the source terminal of the electret microphone capsule and the first end of the floating DC voltage source. A coupling capacitor may couple an audio signal from the source terminal of the electret microphone capsule to an input of the voltage follower.

Abstract: An apparatus estimates the direction of a sound source from signals plural microphones capture sound to produce. Data are stored on reverse characteristics of spatial transfer functions defined on sound transmitted from sound source positions to the respective microphones. To the signal produced by each microphone, applied are the reverse characteristics of the spatial transfer functions thus stored in connection with that microphone with respect to the sound source positions to thereby estimate a sound source signal on a sound source position associated with the sound captured. Between the sound source signals estimated on the sound source positions associated with the sounds captured by the microphones, coincidence or higher correlation is found on a sound source position to thereby produce information on at least the direction of the sound source thus found.

Abstract: Applications for detecting binaural sounds and customizing binaural sounds for users. A system for detecting binaural sounds according to an embodiment includes: an input system for obtaining a left side audio signal and a right side audio signal within an environment; a binaural sound detector for evaluating the left side audio signal and the right side audio signal to determine whether a binaural sound is present; and an alarm system for generating an alert when the binaural sound is detected.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatuses and methods comprising a means for detecting the presence of speakers and microphones coupled to a portable multi-function device (such as Apple's iPhone™). In response, a portable multi-function device can adapt its output depending on the nature of the coupled headset device. In particular, a portable multi-function device containing the present invention can, upon detecting only one speaker in a coupled headset accessory device, combine the multiple channels of a stereo audio signal into a single mono audio signal. Likewise, a portable multi-function device containing the present invention can alert users to the absence of a coupled microphone.

Abstract: A stereo capacitor microphone unit includes: two unidirectional microphone units integrally formed with respective fixed electrodes of the unidirectional microphone units facing each other; and an insulating spacer that is interposed between the fixed electrodes and provided with a gap formed at a portion of an outer periphery towards radial direction. The gap communicates fixed electrode rear spaces of the respective unidirectional microphone units with an external space to serve as a common rear acoustic terminal for the unidirectional microphone units.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for enabling karaoke. The apparatus includes a casing for the apparatus; a microphone array incorporated within the casing, the microphone array being concealed from a user by the casing; a controller coupled to the microphone array to at least process audio signals from the user input at the microphone array; a data storage device coupled to the controller, the data storage device being for storing pre-recorded songs used for karaoke, and for storing songs as sung by the user; and an image capturing device coupled to the controller, the image capturing device being for capturing images of the user while the user is singing, with the captured images of the user being stored on the data storage device.

Abstract: A stereo microphone includes a supporter that is made of an elastic material. The supporter fixes two unidirectional microphone units at certain angles. A moving part is used to apply external force to a part of the supporter so that an angle formed by main axes of the respective unidirectional microphone units is changed by deformation of the supporter.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus without increasing noise etc. even when plural directional microphones collect sounds from a place of the same distances is provided. Sound signals output from the microphone arrays are subjected to phase shift by phase shift circuits 211A to 211H, and the sound signals are combined by an adder 212. The phase shift circuits 211A to 211H performs phase shifts according to installation positions of the microphone arrays. The phase shift circuit 211A makes the shift 0 degree, the phase shift circuit 211B makes the shift 45 degrees, the phase shift circuit 211C makes the shift 90 degrees, and sequentially to the phase shift circuit 211H, the shifts are made according to rotational angles.

Abstract: A narrow directional stereo microphone includes a narrow directional mid unit disposed such that the directional axis thereof aligns to the major axis of a microphone body, and a unidirectional right unit and a unidirectional left unit disposed symmetrically with respect to the major axis such that directional axes of the right and left units are perpendicular to the major axis, wherein signals output from the mid unit are sent to one of a diaphragm and a fixed electrode of the right unit and to one of a diaphragm and a fixed electrode of the left unit, and right channel signals are output from the other of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode of the right unit, and left channel signals are output from the other of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode of the left unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating an enhanced downmix signal on the basis of a multi-channel microphone signal has a spatial analyzer configured to compute a set of spatial cue parameters having a direction information describing a direction-of-arrival of a direct sound, a direct sound power information and a diffuse sound power information on the basis of the multi-channel microphone signal. The apparatus also has a filter calculator for calculating enhancement filter parameters in dependence on the direction information describing the direction-of-arrival of the direct sound, in dependence on the direct sound power information and in dependence on the diffuse sound power information. The apparatus also has a filter for filtering the microphone signal, or a signal derived therefrom, using the enhancement filter parameters, to obtain the enhanced downmix signal.

Abstract: A gaming unit and producing a game-audio output of a varying volume level and a chat-voice output is connected to headphones adapted to be worn by a player of the unit and connected to the gaming unit for making the chat-voice output and the game-audio output audible to the player. A circuit or software associated with the headphones can increase the chat-voice volume level generally proportionately to the game-audio volume level.

Abstract: A method for providing a mute control function in a computer having multiple microphones is disclosed. A set of mute state information is stored in a control table of a portable computer. The mute state information is for controlling a mute state. Device identifiers (IDs) of all microphones that are connected to the portable computer are registered with the control table. The microphones corresponding to the device IDs registered in the control table are controlled to be in the same mute state based on the mute state information. In response to a detection of an activation of the mute button, the mute state information are inverted. The device IDs registered in the control table are to be controlled in the same mute state based on the inverted mute state information.

Abstract: A howling suppression device that can reduce quality deterioration of processed sound includes: a delay unit delaying the input signal to output the delayed input signal as a reference signal; a signal separation unit including an adaptive filter extracting a periodic signal component from the reference signal by adaptively updating a filter coefficient; a howling detection unit detecting an occurrence of howling using at least a signal of the periodic signal component output from the adaptive filter; and a howling suppression unit. The howling suppression unit includes: a suppression filter obtaining the updated filter coefficient from the adaptive filter with timing when the howling detection unit detects the occurrence of the howling, to extract the periodic signal component from the reference signal based on the filter coefficient; and a subtractor subtracting the periodic signal component from the input signal so as to output a signal obtained by the subtraction.

Abstract: An audio information processing apparatus for processing input audio information is adapted to input an audio signal composed of front area audio information that should be input to a front speaker and rear area audio information that should be input to a plurality of speakers. A mixer is adapted to mix the rear area audio information in accordance with an instruction from an instruction circuit.

Abstract: A power bank apparatus with speaker combines the function of power bank and the function of speaker. The power bank apparatus not only charges the portable electronic apparatuses but also supplies power to the internal speaker. The voice or music of the portable electronic apparatus is amplified by the speaker of the power bank apparatus to improve the quality of the voice or music.

Abstract: A surround sound system acquires a set of original channel signals as picked up or modeled by a set of microphones, located in a real or virtual acoustic space. Two microphones, mounted on or near the front of a head that may be real or artificial, are oriented to pick up the sounds emanating from the front. Two additional microphones are located near the ear canals of the head configured to emulate a human head in a manner that encodes the surround sound signals with a head-related transfer function (HRTF) that, in reproduction, enhances the accuracy and realism with which a listener perceives the various source locations. The head can be augmented, e.g. with small baffles strategically configured and located to modify the HRTF for overall accuracy and realism. Surround sound channels, so originated, may be transmitted for real-time reproduction or may be recorded, filtered, delayed, or otherwise processed and stored in memory for later reproduction. In an exemplary 4.

Abstract: There is provided an external stereo microphone device that makes it possible to change orientations of microphones over a wide range. An external stereo microphone attached to a mobile electronic device includes a pair of symmetrically-positioned microphones 60, a holder unit 40 having a pair of holders 46 symmetrically positioned so as to accommodate the pair of microphones 60 respectively and a joint 48 for joining the pair of holders 46 together, and a case 14 having a substantially-cylindrical portion 20 that rotatably supports the holder unit 40 and a body 18 that accommodates a circuit board 22 of the case 14. The joint 48 is a substantially-plate-shaped region that joins outer circumferential edges of the holders 46 together and that has a circumferential width which is one-half or less of an entire circumference of the holder unit.

Abstract: There is provided an external stereo microphone device that enables further enhancement of operational feeling achieved when microphones are reoriented. An external microphone attached to a mobile electronic device includes a pair of symmetrically-positioned microphones 60, a holder unit 40 having a pair of holders 46 symmetrically positioned so as to accommodate the pair of microphones 60 respectively and a joint 48 for joining the pair of holders 46 together, a case 14 having a substantially-cylindrical portion 20 that rotatably supports the holder unit 40 and a body 18 that accommodates a circuit board 22, and a roller 56 that revolves over an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 20 in association with rotation of the holder unit 40.

Abstract: There is provided an audio reproduction apparatus. The audio reproduction apparatus comprises a first acquisition unit, a determination unit, a calculation unit, a second acquisition unit, and a generation unit. The configuration of the audio reproduction apparatus enables changing a head-related transfer function for signal processing in audio signal reproduction in accordance with the state of the audio recording apparatus at the time of audio signal acquisition.

Abstract: A speaker module of a portable terminal and a method of execution of a speakerphone mode using the same are provided. The speaker module includes a nondirectional microphone, a directional microphone, at least one speaker, and a controller. The nondirectional microphone is applied to one side of the portable terminal. The directional microphone is applied to another side of the portable terminal. The at least one speaker is installed in the same direction near the directional microphone. When the portable terminal is in a speakerphone mode, the controller controls to detect voice signal levels and/or frequency characteristics input to the two microphones, sets a transmission/reception mode of the portable terminal, and mute-processes a corresponding microphone.

Abstract: In a sound receiver, a sound wave is directly received by microphones at a predetermined phase difference. The microphones are arranged in opening cavities of a casing, at positions that are different from the volume center points of the opening cavities. The microphones are supported by supporting springs in a state of not closely contacting inner peripheral walls. The sound wave received by the microphones is input to a signal processing unit and after a signal component in a predetermined low frequency band is removed by a filter, the resulting sound wave is amplified by an amplifier and is made in phase by a phase shifter and output.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for reproducing spatial impression of existing spaces in multichannel or binaural listening. It consists of following steps/phases: a) Recording of sound or impulse response of a room using multiple microphones, b) Time- and frequency-dependent processing of impulse responses or recorded sound, c) Processing of sound to multichannel loudspeaker setup in order to reproduce spatial properties of sound as they were in recording room, and (alternative to c), d) Processing of impulse response to multichannel loudspeaker setup, and convolution between rendered responses and an arbitrary monophonic sound signal to introduce the spatial properties of the measurement room to the multichannel reproduction of the arbitrary sound signal, and is applied in sound studio technology, audio broadcasting, and in audio reproduction.

Abstract: Techniques are presented for creating multichannel output signals from input audio signals. A first signal is determined based on a number of subbands into which the input audio signals are divided and based at least in part on a directional estimation wherein the subbands having dominant sound source directions are emphasized relative to subbands having directional estimates that deviate from directional estimates of the dominant sound source directions. A second signal is determined based on the number of subbands wherein an ambient component is introduced to create a perception of an externalization for a sound image. A resultant audio signal is created using the first and second signals. The resultant audio signal is one of a number of multichannel signals. Additionally, it is determined whether binaural audio output or multichannel audio output (or both) is to be output, and the appropriate number of audio output signals are determined and output.

Abstract: An audio signal processing apparatus generates an audio signal having an omni-directivity in the whole circumferential direction, generates an audio signal having a directivity in the right-left direction, generates an audio signal having a directivity in the front-back direction, adds the audio signal resulting from the multiplication of the audio signal having a directivity in the whole circumferential direction by a predetermined coefficient, the audio signal resulting from the multiplication of the audio signal having a directivity in the right-left direction by a predetermined coefficient, and the audio signal resulting from the multiplication of the audio signal having a directivity in the front-back direction by a predetermined coefficient, and generates a unidirectional audio signal.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for a patient featuring a cushion with an opening for receiving the face of the patient. The cushion includes a microphone for receiving audible signals from the patient and one or more speakers for delivering audible signals to the patient. The microphone and speaker(s) are integrated with the cushion to avoid interfering with the comfort of the patient. In one embodiment, the audible signals are delivered to and from the patient via a communication port. In another embodiment, the system includes a display device, so the patient may view parts of the patient's body on the device and then communicate with system operators through the microphone and speaker(s).

Abstract: A sound receiver includes a casing having multiple cavities which house multiple microphones and through which sound waves are received. A first sound wave is directly received by microphones. A second sound wave is reflected by an inner wall of the cavities and changes in phase corresponding to the material of the inner wall. The material of the inner wall differs for each cavity, thereby effecting a different change in phase of the second sound wave at each of the inner walls.

Abstract: A first microphone device according to the present invention comprises a pair of directional microphones with high directivity in a sound collecting direction, a pair of nondirectional microphones with low directivity in the sound collecting direction, and a casing accommodating the pair of directional microphones and the pair of nondirectional microphones. The pair of nondirectional microphones is arranged so that sound collecting directions thereof are outward from both side surface walls of the casing, while the pair of directional microphones is arranged so that sound collecting directions thereof are outward from a front surface wall of the casing and intersect each other in vicinity of the front surface wall. All or a part of the pair of directional microphones is accommodated in a space sandwiched by the pair of nondirectional microphones.

Abstract: A stereo microphone has four condenser microphone units having respective directional axes in the same horizontal plane. The four units each have unidirectivity and a quadrangular shape viewed from the direction of the directional axis. The units are disposed by rotating the directional axes of adjacent units by 90°. A pair of two units diagonally positioned and having the directional axes directed at 180° to each other collaborate with each other to form a pair of bidirectional microphone units.

Abstract: A sound field measuring apparatus includes a microphone set having a first and second microphones arranged at a prescribed interval, which collects audio signals outputted from a first and second speakers, a measuring unit measuring distances between the first and second speakers, and the first and second microphones based on audio signals collected by the first and second microphones, and a position calculating unit calculating a position of the first and second microphones and a position of the second speaker when the first speaker is taken as a reference position based on the respective measured distances.

Abstract: Stereophonic teleconferencing system embodiments are described which advantageously employ a microphone array at a remote conference site having multiple conferencees to produce a separate output channel from the each microphone in the array. Audio data streams each representing one of the audio output channels from the microphone array are then sent to a local conference site where a local conferencee is in attendance. The voices of the aforementioned remote conferencees are spatialized within a sound-field of the local site using multiple loudspeakers. Generally, this involves receiving the monophonic audio data streams from the remote site, and processing them to generate an audio signal for each loudspeaker. Each of the generated audio signals is then played through its respective loudspeaker to produce a spatial audio sound-field which is audibly perceived by the local conferencee as having the voice of each of the remote conferencees coming from a different location.

Abstract: In a pen-based computing system, a pair of microphones captures audio concurrently with a smart pen device capturing handwriting gestures. The audio captured by the pair of microphones is processed to produce an enhanced audio recording. Noise cancellation techniques may be applied to reduce noise generated by the smart pen device interacting with the writing surface to produce a higher quality audio recording. In addition, beam steering techniques may be applied to adjust the gain of portions of the audio signal from different directions and allow the user to focus between multiple audio sources.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system (200) for determining directionality of a sound. The system (200) comprises a first audio device (202) placed on one side of a user's head (100) and having a first microphone unit (110, 112) for converting said sound to a first electric signal, a second audio device (204) placed on the other side of the user's head (100) and having a second microphone unit (114, 116) for converting said sound to a second electric signal, and comprises a transceiver unit (220, 238) for interconnecting the first and second audio device and communicating the second electric signal to the first audio device (202). The first audio device (202) further comprises a first comparator (222) for comparing the first and second electric signals and generating a first directionality signal from the comparison.

Abstract: A stereo ribbon microphone includes four ribbon microphone units disposed in a circle on a single horizontal plane. The ribbon microphone units are alternately assigned to a right channel and a left channel along the circumferential of the circle.

Abstract: Provided is a digital microphone having a power supply. In this case the power supply is configured so as to provide a P48 V phantom power.

Abstract: The use of sound signals from sounds collected by four non-directional sound collectors facilitates calculation for generating surround sound signals, for example, when multi-channel surround sound signals are generated, and prevents the size of the entire apparatus from increasing. Surround sound signals are generated from sound signals of sounds collected by a microphone unit composed of a first sound collector, a second sound collector disposed posterior to the first sound collector, a third sound collector, and a fourth sound collector.

Abstract: A source width estimation system may estimate an auditory source width of a sound. The system detects a first frequency modulated noise signal and a second frequency modulated noise signal. The detected noise signals may be processed to obtain an average value of a lateral width of a binaural activity over time and a plurality of sub-bands. The auditory source width of the noise signals may be determined from the average value of the lateral width of the binaural activity.

Abstract: A sound recording and reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids is disclosed. Recordings of sound are made in a real word acoustic environment, for example, which are stored as audio signals. In a testing environment, a plurality of loudspeakers is located about a listening position where a test subject is placed during a testing procedure. The plurality of loudspeakers receive at least a portion of the plurality of the stored audio signals, and convert those audio signals received into a combination of sounds that produce, at the listening position, acoustic elements of the real world acoustic environment where the recordings were made. The system enables, in a clinical or other test setting, the evaluation of hearing and/or hearing aid performance as if in a real world environment.

Abstract: Sound waves having a proper phase difference are received by microphones fixed in a mesh-formed casing, while other sound waves pass through the casing, and reach a front surface of a diffuse reflection member. The randomly uneven front surface of the diffuse reflection member diffusely reflects the sound waves, thereby preventing the reflected sound waves from reaching the microphones at the proper phase difference. Any reflected sound waves that do reach the microphones are received at a phase difference that is different from the proper phase difference and are determined to be noise by a sound-source determining circuit, thereby enabling a sound receiver to receive only sound waves having the proper phase difference, and hence, improving directivity thereof.

Abstract: An ear speaker device includes an electroacoustic transducer including a housing mounted at a predetermined position of listener's head, a speaker unit mounted on one surface in the housing, and positioned away from an entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus for a predetermined distance when the housing is mounted on the listener's head, and a tubular duct extended so as to allow a sound generated by the housing in the inner space thereof to reach the vicinity of the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus, and a hole for emitting sound of the duct is oriented to the opposite direction with respect to the entrance of the external acoustic meatus; and a mounting part used for mounting the electroacoustic transducer on the listener's head in a manner that the predetermined distance is provided between the speaker unit and the entrance of the listener's external acoustic meatus.

Abstract: The directionality of microphones is often not high enough, resulting in compromised music recording. Beamforming for getting a signal with a higher directional response is limited due to spatial aliasing, dependence of beamwidth on frequency, and a requirement of a high number of microphones. The invention proposes a method to generate an output audio signal y from two or more input audio signals (x1, x2, . . . ), this method comprising the steps of: define one input signal as reference signal for each of the other input signals compute gain factors related to how much of the input signal is contained in the reference signal adjust the gain factors using a limiting function compute the output signal by subtracting from the reference signal the other input signals multiplied by the corresponding adjusted gain factors.

Abstract: A system and method is described herein in which an audio source wirelessly transmits audio content to a first audio sink over one wireless link and to a second audio sink over another wireless link. The two audio sinks also exchange forward error correction (FEC) streams over a link between the two audio sinks, wherein the FEC streams are generated by FEC encoding the audio content received from the audio source. The audio sinks advantageously use the exchanged FEC information to synchronize the playback of the audio content as well as to improve the robustness of the wireless links with the audio source in a manner that does not consume additional bandwidth on those links.

Abstract: The invention makes use of impulse responses of the performance venue to process a recording or other signal so as to emulate that recording having being recorded in the performance venue. In particular, by measuring or calculating the impulse responses of a performance venue such as an auditorium between an instrument location within the venue and one or more soundfield sampling locations, it then becomes possible to process a “dry” signal, being a signal which has little or no reverberation or other artifacts introduced by the location in which it is captured (such as, for example, a close microphone studio recording) with the impulse response or responses so as to then make the signal seem as if it was produced at the instrument location in the performance venue, and captured at the soundfield sampling location.

Abstract: To provide a microphone unit for stereophonic recording capable of adjusting an intersecting angle of sound collecting axes in accordance with conditions without impairing directivity and sound quality of the microphone. Respective rotation bases (408, 508) are rotatable about a center axis with respect to mounting bases (404, 504), respectively, which are mounted to a main body (20) of a portable sound recorder (10) through respective brackets (402, 502). Respective top ends of respective knurls (414, 514) of leading ends of the respective rotation bases (408, 508) has a shape being cut to form an inclined surface from a radial direction, and respective microphones (418, 518) are retained so that diaphragms (420, 520) are in consonance with the cut surface.