Global sound microphone system

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.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. A multi-channel sound reproduction system comprising: 
       a multi-channel microphone array including:  
       a plurality of linear pick-up pattern microphones, each having a diaphragm;  
       at least one hemispherical pick-up pattern microphone having a substantially hemispherical pick-up pattern; and  
       a portable frame having: means for mounting said plurality of said linear microphones with diaphragms forming a generally elliptical non-circular microphone arrangement pattern, each diaphragm facing outwards from the frame directing an associated linear pick-up pattern at a predetermined polar orientation; and means for mounting the hemispherical microphone within said elliptical pattern;  
       multi-channel mixer with means for individually connecting each said linear microphone to a corresponding individual channel;  
       a multi-channel sound recording device each channel thereof communicating with a corresponding channel of the mixer; and  
       a multi-channel playback system including:  
       a plurality of playback speakers, each speaker having means for communicating with an individual channel of the recording device and having an auditory playback pattern directed towards a stationary listener position, the polar orientation of each playback pattern corresponding with the polar orientation of the associated linear microphone communicating with the associated individual channel.  
     
     
       2. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the orientation of the hemispherical pick-up pattern is substantially normal to the elliptical pattern. 
     
     
       3. A system according to  claim 2  wherein the orientation of the hemispherical pick-up pattern is directed upwards. 
     
     
       4. A system according to  claim 2  wherein the orientation of the hemispherical pick-up pattern is directed downwards. 
     
     
       5. A system according to  claim 1  wherein each linear microphone has a directional pick-up pattern. 
     
     
       6. A system according to  claim 1  wherein the means for mounting linear microphones comprises means for mounting one linear microphone at a position at one end of the elliptical pattern and for mounting the remaining linear microphones in a generally equispaced relationship. 
     
     
       7. A system according to  claim 1  further comprising a hand grip depending downwards from the frame and means for connection to the grip of a device selected from the group consisting of: a camera; and a microphone stand. 
     
     
       8. A system according to  claim 1  including means for attaching the frame to a device selected from the group consisting of: a camera; and a microphone stand. 
     
     
       9. A system according to  claim 1  further comprising means for switching selected microphones on and off. 
     
     
       10. A multi- channel sound reproduction system comprising a frame configured as an oblate spheroid having an elliptical outer perimeter, a plurality of circumferentially spaced microphones mounted on said perimeter, each of said microphones having a diaphragm oriented outwardly from the frame and a directional pick - up pattern, whereby “surround sound” is produced.   
     
     
       11. A system according to  claim 10 , where a first microphone is mounted centrally on the top of the frame, said first microphone having a hemispherical pick- up pattern directed unwardly from the frame.   
     
     
       12. A system according to  claim 11 , wherein a second microphone is mounted centrally on the bottom of the frame, said second microphone having a hemispherical pick- up pattern directed downwardly from the frame.   
     
     
       13. A microphone system according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of circumferentially spaced microphones lie within a plane, said diaphragms of said plurality of microphones lying on a non- circular generally elliptical figure when viewed in a direction perpendicular to said plane.   
     
     
       14. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each microphone of said plurality of microphones has a hypercardioid or other linear pick- up pattern.   
     
     
       15. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of microphones are mounted in a generally equispaced relationship about said frame. 
     
     
       16. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a multi- channel mixer and means for electrically connecting each one of said plurality of microphones with a respective channel of the multi - channel mixer.   
     
     
       17. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a multi- channel mixer and means for electrically connecting each of said first and second hemispherical pick - up pattern microphones to a respective channel of said multi - channel mixer.   
     
     
       18. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said multi- channel mixer is an audio mixer.   
     
     
       19. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a multi- channel sound recording device and means for operatively connecting the multi - channel mixer with the multi - channel sound recording device.   
     
     
       20. A microphone system as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising means for selectively electronically connecting and disconnecting individual ones of the plurality of microphones to adapt the system for a predetermined sound playback configuration.