Spherical beamforming microphone arrays are especially designed for those measurement scenarios due to their optimized microphone distribution. Since the sphere beamforming arrays are equally sensitive in all directions any sound sources in for example a building, room or car interior can accurately and reliably detected regardless of their position. In post processing the measurement data picked up by the 3D beamforming array can be easily mapped on a 3D model of the interior.
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ACOUSTIC CAMERA: 3D Sound Source Localization Inside a Car
This spherical 48 channel microphone array is primarily designed for applications in enclosed spaces. The lightweight array body is designed as slim as possible and is made of carbon fiber. This ensures easy handling and accurate microphone and array positioning even under real test drive conditions on the road. This array connects to the data recorder.
| Array body diameter | 35 cm |
| Weight | 0.9 kg |
| Video camera | Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D435 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
| Microphones | Electret condenser capsule + especially designed preamplifier |
| Frequency response | 20 kHz – 60 kHz (< 15 dB) 100 Hz – 15 kHz (< 0.5 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (< 3 dB) |
| Max. sound pressure level | 130 dB at 3 % THD |
| Noise level | 27 dB(A) |
| Sensitivity | 20 mV/Pa |
| Channels | 48 |
| Recommended measurement distance | > 0.3 m |
| Acoustic mapping range | 12 dB – 130 dB |
| Backward attenuation | > -15 dB |
| Recommended mapping frequencies | 291 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Dynamic range (Distance to the source: 1 m; calculation points: 90.000) | 9 dB – 14 dB, up to 50 dB with advanced algorithms |
| Ingress protection code | IP20 |
| Cable length to data recorder | up to 20 m (on request: 50 m) |
| Operating environment | 0 °C – 35 °C, up to 80 % RH |
Depending on a signal’s spectral composition, the recommended measurement distance varies between 0.3 and 5 meters. Longer ranges are possible for measurements in considerably higher frequency ranges. The wiring of the microphones is enclosed in and protected by the array body which guarantees the best possible acoustic transparency to measure accurate sound levels.
The array design is optimized to provide the highest spatial resolution as well as map dynamic possible, given the number of microphones used. Additionally, the array design effectively minimizes partial reflections, sound pressure doubling effects on the surface, and resonance effects between the measured object and the array. Furthermore, the sphere geometry minimizes aliasing effects.
As this microphone array acts omnidirectional, the beamforming results are normally mapped on a scanned 3D point cloud or 3D CAD model of the measurement object/environment, to be imported in the NoiseImage software. The built-in studio microphones have an extremely linear frequency response. All are carefully hand-selected and calibrated to ensure stable sound pressure levels (+/- 0.5 dB). To allow long distances, the array is connected to the data recorder via two differential SymBus microphone connector cables (max. 20 m).
The array comes with an integrated fixed focus USB camera. The included high-end Manfrotto tripod allows a set up in almost any measurement environment imaginable. Array and tripod are supplied in a transport case and bag respectively.
This spherical 80 or 120 channel microphone array is primarily designed for applications in enclosed spaces. The omnidirectional characteristics of the array make it perfect for 3D applications, for example in room acoustics. In combination with our cutting-edge software NoiseImage we offer unique 3D functionality. The 120 channel array can be operated on a mcdRec data recorder, the 80 channel array connects to the mobile gt4 data recorder too.
| Array body diameter | 60 cm |
| Weight | 2.1 kg |
| Video camera | Intel® RealSense™ Depth Camera D435 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) |
| Microphones | Electret condenser capsule + special designed preamplifier |
| Frequency response | 20 kHz – 60 kHz (< 15 dB) 100 Hz – 15 kHz (< 0.5 dB) 20 Hz – 20 kHz (< 3 dB) |
| Max. sound pressure level | 130 dB at 3 % THD |
| Noise level | 27 dB(A) |
| Sensitivity | 20 mV/Pa |
| Channels | 80 or 120 |
| Recommended measurement distance | > 0.5 m |
| Acoustic mapping range | 9 dB – 130 dB (Sphere80) 8 dB – 130 dB (Sphere120) |
| Backward attenuation | > -16 dB (Sphere80) > -21 dB (Sphere120) |
| Recommended mapping frequencies | 185 Hz – 20 kHz (Sphere80) 187 Hz – 20 kHz (Sphere120) |
| Dynamic range (Distance to the source: 1 m; calculation points: 90.000) | 13 dB – 17 dB (Sphere80) 15 dB – 18 dB (Sphere120) up to 50 dB with advanced algorithms |
| Ingress protection code | IP20 |
| Cable length to data recorder | up to 20 m (on request: 50 m) |
| Operating environment | 0 °C – 35 °C, up to 80 % RH |
For larger 3 dimensional environments
Depending on a signal’s spectral composition, the recommended measurement distance varies between 0.5 and 25 meters. Longer ranges are possible for measurements in considerably higher frequency ranges. The wiring of the microphones is enclosed in and protected by the array body which guarantees the best possible acoustic transparency to measure accurate sound levels.
The array design is optimized to provide the highest spatial resolution as well as map dynamic, possible given the number of microphones used. Additionally, the array design effectively minimizes partial reflections, sound pressure doubling effects on the surface, and resonance effects between the measured object and the array. Furthermore, the sphere geometry minimizes aliasing effects. As this microphone array acts omnidirectional, the beamforming results are normally mapped on a scanned 3D point cloud or 3D CAD model of the measurement object, to be imported in the NoiseImage software.
The built-in studio microphones have an extremely linear frequency response. All are carefully hand-selected and calibrated to ensure stable sound pressure levels (+/- 0.5 dB). To allow long distances, the array is connected to the data recorder via differential SymBus microphone connector cables (max. 20 m). The array comes with an integrated fixed focus USB camera. The included high-end Manfrotto tripod allows a set up in almost any measurement environment imaginable. Array and tripod are supplied in a transport case and bag respectively.
