AES Show 2024 NY

This paper studies volumetric microphone techniques (i.e. using configurations of multiple Ambisonic microphones) in a classical recording context. A pilot study with expert opinions was designed to show its feasibility. Based on the findings from the pilot study, a trio recording of piano, violin, and cello was conducted where 6 Ambisonic microphones established a hexagon. Such a volumetric approach is believed to improve the sound characteristics where the recordings were processed with the SoundField by RØDE Ambisonic decoder and were produced into a 7.0.4 loudspeaker system. A blinded subject experiment was designed where the participants were asked to evaluate the volumetric hexagonal configuration, comparing it to a more traditional 5.0 immersive configuration and a single Ambisonic microphone, all of which were mixed with spot microphones. These results were quantitatively analyzed, and revealed that the volumetric configuration is the most localized amongst all, but less immersive than the single Ambisonic microphone. No significant difference occurred in focus, naturalness, and preference. The analyses are generalized because the demographic backgrounds of the participants have no effect on the sound characteristics.