Apple Inc.
Binaural audio using an arbitrarily shaped microphone array

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve the operation of an electronic device having multiple microphones organized in an arbitrary, but known, arrangement in the device are described (i.e., having a specific form-factor). In general, techniques are disclosed for using a priori knowledge of an electronic device's spatial acoustic transfer functions to recreate or reconstitute a prior recorded three-dimensional (3D) audio field or environment. More particularly, techniques disclosed herein enable the efficient recording of a 3D audio field. That audio field may later be reconstituted using an acoustic characterization based on the device's form-factor. In addition, sensor data may be used to rotate the audio field so as to enable generating an output audio field that takes into account the listener's head position.