Paul Geluso

At NYU, we have been using the AMBEO cube since the release of the Sennheiser Twin microphone. We have relied on this high quality 3D audio technology to capture live musical performances in concert halls, churches, and studio settings. We have been monitoring using a 9.1 full-range playback system with in general, each microphone signal sent to one speaker respectively. To accomplish this, we work with a dedicated center channel in addition the 8-channel cube making up the left, right, left surround, right surround, left height, right height, left height surround, and right height surround channels. The sub-woofer signal can be derived from the center channel as well. Support microphone signals can be mixed together with the cube signals successfully using appropriate time delays to prevent unwanted comb filtering effects.

At NYU, the cube system has been used extensively to collect high resolution 3D sound for Tonmeister classes and ongoing research projects. In addition to the Tetrahedral and the Z microphone based technologies used at NYU, the cube has become a 3D audio standard.

As an extension to the popular spaced microphone pair (known as AB) stereo recording technique, the cube has the ability to capture discrete level, timbre, and time of arrival information in the stereo, surround, and height fields with great flexibility - which makes it unique. The polar pattern of each Twin microphone signal can be easily adjusted live or in post-production thereby allowing the engineer to make fine adjustments the direct to diffused sound ration without having to swap or move microphones. The cube delivers a very exciting 3D sound image upon reproduction in an immersive listening environment. It has the potential to deliver larger than life virtual sound images, spaciousness, and sound quality.