Fresh From the Bench: mh acoustics Eigenmike em64, Sixth-Order Ambisonics Microphone and Software Suite

A unique insight into the future of microphone technology, this article reviews the Eigenmike em64, a sixth-order Ambisonics microphone with Dante connectivity, extended with a comprehensive recording and decoding software suite. Updating its previous Eigenmike em32 model, the company introduced a state-of-the-art higher order Ambisonics capture tool to the market. The patented design combines microphone programmable gain preamplifiers, 24-bit A/D conversion and microphone calibration, all integrated.

Read the Market Update on MEMS microphones, Shure’s valuable perspective about Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems (WMAS) technology, and a review of the extraordinary Eigenmike em64 Ambisonics microphone. Brent Butterworth reviews the new Sony MDR-M1 headphones, and Alex Bonnet and Eric Benhaim (Orosound) explain how to leverage ANC in open-ear designs. Brian Lowe (Belleson) shares his Top Amp design for phono preamps, Douglas Self reveals more op-amp distortion tests, and Richard Honeycutt revisits the legendary Dynaco ST-70 and ST-70 II tube power amps.

At the recent European Championships athletics competition in Berlin (August 7-12), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) conducted successful trials of a broadcast production environment mixing to both Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 7.0.4 channel-based formats with English and French commentary, and English and French Audio Description as object channels, feeding channel direct outputs for an MPEG-H High Order Ambisonic mix simultaneously. Solid State Logic provided a fully IP-based System T solution for the EBU-Eurovision.

Over 90 delegates gathered from July 18–20 at the University of Surrey, Guildford, UK, for the second international conference on Sound Field Control presented by the Audio Engineering Society. Chaired by Filippo Maria Fazi and Philip Jackson, the conference broke new ground in the understanding of the active management of audio delivered within an acoustical environment.