Sennheiser Ambeo VR Mic with Tetrahedral Cardiod Capsule Array

Here’s what Sennheiser say:

The Ambeo VR Mic makes capturing real spatial sound as simple as any stereo recording. You don’t need to set up several microphones – saving you time, money and manpower. Furthermore, using the Ambeo VR Mic means you’ll never have to add other sounds in the mix anymore to achieve stunning 3D sound.

Key features

• Captures immersive spatial audio – ideal for capturing audio used in VR.
• 4 matched KE 14 cardioid capsules in tetrahedral arrangement.
• Rugged & portable for various locations.
• Records with Ambisonics technology.
• Includes proprietary A/B converter in VST and AAX plugins.
• Comes with cables, suspension mount & windshield.

Convey the true experience

Especially designed for 360-degree spatial audio recording, the easy-to-use Ambeo VR Mic is an ambisonic microphone fitted with four matched KE 14 capsules in a tetrahedral arrangement. This special design allows you to capture the surrounding sound from one single point. As a result you get fully spherical ambisonics sound to match your VR video/spherical 360 content.

A jewel in your high-end VR sound chain

The Ambeo VR Mic is meant to work together with specialized high-end software and hardware. Ideal companions for the Ambeo VR Mic are, for example, field recorders like the Zoom F8, digital audio workstations like the Avid Pro Tools HD or the Cockos Reaper and binaural decoders e. g. from Noise Makers. Output is possible via HMD, VR Game Engine or 360° Social Media platforms.

Benefit from a design developed with you in mind

By means of the VR Creators Program Sennheiser made sure to involve the professionals of the industry in the realization of the Ambeo VR Mic right from the beginning. Thus, we developed a comprehensive product package including many well-conceived accessories that allow for a smooth workflow – not least the A-B encoder software that works as a plugin, which can be seamless embedded in your post-production process.

Ambisonics – Technology for you to shape the future of audio

Ambisonics is a multi-channel technology that lets you spherically capture the sound arriving from all directions, at a single point in space. For playback this representation is rendered binaurally, allowing you to virtually rotate the orientation of the perspective in all directions, horizontally and vertically.

Ambisonics is supported by all of the major post-production and playback tools on the market today. This makes ambisonics the appropriate tool for Virtual Reality and all other applications involving 3D sound. A tool to create new worlds of sound with.

Ambeo A-B converter plugin

The capsules of the Sennheiser Ambeo VR Mic deliver A-format, a raw 4-channel output that has to be converted into a new set of 4 channels, the Ambisonics B-format. This is done by the specifically designed Sennheiser Ambeo A-B converter plugin, which is available as free download for VST, AU and AAX format for your preferred Digital Audio Workstation for both PC and Mac.

B-format is a W, X, Y, Z representation of the sound field around the microphone. W being the sum of all 4 capsules, whereas X, Y and Z are three virtual bi-directional microphone patterns representing front/back, left/right and up/down. Thus, any direction from the microphone can be auditioned by the listener during playback of Ambisonics B.

Enjoy peace of mind with Sennheiser quality

With its history of 70 years as a trusted and innovative company, developing top-notch professional microphones with high-quality capsules, you are entitled to expect a lot from the Sennheiser brand: reliable, robust German-engineered products. Rest assured: We deliver – and also provide excellent customer support as well as a 2-years warranty with every product.

Specifications

• Dimensions: 215 x 49/25 mm (L x D)
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Max. sound pressure level: 130 dB(A) for 1 kHz
• Transducer principle: Pre-polarized condenser microphone
• Weight: 1.060 g
• Microphone connector: DIN12M, use enclosed adapter cable to convert to 4x XLR3M Polarity: Pin1 (GND), Pin2 (+), Pin3 (-)
• Pick-up pattern: 4x cardioid, in A-format arrangement (1: front-left-up [FLU], 2: front-right-down [FRD], 3: back-left-down [BLD], 4: back-right-up [BRU])
• Nominal impedance: Approx. 200 Ω
• Min. terminating impedance: 1000 Ω
• Storage temperature: -20 °C to 70 °C (-4 °F to 158 °F)
• Operating temperature: -10 °C to 55 °C (14 °F to 131 °F)
• Equivalent noise level: 18 dB-A as per IEC 61672-1 / 27 dB CCIR as per CCIR 468-3
• Power supply: 4x phantom powering (P48) as per IEC 61938 (48 ± 4 V), 3.5 mA each
• Sensitivity: 31 mV/Pa (-30 dBV)
• Operating relative humidity: Max 90% at 40 °C