A company known for cameras and editing software has placed a small metal microphone on the long human road toward recording the world as we actually hear it, one that reaches past the flat frame into the full sphere of sound around us. Born from a collaboration with Apple on an immersive camera, the device folds 108 tiny capsules and their processing into a single cable, asking creators to trade elaborate setups for simplicity. Whether that simplicity holds up outside the demonstration room will be settled only when the first units reach working hands in December.
Blackmagic Design Unveils 108-Mic Ambisonic Microphone for Single-Cable Spatial Audio
108 microphones, one USB-C cable, no breakout box
Mark
So what is actually new here? Ambisonic microphones already exist.
Mimi
The packaging, mostly. 108 MEMS microphones, 7th order, and the encoding happens inside the body, so one USB-C cable does the job.
Luke
Worth noting that "no breakout box or software needed" is Blackmagic's own claim. We have no independent testing yet.
Mark
Where does Apple fit in?
Mimi
Apple licensed the array geometry and the encoding filters. Blackmagic says it did the engineering and design.
Mark
And it's tied to the URSA Cine Immersive camera?
Mimi
It mounts on top of it and records into the immersive files in sync. But it also works with Fairlight Live on a computer, or an iPhone through the Blackmagic Camera app.
Luke
Grant Petty's reaction, being blown away, is a CEO describing his own product. It's his impression, not a measurement.
Mark
What about price and timing?
Mimi
December, US$1,695 before duties and taxes. The SMPTE-2110 converter is mentioned as available, but no price is given.
Luke
Right, and there's no word on sound quality figures or battery or weight specs. Those are still unknown.
Le Pouls
- A palm-sized array of 108 microphones now promises full-sphere sound without a single extra box.
- Creators who once needed breakout boxes and encoding software face a sudden shortcut, and a sharp question about whether it works in the field.
- Blackmagic has married Apple's array geometry and encoding filters to its own engineering, building a plug-and-play USB-C device that needs no drivers.
- The microphone heads to resellers worldwide in December at US$1,695, with a broadcast converter to follow for professional pipelines.
A company known for cameras and editing software has placed a small metal microphone on the long human road toward recording the world as we actually hear it, one that reaches past the flat frame into the full sphere of sound around us. Born from a collaboration with Apple on an immersive camera, the device folds 108 tiny capsules and their processing into a single cable, asking creators to trade elaborate setups for simplicity. Whether that simplicity holds up outside the demonstration room will be settled only when the first units reach working hands in December.
Blackmagic Design has unveiled a microphone small enough to sit on a camera, yet it carries 108 separate microphones set flush in a solid, faceted metal body. The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone is a 7th order ambisonic array built to capture the full sound field around a camera for immersive video.
The key choice is inside. An onboard processor runs Apple's encoding filters and turns the signals from all 108 capsules into 7th order ambisonics in real time. That means no breakout box, no computer, and no separate software. Everything travels over one USB-C cable carrying both audio and power, and because the device is class compliant, it needs no drivers.
The project grew out of Blackmagic's work with Apple on the URSA Cine Immersive camera. CEO Grant Petty described the first experience of high resolution spatial audio as hearing an acoustic reality, and said he was totally blown away. Apple licensed its geometry and filters, while Blackmagic handled engineering and design.
The microphone ships in December for US$1,695, excluding local duties and taxes, through resellers worldwide. Whether the single-cable promise holds in real productions remains to be seen.
Blackmagic Design has announced a microphone that fits in the palm of a hand and holds 108 separate microphones. Called the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone, it is a 7th order ambisonic array meant to capture the entire sound field around a camera for immersive video production.
The 108 digital MEMS microphones sit flush in a solid, faceted metal body. Blackmagic describes the construction as extremely strong and built for professional use. The unit is small enough to mount on top of a camera.
The notable engineering choice is where the processing happens. An internal processor runs Apple's encoding filters and converts the signal from all 108 capsules into 7th order ambisonics in real time. According to the company, that removes the need for a breakout box, a computer or separate encoding software to get professional spatial audio.
The microphone connects over a single USB-C cable that carries both audio and power. It is USB class compliant, so no drivers or plug-ins are needed. Mounted on the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera, it records spatial audio straight into the camera's immersive files, which Blackmagic says keeps everything in sync. The target is Apple Immersive content.
Other routes are planned too. Connected to a computer, the microphone can record and mix in real time with Fairlight Live, with true 3D audio. It can also record directly to an iPhone through the Blackmagic Camera app. For advanced broadcast workflows, a USB to SMPTE-2110 converter will be offered.
The origin traces back to Apple. Blackmagic CEO Grant Petty said the project began while the company was collaborating with Apple on the URSA Cine Immersive camera. He said that hearing high resolution spatial audio capture for the first time was like hearing an acoustic reality, and that it left him totally blown away. Apple licensed its array geometry and ambisonic encoding filters, he said, while Blackmagic did the engineering and design. His summary of the result: plug in one cable and capture true spatial audio.
The microphone will be available in December for US$1,695, excluding local duties and taxes, through Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide. Whether the single-cable workflow performs as described in the field will become clear once units reach customers.
Citations marquantes
Apple licensed their array geometry and the ambisonic encoding filters, we did the engineering and design, and the result is an ambisonic microphone where you just plug in one cable and capture true spatial audio.— Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO
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