Optimum microphone placement for array sound capture

Microphone arrays can be used for high-quality sound pick up in reverberant and noisy environments. The beamforming capabilities of microphone array systems allow highly directional sound capture, providing superior signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when compared to single microphone performance. There are two aspects in microphone array system performance: the ability of the system to locate and track sound sources, and its ability to selectively capture sound from those sources. Both aspects of system performance are strongly affected by the spatial placement of microphone sensors. A method is needed to optimize sensor placement based on geometry of the environment and assumed sound source behavior. The objective of the optimization is to obtain the greatest average system SNR using a specified number of sensors. A method is derived to evaluate array performance for a given array configuration defined by the abovementioned metrics. An overall performance function is described based on these metrics. A framework for optimum placement of sensors under the practical considerations of possible sensor placement and potential location of sound sources is also characterized.