System and method for steering the directional response of a microphone to a moving acoustic source

A system for automatically updating a directional response of a pair of microphones whenever an acoustic source moves, comprising:

• at least one detector configured to determine a change in one or more parameters of an acoustic wave forwarded from the acoustic source to the pair of microphones;
• an electronic subsystem coupled to the at least one detector for periodically updating the directional response from the change in one or more parameters for placing a radial axis of the directional response substantially along an angle at which the acoustic wave impinges upon the pair of microphones;
• and
• an output device coupled to the electronic subsystem for displaying the radial axis of the directional response, wherein the output device comprises a graphic user interface (GUI) through which a user can supply input via a pointer to change the radial axis of the directional response and to set the periodic updating of the directional response.

A method for changing the directional response of a pair of microphones having a directivity pattern of maximum signal-to-noise ratio along a radial axis extending from the pair of microphones, comprising:

• moving an acoustic source;
• determining an angular orientation of an acoustic wave extending from the moved acoustic source to the pair of microphones;
• modifying outputs from one or more of the pair of microphones such that the directional response of the pair of microphones is updated to substantially align with the angular orientation of the acoustic wave;
• displaying the radial axis of the updated directional response and using a pointing device to change the radial axis;
• and
• displaying the frequency at which the output are modified and using a pointing device to change that frequency.