Enhanced stereophonic audio recordings in handheld devices

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for enhanced stereo audio recordings in electronic devices. Stereophonic recording performance in an electronic device, using a first microphone and a second microphone in the electronic device, may be assessed; and processing of signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone may be configured based on the assessed stereophonic recording performance. The configuring may comprises adaptively modifying the processing to enhance stereophonic recording performance, to match or approximate an ideal performance. The assessing of the stereophonic recording in the electronic device may be based on a type of each of the first microphone and the second microphone, and/or based on a spacing therebetween. The processing may be adaptively modified to simulate directional reception of signals by the first microphone and the second microphone when the microphones are omnidirectional.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for enhanced stereophonic audio, comprising:
 an electronic device comprising one or more circuits and a first microphone and a second microphone, the one or more circuits are for: 
 assessing stereophonic recording performance in the electronic device using the first microphone and the second microphone; and 
 configuring processing of signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone, based on the assessed stereophonic recording performance, wherein the configuring comprises adaptively modifying the processing to enhance stereophonic recording performance, to match a stereophonic recording performance obtained by-at least one out of (a) increasing a spacing between the first and second microphones to a desired distance between the first and second microphones, the desired distance exceeds a current distance between the first and second microphones, and (b) increasing a directional reception characteristic of at least one of the first and second microphones. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio between the desired distance and the current distance ranges between 7.5 and 15. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for adaptively modifying the processing when the assessed stereophonic recording performance falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for assessing the stereophonic recording in the electronic device based on a type of each of the first microphone and the second microphone. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for enhancing stereophonic recording performance to match or approximate the stereophonic recording performance obtained by increasing the directional reception characteristic of at least one of the first and second microphones. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for adaptively modifying the processing based on a relationship between the actual distance and the desired distance. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for adaptively modifying the processing to generate noticeable gain difference between two output signals corresponding to phase difference between signals captured by each of the first microphone and the second microphone. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for adaptively modifying the processing to simulate directional reception of signals by the first microphone and the second microphone when the microphones are omnidirectional. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the simulating of directional reception results in at least one out of (a) amplifying audio sources that are located in an appropriate channel side and (b) fully decaying audio sources that are located in an opposite side of a channel. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for generating a right channel signal that is responsive to (a) a product of a multiplication of the signals generated by the first microphone by a first gain factor, and to (a) a product of a multiplication of the signals generated by the second microphone by a second gain factor; wherein a ratio between the first and second gain factors is responsive to a ratio between (i) the desired distance and (ii) a sum of the spacing between the first and second microphones and the desired distance. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more circuits are for generating right channel signals and left channel signals that are responsive to the signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone and to a ratio between (i) the desired distance and (ii) a sum of the spacing between the first and second microphones and the desired distance. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first microphone and the second microphone are oriented at a same direction. 
     
     
       13. A method for enhanced stereophonic audio, comprising:
 in an electronic device comprising a first microphone and a second microphone:
 assessing stereophonic recording performance in the electronic device using the first microphone and the second microphone; and 
 configuring processing of signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone, based on the assessed stereophonic recording performance, wherein the configuring comprises adaptively modifying the processing to enhance stereophonic recording performance, to match or approximate a stereophonic recording performance obtained by at least one out of (a) increasing a spacing between the first and second microphones to a desired distance between the first and second microphones, the desired distance exceeds a current distance between the first and second microphones, and (b) increasing a directional reception characteristic of at least one of the first and second microphones. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein a ratio between the desired distance and the current distance ranges between 7.5 and 15. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , comprising adaptively modifying the processing when the assessed stereophonic recording performance falls below a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , comprising assessing the stereophonic recording in the electronic device based on a type of each of the first microphone and the second microphone. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , comprising enhancing the stereophonic recording performance to match or approximate the stereophonic recording performance obtained by increasing the directional reception characteristic of at least one of the first and second microphones. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , comprising adaptively modifying the processing based on a relationship between the actual distance and the desired distance. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , comprising generating, based on the adaptive modifying of the processing, noticeable gain difference between two output signals corresponding to phase difference between signals captured by each of the first microphone and the second microphone. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , comprising adaptively modifying the processing to simulate directional reception of signals by the first microphone and the second microphone when the microphones are omnidirectional. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the simulating of directional reception results in at least one out of (a) amplifying audio sources that are located in an appropriate channel side are amplified and (b) fully decaying audio sources that are located in an opposite side of a channel. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more circuits are for generating a right channel signal that is responsive to (a) a product of a multiplication of the signals generated by the first microphone by a first gain factor, and to (a) a product of a multiplication of the signals generated by the second microphone by a second gain factor; wherein a ratio between the first and second gain factors is responsive to a ratio between (i) the desired distance and (ii) a sum of the spacing between the first and second microphones and the desired distance. 
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 13 , comprising generating right channel signals and left channel signals that are responsive to the signals generated by the first microphone and the second microphone and to a ratio between (i) the desired distance and (ii) a sum of the spacing between the first and second microphones and the desired distance. 
     
     
       24. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first microphone and the second microphone are oriented at a same direction.