A multi-angle, multi-distance dataset of microphone impulse responses

A new publicly available dataset of microphone impulse responses (IRs) has been generated. The dataset covers 25 microphones, including a Class-1 measurement microphone, plus polar pattern variations for 7 of the microphones. Microphones were included having: omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid and bidirectional polar patterns; condenser, moving-coil and ribbon transduction types; single and dual diaphragms; multiple body and head basket shapes; small and large diaphragms; and end-address and side-address designs. Using a custom-developed computer-controlled precision turntable, IRs were captured quasi-anechoically at incident angles from 0º to 355º in steps of 5º, and at source-to-microphone distances of 0.5 m, 1.25 m and 5 m. The resulting dataset is suitable for perceptual and objective studies related to the incident-angle-dependent response of microphones, as well as for the development of tools for predicting and emulating on- and off-axis microphone characteristics. The captured IRs allow generation of frequency response plots with a degree of detail not commonly available in manufacturer-supplied data sheets, and are also particularly well suited to harmonic distortion analysis