Abstract:
An audio recording apparatus that improves atmospheric acoustic conditions by method of processing sound forms presented directly or non directly to either the front or rear of the device. Presented sound forms pass through an internal structure comprised of a series of inlaid acoustic panels, sound dampeners, audio baffles, sound chambers, and noise cancellation filters to result in a more purified balanced sound that is ideal to be recorded into a microphone. This audio purification system is a 180 degree or 360 degree audio filtering system with attached frontal sound filter and top mounted acoustic panel. The device is capable of supporting 360 degree sound filtration with a frontal acoustic filter attachment and overhead acoustic control with a top mounted acoustic ceiling panel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Provisional patent application: 61/629,104 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a method of improved acoustic sound control in environments that may or may not be treated to provide ideal acoustic atmospheric conditions for audio recording. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Audio recording depends heavily on audio acoustics to provide ideal atmospheric conditions. Ideal acoustic conditions allow vocal artists, instruments, or effects to be cleanly and clearly recorded without external interference. Music studios are ideally purpose built facilities that are designed for capturing audio properly. Over the years as music recording technology has advanced, general access to recording instrumentation has allowed artists and recording enthusiast to be able to create audio recordings in non studio or acoustically treated locations. These locations can be anywhere they are able to setup a microphone and recording device. More often enough it is in a location that is not acoustically treated or purpose built for capturing audio. The end result is that recordings that are created in these locations often end up sounding inferior due to external noise interference and room condition interference such as ambiance, echo, and vocal bouncing etc. 
         [0004]    These non studio recordings often require strenuous post audio cleanup that is usually performed through audio recording software. Although some software is able to improve these recordings, they are never able to truly bring out an audio recording to the level of a recording that has been created in a controlled acoustic environment such as a studio. This is a problem that has been increasing greatly as more and more audio recording is being done outside the studio. Some alternatives to improve non studio recording may include attempts at using acoustic foam tiles to treat troublesome room areas or using devices like reflection filters or sound isolators in attempts to mimic a more controlled environment. 
         [0005]    The issue that arises with some of these solutions is that room conditions are usually still present and minimally reduced. These types of devices focus mainly on modulating sounds being implemented directly in front of a microphone and do little against actual acoustic conditions of the room itself. Essentially these devices are incapable of “Internal” (sound presented directly in front of these devices, and “External” (sounds presented to the rear of these devices) acoustic noise filtration. They are only designed to manipulate sound that is presented to them in one direction (Internal sound). 
         [0006]    Acoustic tiling is often the best method of improving room acoustics; however, the problem with acoustic tiling is that it is a permanent solution and not ideal for locations where users may use their home or non studio recording areas for dual purposes. If a recording enthusiast has made their kitchen or living room their desired recording location, it may not be a feasible solution for them to place acoustic tiling in their living areas as it does not pertain to day to day usage. 
         [0007]    To meet the needs of non studio recording it would require an acoustic device that is capable of handling sounds presented directly into a microphone, as well as external atmospheric acoustic conditions. This device should also not be limited to being removed or stored for day to day living convenience if not needed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The Acoustic Enhancement Balancer provides acoustic audio sound control in recording environments that may or may not include acoustic room treatments. The device functions by processing sound forms presented to either the front or rear of the unit through an internal sound filtration system. This system allows the device to handle atmospheric acoustic room conditions as well as sounds implemented directly into the system for intended audio recording. Sound forms in the likeness of a voice, instrument, or sound effects pass through a series of inlaid acoustic panels, sound dampeners, audio baffles, and noise cancellation filters. As sound enters the unit, sound forms move through this system of acoustic materials to create a clean and balanced sound that is ideal for audio recording. The Acoustic Enhancement Balancer can also be used with or without a microphone stand and does not require a permanent installation so it can be easily removed or stored for convenience. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  Shows a diagram of the removable and adjustable acoustic sound panel attached to the top of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer. 
           [0010]    FIG.  1 - a  Displays a semi-diagrammatic view of the front of the Acoustic Enhancement balancer. Acoustic ceiling panel is also shown in place on the unit. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  Shows a frontal diagram of the installed front mounted acoustic microphone filter attached to the front of the acoustic enhancement balancer. This filter allows for 360 degree sound filtration coverage. 
           [0012]    FIG.  2 - a  Displays an inverted view of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer. In this position the unit is capable of having a microphone installed in a hanging position, or for the unit itself to be installed in a hanging position from a microphone boom arm. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  Shows a side diagrammatic view of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer with units installed front microphone filter attachment that allows 360 degree acoustic coverage. 
           [0014]    FIG.  3 - a  Shows a rear diagram of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer with the top mounted acoustic support panel installed. This diagram illustrates the adjusting system to raise and lower the acoustic ceiling panel. The Acoustic Enhancement balancers rear so 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  Shows a frontal diagram of the acoustic foam layout. The front of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer also features sound traps to capture in projected sound waves. 
           [0016]    FIG.  4 - a  Displays an additional view of the front of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer. In this illustration a microphone is installed at the front of the unit. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  Sectional view displaying internal components of the acoustic filtration system. 
           [0018]    FIG.  5 - a  Sectional view of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer with sound wave filters installed over the sound plate chambers illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  Displays a rear diagram view of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer. In this illustration the external features of the system are displayed. 
           [0020]    FIG.  6 - a  Illustrates is a rear view of an Acoustic Enhancement Balancer installed onto a microphone stand. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  Front view diagram of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer displaying various acoustic components. 
           [0022]    FIG.  7 - a  Rear view diagram of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer displaying the rear sound deflector and mounting components. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  External layer rear Mesh filtration screen elevational view. Illustrated in  FIG. 5-5-   a  component B 9   
           [0024]    FIG.  8 - a  Internal layer Acoustic fiber material base layer elevational view. Illustrated in  FIG. 5-5-   a  component B 9   
           [0025]      FIG. 9  Sectional view of the second sound contact filtering layer located underneath the acoustic foam contact layer. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  Diagram of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer shown in an inverted overhead mounting position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  Alternative diagrammatic view of the Acoustic Enhancement balancer in an inverted overhead mounting position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    The Acoustic Enhancement Balancer functions by processing sound forms presented to the unit in the likeness of a voice, instrument, or sound effects capture through a series of inlaid acoustic panels, sound dampeners, audio baffles, and noise cancellation filters shown in diagram in  FIG. 5-5   a . As sound enters the unit, audio wave forms pass through this system of acoustic materials to create a clean and balanced sound that is then further captured into a microphone input for recording. 
         [0029]    This audio purification system is a 180 degree or 360 degree audio filtering system with attached frontal sound filter shown in  FIG. 2  component (N),  FIG. 3  component (T) and top mounted acoustic panel displayed in  FIG. 1  component (D), FIG.  1 - a  component (K), and FIG.  3 - a  component (X). The unit can be mounted directly to a microphone stand as shown in FIG.  1 - a  component (H),  FIG. 2  component (O)-(P), FIG.  2 - a  component (R).  FIG. 6  component (C 3 ) FIG.  6 - a  component (C 5 ), or boom microphone extension utilizing an adjustable mount that allows free motion and alternative positioning of the acoustic enhancement balancer FIG.  1 - a  component (I), mounting examples illustrated in  FIG. 10 , and  FIG. 11 . Additional features and attachments include a top mounted acoustic panel that can be removed via, magnetic or locking mechanism illustrated in FIG.  1 - a  components (A)-(B), or adjusted for height instantly via, a quick release mount shown in  FIG. 1  component (D),(C), FIG.  1 - a  component (K), FIG.  3 - a  component (X),(Y),(Z),(A 4 ),  FIG. 7  component (D 3 ) and FIG.  7 - a  component (D 8 ), allowing the top panel to be removed completely from the system if not needed. An additional Front mounted filter can also be applied to the front of the unit to provide 360 degree acoustic sound support as shown in  FIG. 2  component (N),(S) and  FIG. 3  component (T). 
         [0030]    The body frame design of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer is curved, bowed, or semi hexagonally shaped to allow for sound to be distributed evenly across the filtration system as shown in FIG.  1 - a , FIG.  2 - a ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7-7   a . This design is non restrictive to air flow and allows the purification system to filter both noise directly presented to the front of the sound filtering system, as well as indirect sounds presented to the rear of the filtering system. This setup allows the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer to function as a 2-way sound purification system. 
         [0031]    The Acoustic Enhancement Balancer system is first presented with a sound contact layer of acoustic foam. This contact layer of acoustic foam is placed on the front of the unit where sound is intended to be projected into a microphone. This foam layer may be ribbed, pyramid, smooth, flat, or rounded in style illustrated in  FIG. 1  component (E), FIG.  1 - a  component (J), FIG.  2 - a  component (Q),  FIG. 4  component (A 5 ) FIG.  4 - a  component (A 9 )-(A 10 ). The acoustic foam layer adds to support sound capturing in reducing audio ambience and sound distortion. This layer can also be supported by additional sound dampening catches located on the upper and lower portions of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer as shown in FIG.  1 - a  component (L) and to the left and right ends of the body frame as shown in FIG.  1 - a  component (G),  FIG. 4  component (A 8 ),  FIG. 7  component (D 2 ). 
         [0032]    When sound passes through the acoustic foam contact layer it is further met by the second sound contact filtering layer which includes a foam screen filter shown in  FIG. 9  component (F 1 ) which assists in the further reduction of audio reflections and sound distortion. This second foam filtering layer additionally acts as a protective shroud for the sound balancing purification chamber system behind it. 
         [0033]    The Rear of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer features a contact layer designed for filtering external sound conditions presented to the unit as illustrated in  FIG. 8-8   a . The external contact layer is comprised of a  2  piece system that features a meshed filtration screen  FIG. 8  component (E 1 ), and an acoustic fiber material layer attached to the rear of it facing the internal/microphone side of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer FIG.  8 - a  component (E 2 ). This layer is located behind the units rear frame/guard and makes up the body portion of the filter. This guard can be perforated or meshed and is designed to be an open system to allow air flow/sound to enter or exit the internal acoustic sound chambering system as shown in FIG.  3 - a  component (A 1 ),  FIG. 6  component (C 2 ), FIG.  7 - a  component (D 7 ). This frame can be comprised from light weight metal, wood, plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber materials. The rear of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer may also be supported by upper and lower frame braces that feature port holes to allow for air passage through the external non enclosed areas of the acoustic sound chambering system as illustrated in  FIG. 5  component (B 10 ),  FIG. 6  component (C 1 ), FIG.  6 - a  component (C 4 ). 
         [0034]    The internal acoustic sound filtration system of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer is comprised of a series of sound chambers. The central acoustic sound chambering system is centered in the middle of this purification system and is a main series of sound dampening plates illustrated in  FIG. 5  components (B 3 ). These main plates are the largest of the systems dampening plates and serve as the central target for presented audio sound. These dampening plates act to reduce distortion by softening loud or aggressive audio waves and further aid to redirect the focus of sound waves to the right and left portions of the purification system. 
         [0035]    The right and left portions of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer feature additional smaller sound dampening plate arrangements  FIG. 5  components (B 4 ) that further aid in distributing the presented sound waves across the face of the filter. These dampening plates are broken into 4 separate independent sound chambers as shown in FIG.  5 - a  component (B 11 ). That are separated and sectioned off by absorbency baffles shown in  FIG. 5  components (B 5 ), FIG.  5 - a  components (B 8 ). The sound dampening plates are arranged evenly in row form with approximate spacing to balance sound wave flow; such, that their positions are spread across the filter for equal acoustic audio control and sound distribution as illustrated in diagrams for  FIG. 5-5   a . Concealing the acoustic sound dampening plates is a series of smaller independent cover filters FIG.  5 - a  component (B 7 ). These cover filters exist to help control sound wave flow balance as to reduce potential audible noise contamination. 
         [0036]    In between the rowed sound equalization/dampening plates are absorbency baffles shown in  FIG. 5  components (B 5 ), FIG.  5 - a  components (B 8 ). These series of baffles primarily function in the reduction of distortion interference by absorbing harsh audible sound elements not directly captured into the sound chambers. The sound baffles are arranged to the right and left of the sound equalization plates and also assist as separators for each of the acoustic sound chambers. The positioning of these baffles also aids in the even distribution of sound waves that have entered the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer through the front and rear of the purification system in  FIG. 5  &amp; FIG.  5 - a  component (B 9 ) the external rear filtration layer is shown in the rear of the baffles and sound chambers. 
         [0037]    The entire acoustic sound purification system is closed in by a sound concealment barrier that encloses the top, bottom, and sides of the filter illustrated in  FIG. 5-5   a  components (B 6 ). This filter concealment/noise cancellation barrier eliminates noise contamination of outside sounds from entering the purification system from the top, bottom, or sides of the filter. The placement of the concealment barrier functions in aiding sound control by aiding air/sound flow to enter only from the front and rear of the filtering system so that sound waves can be properly purified through the internal purification system. 
         [0038]    The base layer of the system is also part of the external filtration contact layer-internal filtration screen. It serves as the foundational layer for the purification system. This internal filtering screen covers the rear open area of the Acoustic Enhancement Balancer&#39;s frame. This base layers primary function is to filter potential sound contamination presented to the rear of the filter and secondarily protect the internal purification system from physical contamination of external elements such as dust and dirt particles. It is comprised of a thin acoustic material layer that does not constrict airflow so that sound can freely travel through the acoustic sound purification system. 
       FIG.  1 - 1   a    
     Components A-L 
       [0000]    
       
         A. Magnet 
         B. Detachable Magnetic Strip 
         C. Detachable Mount 
         D. Top acoustical foam sound reflection panel 
         E. Acoustical foam sound contact layer 
         F. Acoustical foam detachable panel 
         G. Side sound trap panel 
         H. Adjustable microphone stand slide on mount 
         I. Adjustable microphone adapter 
         J. Acoustical foam panel 
         K. Top mount removable acoustic foam panel 
         L. Acoustical foam sound damping barrier 
       
     
       FIG.  2 - 2   a    
     Components M-S 
       [0000]    
       
         M. Acoustical foam filter panel 
         N. Front mounted reflective sound shield 
         Q. Front sound shield mount 
         P. Microphone stand (mounting example) 
         Q. Acoustical foam filter panel 
         R. Adjustable base mount 
         S. Sound filtration Screen 
       
     
       FIG.  3 - 3   a    
     Components T-A 4   
       [0000]    
       
         T. Filter screen 
         U. Acoustic foam filter panel 
         V. Microphone placement example 
         W. Front panel conjoining mount 
         X. Acoustical foam filter panel 
         Y. Magnetic removable mount 
         Z. Adjustable removable mount 
         A 1 . Rear sound deflector 
         A 2 . Insulated acoustic inner layer 
         A 3 . Rear sound trap barrier 
         A 4 . Adjustable mounting screws 
       
     
       FIG.  4 - 4   a    
     Components A 4 -A 11   
       [0000]    
       
         A 4 . Upper sound dampening barrier 
         A 5 . Acoustic foam contact layer/filter front panel 
         A 6 . Lower sound dampening barrier 
         A 7 . Adjustable microphone mount 
         A 8 . Side sound barrier panels 
         A 9 . Ribbed acoustic foam filtration panel (sides) 
         A 10 . Pyramid acoustic foam filtration panel (center) 
         A 11 . Microphone mounting location 
       
     
       FIG.  5 - 5   a    
     Components B 1 -B 11   
       [0000]    
       
         B 1 . Unit frame with ventilation port holes 
         B 2 . Mounting apparatus 
         B 3 . Central sound dampening plates 
         B 4 . Chambered Sound dampening plates 
         B 5 . Acoustic sound absorbency baffles 
         B 6 . External noise concealment barrier 
         B 7 . Sound chamber acoustic material filter layer (overlays dampening plates) 
         B 8 . Sound dampening absorbency baffles (sound chamber walls) 
         B 9 . Base layer acoustic filtration screen 
         B 10 . Portholes for air passage 
         B 11 . Sound plate chambers 
       
     
       FIG.  6 - 6   a    
     Components C 1 -C 5   
       [0000]    
       
         C 1 . Upper and lower frame brace with portholes 
         C 2 . Perforated unit body frame 
         C 3 . Unit mount 
         C 4 . Acoustic Enhancement Balancer 
         C 5 . Microphone stand (mounting example) 
       
     
       FIG.  7 - 7   a    
     Components D 1 -D 8   
       [0000]    
       
         D 1 . Adjustable microphone mount 
         D 2 . Sound trap panel 
         D 3 . Removable top mount filter panel 
         D 4 . Acoustic foam sound damping barrier 
         D 5 . Acoustical foam contact layer 
         D 6 . Adjustable rear unit slide on mount 
         D 7 . Rear sound deflector with portholes for open airflow 
         D 8 . Removable top panel mount quick release tabs 
       
     
       FIG.  8 - 8   a    
     Components E 1 -E 2   
       [0000]    
       
         E 1 . Mesh filtration screen (External layer) 
         E 2 . Acoustic fiber material layer (Internal layer) 
       
     
       FIG.  9   
     Components F 1   
       [0000]    
       
         F 1 . Internal sound contact filtering layer 
       
     
       FIG.  10   
     Components G 1 -G 4   
       [0000]    
       
         G 1 . Acoustic Enhancement Balancer (shown in inverted overhead mounting position) 
         G 2 . Acoustic Enhancement Balancer mount 
         G 3 . Microphone boom extension arm (mounting example) 
         G 4 . Microphones stand (mounting example) 
       
     
       FIG.  11   
     Components H 1 -H 3   
       [0000]    
       
         H 1 . Acoustic Enhancement Balancer (shown in inverted overhead mounting position) 
         H 2 . Microphone boom arm (mounting example) 
         H 3 . Microphone stand (mounting example)