Holophone (http://www.holophone.com) is now making its PortaMic 5.1
and PortaMic Pro
camera-mountable surround microphones, both currently shipping,
available to the M.I. market.

Using the company's patented design, both PortaMic models allow users
to capture, from a single point source, a discrete surround recording
during live performances, events and even in-studio surround sound
tracks, providing a 3D immersive play-back experience. With advances
in online networking sites, such as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook,
there's an increased need for online content, according to says
Michael Godfrey, president and founder of Holophone. By using a
Holophone to capture live performances, bands can now offer its fans
a realistic surround experience, he adds.

The PortaMic 5.1 offers an avenue for live music production by
recording performances in 5.1 surround sound, enabling musicians to
then upload content to the web and also for enhanced audio/video
demos. Based on the design of the PortaMic 5.1, Holophone's PortaMic
Pro microphone offers a wider feature set designed for professional
audio applications with a higher production budget.

The two PortaMic models are compact in size -- 2.5 x 1.5 inches --
and the mic head is powered through six separate mic elements
arranged to correspond with the typical 5.1 speaker setup in a studio
or home theater.

Holophone's PortaMic 5.1 (US$S599) is designed to be used on most
camcorders or HD DSLR cameras, and taps into the power of the
company's H4 SuperMINI. Holophone's PortaMic Pro offers professional
quality audio and options with point-and-shoot usability; the mic
retails for $999. With the PortaMic Pro, users have additional
control of their recordings with an audio zoom button, similar to a
camera's zoom feature, that increases the forward bias of the mic's
pick-up pattern and decreases the rear channels, giving the user's
recording a more forward bias. The PortaMic Pro also includes a
locking 6-pin balanced encoded stereo output, which provides a
connection to professional grade video cameras and stereo input
devices.

Both PortaMic microphones are equipped with Dolby Laboratories' Dolby
Pro Logic II encoder. This allows the mic's six audio channels to be
encoded down to two channels, so it can be recorded to any stereo
recording device. Recordings made by the PortaMic models are output
line level directly to any stereo device you choose. To ensure a
high-quality recording even in loud environments, such as packed
arenas or outdoor music festivals, the mic features unity gain
control and a 12-db pad, according to Godfrey. The mic and encoder
may be powered by a 9v battery as well as 12v DC from external power
sources.