A spherical blackmagic ambisonic microphone sits on a tripod in a sunlit rainforest, surrounded by birds and insects.

Blackmagic’s Ambisonic Mic Records Full Spatial Sound With One USB-C Cable

2026-11-14

Blackmagic Design has announced a spatial audio microphone that packs 108 tiny microphones into a solid, faceted metal body small enough to sit on top of a camera. The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone costs $1,695 and is built for immersive video production.

Ambisonics is a recording method that captures sound from every direction at once, so playback can reproduce where each sound came from. Blackmagic describes the new device as a 7th order ambisonic array. It uses 108 digital MEMS microphones, which are micro-electromechanical systems packed onto a chip.

Ambisonic sound is only one part of an immersive production, and the staging matters too. CREACTION Studio’s immersive stage, light, and sound shows how these elements can be designed together.

“The MEMS microphones are mounted flush in a solid, faceted metal body, making the design extremely strong for professional use while remaining small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, and be mounted on top of a camera,” Blackmagic says.

Ambisonic microphone shown with its windshield installed on the spherical body. — Blackmagic Design Ambisonic Microphone shown here with its windshield installed.

How the blackmagic ambisonic microphone works

The microphone also handles its own processing. An internal processor runs Apple’s encoding filters and converts the 108 capsule signals to seventh-order ambisonics in real time. Users do not need separate software or a breakout box.

A single USB-C cable supplies power and carries the audio. The mic mounts directly on the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera, and Blackmagic says recording spatial audio requires only plugging it in.

Black spherical microphone with a multi-faceted surface on a stand labeled Blackmagicdesign. — A black, spherical microphone array with a geometric, multi-faceted surface mounted on a stand labeled Blackmagicdesign.

The project grew out of Blackmagic’s work with Apple on the URSA Cine Immersive camera. Blackmagic formally announced that camera in June 2024, calling it “the ultimate camera system for making immersive video for the Apple Vision Pro.”

Filmmakers have already used the URSA Cine Immersive to shoot basketball games and rocket launches. The new microphone is designed to pair that imaging with matching sound.

Diagram or display contrasting spatial audio playback with standard two-, four-, and seven-channel layouts. — Playing back spatial audio looks a bit different from standard two-, four-, or even seven-channel audio.

Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty said the idea came from hearing high-resolution spatial audio for the first time during the camera collaboration. “I heard a high resolution spatial audio capture for the first time and it was like hearing an acoustic reality, I was totally blown away,” Petty said.

Division of work was clear. “Apple licensed their array geometry and the ambisonic encoding filters, we did the engineering and design, and the result is an ambisonic microphone where you just plug in one cable and capture true spatial audio,” Petty said.

Screenshot of the microphone's recording interface on screen. — A screenshot of the mic’s recording interface.

Pricing and availability

The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone will go on sale next month for $1,695. Blackmagic Design sells it directly and through its authorized retailers.

Crews who already rely on compact rigs may also want to rethink their support gear. Manfrotto ONE video tripod for filmmaking is worth a look for its streamlined design aimed at working videographers.

At that price, the device gives video crews a dedicated way to record immersive ambisonic audio without assembling a multi-box rig. For productions shooting for headsets like the Apple Vision Pro, the sound now comes from the same tool as the picture.

Via petapixel.com

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone cost?

The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone costs $1,695. Blackmagic Design sells it directly and through its authorized retailers, and it goes on sale next month.

What is ambisonic audio recording and how does it work?

Ambisonics is a recording method that captures sound from every direction at once. This lets playback reproduce where each sound came from.

How many microphones does the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone contain?

The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone uses 108 digital MEMS microphones packed onto chips. They are mounted flush in a solid, faceted metal body.

Does the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone need extra software or a breakout box?

No, the microphone has an internal processor that converts the capsule signals to seventh-order ambisonics in real time. A single USB-C cable supplies power and carries the audio.