As an instructional aid, and / or for professional use, I propose to mount LED(s) on microphones and/or loudspeakers, where the visible polar pattern of the LED(s) match the polar sensitivity or dispersion pattern of the electroacoustic device.

For Instance, an omnidirectional mic would feature a frosted LED uniformally visible from any direction, while a cardioid mic would feature a directional LED matching the polar pattern of the mic. Similarly, figure-8 mics would show the polar lobes from each side, but none from the polar minima.

Loudspeakers would be similarly enhanced, and either could be equipped with frequency-selective lighting (red for low frequency omnidirectionality, through green, yellow, blue, etc., matching the frequency-dependent polar response of the transducer.)

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-- csea, Nov 18 2013

A scanning laser would be better.

[+]
-- 8th of 7, Nov 18 2013


This sounds like a very good idea.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 18 2013


Hang on a sec. Wouldn't all those LEDs block the sound?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 18 2013


// Wouldn't all those LEDs block the sound? //

Two words: "One Direction"
-- 8th of 7, Nov 18 2013


As long as the LEDs are small compared to the wavelength of the highest frequency of interest (20kHz, ~1.7cm) there should be no significant blocking.
-- csea, Nov 18 2013



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