ECHO project - PAMA

ECHO project - PAMA

Simon Ratcliffe supposed the PAMA array and it has some very interesting advantages.

But let's Simon speak for himself:

Objective: Stemming from orchestral film and game music, PAMA  (Prototype Atmos Microphone Array) is an in-progress design that aims to extend traditional recording configurations into the immersive space, while ensuring Dolby Atmos compatibility across theatrical and home entertainment platforms, and consecutive fold-downs and workflows typical of media score delivery.

Configuration: Anchored on a modified Decca Tree + wide pair, and extended by sides, rears and height microphones, reflecting 7-0-4/9-0-4 speaker configurations. By addressing the beds, but preserving the heights as a quad-width object, a combination of speaker arrays and front-to-back height can be addressed to extend the soundstage.

The array seeks to self-correct observed issues for theatrical and HE playback by a combination of polar patterns.  1) The use of bidirectional microphones help with the observed side-surround/surround array high load of information (especially in the lower mids) characteristic of omnidirectional microphones, we well as extending the natural ambience of the recordings through their non-directionality, and in combination with the rear super-cardioid microphones and wide channels, work well in decorrelation and provide good fold-down characteristics when delivering stereo or 5.1, as well as binaural Atmos. The height channels assigned as overhead objects, when panned 75% in from from and rear cardinal points, suitably address theatical arrays and HE systems in facilitating overhead L/R and F/R, further addressed by the rear Height mics being 10cm higher than the fronts." [source]

As always, we are trying to strip down the weight and use as few gear as possible.
But this array is a real challenge.

We know that the availability of SDC figure-of-eight microphones is very limited. This is especially true if you are on a budget. Great options include the Sennheiser MKH800 (used in the original setup), Schoeps, and other Sennheisers. After that, the choices become very limited. 
Also, keep in mind that the microphones have different sensitivities. This may make it difficult to set your gains.

It's a pity that AKG has decided to sunset their "blue line." However, if you act quickly, you might find your microphones on well-known online vintage gear selling platforms.

The tutorial and shopping list are currently in the making. As mentioned, this is quite challenging, so please allow us some extra time.

Stay tuned.