# can I understand which way sound comes from?

Is it possible to understand which way sound source is located with using microphones? I was thinking using multiple mikes pointed out different ways and getting db differences to predict direction. Would it be accurate?

Edit: Lets say we have control of sound source. For example I can play a instant buzz at a specific frequency from source. Can I use time delays between microphones for getting direction. Is that process can be performed real-time. And if it can possible what kind of hardware should I use.

• How many ways can a sound source be located? – Andy aka Dec 9 '15 at 18:01
• Would it be accurate? Depends. Will your operation site match the assumptions you make while deriving your predictor? – MickLH Dec 9 '15 at 18:06
• It would be better to triangulate based on time delays. If you have three or 4 microphones, you can tell where the sound is coming from by measuring the relative time delays to the microphones. The one that heard it first is closest to the source, etc. Using trigonometry you can calculate the exact angle (in 2D). – mkeith Dec 9 '15 at 18:40
• better to use omnidirectional microphones and measure the time delay. example code for measuring distance between microphones: gist.github.com/endolith/376572 or combine amplitude and delay information, like the DUET algorithm – endolith Dec 9 '15 at 19:19