High-quality Ambisonics audio representation due to digital MEMS microphones
The output of the ZYLIA ZM-1 Ambisonics microphone is not the output of any physical capsule but the output of the b-format. That is a combination of signals from all microphone arrays microphones and the quality of DSP behind it. It is crucial that all microphone capsules have exactly the same sensitivity parameters and do not change over time.

No need for ZYLIA ZM-1 microphone re-calibration
Digital MEMS microphones keep their parameters, such as sensitivity, over time. Therefore, usage of Infineon XENSIV™ MEMS meets the requirements of high-quality output Ambisonics signal.

Matched sensitivity parameters
All Zylia microphone arrays are calibrated in an anechoic chamber using a reference microphone and loudspeaker. Based on these measurements, the sensitivity of 19 microphone capsules is corrected to match the same value +/-0.1 dB. Moreover, calibration data are stored on internal memory inside ZYLIA ZM-1.

Ambisonics filters and B-Format
Based on anechoic measurements, dedicated filters are created that are used to generate b-format (Ambisonics) files. There are around 1000 measurement points during this procedure. Those filters are included in ZYLIA Ambisonics converters, plugins and applications.

Comparison to electret or condenser-based microphone arrays
Therefore, the advantage to other microphone arrays based on electret or condenser microphones is that there is no need to calibrate ZM-1; it is already calibrated. If just one of the microphone capsules changes its parameters over time (sensitivity), the recordings will be distorted with additional noise. Therefore, Electret or condenser-based microphone array has to be recalibrated every 2-3 months. Re-calibration is not needed with ZYLIA ZM-1. All microphones are calibrated before shipping to customers with a maximum sensitivity variance of 0.1 dB.

Digital MEMS vs. analog circuits
Infineon digital MEMS used in ZYLIA ZM-1 does not contain analog components. Therefore, they do not introduce any additional noise. In the case of electret or condenser microphones, there is a need to use a preamplifier and analog-to-digital converter. Therefore, the total Signal to Noise (SNR) parameter is a sum of the microphone, pre-amplifier, and ADC. These components can also variable SNR over time or be influenced by temperature. Digital MEMS used in ZYLIA ZM-1 always provide the highest possible SNR.

High-order spatial and Ambisonics audio for binaural recordings
ZYLIA ZM-1 is a 3rd Ambisonics microphone due to 19 capsules. Therefore, it is possible to downscale it to 2nd or 1st order. However, in the case of binaural recordings, a high order of Ambisonics is a must. The higher, the better. Ambisonics order is responsible for the spatial resolution and the overall quality of produced binaural audio.