Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone Targets Apple Immersive Audio

Blackmagic Design announced the Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone on November 13, 2026. The professional spatial-audio device combines 108 MEMS microphones with built-in spatial encoding and is scheduled to arrive in December 2026.

The microphone is designed for immersive video production, including Apple Vision Pro and Apple Immersive content. Blackmagic Design’s official product page describes it as the world’s first 7th order ambisonic microphone with 108 MEMS microphones and a built-in spatial encoder.

Audio capture and connection

An internal processor converts the microphone array’s signals into 64 channels of 32-bit audio in real time. Road to VR reported that the processing uses Apple-licensed array geometry and encoding filters, removing the need for external breakout boxes or separate encoding software.

The microphone connects to a computer or camera through one USB-C cable, which also supplies power. It is class compliant, so drivers and plug-ins are not required. Blackmagic places the microphones flush inside a solid, faceted metal body and says the unit is small enough to fit in a palm or mount on top of a camera.

Blackmagic lists the microphone at $1,909. Road to VR reported a $1,695 price, creating a difference between that report and the official product information. The company has not given a precise shipping date, but says availability is expected in December 2026.

Apple Immersive production workflows

The microphone can be mounted on Blackmagic’s URSA Cine Immersive camera. In that setup, spatial audio can be captured for Apple Immersive content and recorded directly into the camera’s immersive files.

Users can also connect it to a computer to record and mix in real time with Fairlight Live. Road to VR reported that direct recording to an iPhone through the Blackmagic Camera app is supported. Blackmagic also says a USB-to-SMPTE-2110 converter will be available for advanced broadcast workflows.

Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design, said the product began during collaboration with Apple on the URSA Cine Immersive camera. He said Apple licensed its array geometry and ambisonic encoding filters, while Blackmagic handled the engineering and design.

Microphone kit options

The standard Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone includes a Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone Mount. The Blackmagic Ambisonic Microphone Kit adds that microphone and mount, plus a windshield for reducing wind noise on location and a locking USB-C cable for secure attachment.

The announcement also arrives as Apple continues to state its commitment to visionOS and spatial computing. At an Apple “Meet with Apple” developer session, Yuri Imoto, a product manager in Apple’s Spatial Computing division, said the company remains committed to the platform. The session covered surgery, healthcare, education, training and immersive film.

Road to VR reported that Apple’s latest XR headset release was the October 2025 M5 hardware refresh of Vision Pro. That update improved processing performance, visual clarity, refresh rate and comfort, but was described as an incremental upgrade rather than a next-generation headset. The report also said Apple has been developing spatial content, including immersive documentaries and live MLB baseball games, while adding third-party support for tracked controllers and accessories.

Apple’s platform commitment does not necessarily confirm continued investment in Vision Pro hardware. Apple is also developing smart glasses and augmented-reality hardware that could support versions of visionOS. An unsubstantiated report from Apple supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a possible Vision Pro 2 could be delayed to late 2028 or 2029 at the earliest as Apple focuses on smart glasses by late 2027.

According to MacRumors’ report on Kuo’s claims, Apple had removed plans for a second Vision Pro and a lighter Vision Air, leaving two smart-glasses products in development: AI glasses intended to compete with Meta Ray-Bans and display-equipped augmented-reality glasses. Kuo expects the AI glasses in 2027 and the display-equipped model, using optical waveguides, in 2029 at the earliest. Those claims were not confirmed by Apple.