Systems and methods for parallel and distributed processing of audio signals produced by a microphone array are described. In one aspect, a distributed signal processing system includes an array of microphones and an array of processors. Each processor is connected to one of the microphones and is connected to at least two other processors, enabling communication between adjacent connected processors. The system also includes a computing device connected to each of the processors. Each microphone detects a sound and generates an audio signal, and each processor is configured to receive and process the audio signal sent from a connected microphone and audio signals sent from at least one of the adjacent processors to produce a data stream that is sent to the computing device.