A method that uses a microphone array for spatially selective sound pickup during an audio-video recording session is described. An audio signal for the audio-video recording session is generated using a beamforming process from the microphone array in accordance with a sound pickup directivity pattern. Ambient sound pressure level of the audio-video recording session is monitored while generating the audio signal. The sound pickup directivity pattern of the beamforming process is automatically adjusted during the audio-video recording session as a function of the monitored ambient sound pressure level. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.