What is a cardioid microphone pattern?

Cardioid (kar-dee-oid) is the most common directional polar pattern, with the highest sensitivity to sound coming in from directly in front of the microphone capsule (0º), practically no sensitivity to sound coming directly from behind (180º), and a reduced sensitivity to sound coming in from the sides (90º/270º).

What does pattern on a mic mean?

The polar pattern of a microphone determines the sensitivity at different angles. A polar pattern defines how much of the signal will be picked up by the microphone from different directions. Polar patterns are also sometimes called pickup patterns.

Are cardioid microphones better?

Cardioid microphones are great for recoding vocals and anything that’s supposed to sound “dry” and “close”. Figure-8 microphones are equally sensitive to sound from the front and from the rear, but have great rejection for sound coming from the sides.

What pattern should I use on my mic?

Cardioid A cardioid pickup pattern is a highly flexible pickup pattern that is great for all-purpose use. Cardioid microphones come in all shapes and sizes. A cardioid mic, while slightly directional, should not be confused with a hypercardioid or supercardioid mic.

What polar pattern is best for vocals?

cardioid
The most commonly used polar pattern for recording vocals is cardioid, which is more sensitive to sound arriving from the front of the mic than the back. Cardioid mics have the advantage of reducing ambient noise; however, they will also colour the sound more than an omni-directional design.

What are the most common microphone polar patterns?

Cardioid
Cardioid (kar-dee-oid) is the most common directional polar pattern, with the highest sensitivity to sound coming in from directly in front of the microphone capsule (0º), practically no sensitivity to sound coming directly from behind (180º), and a reduced sensitivity to sound coming in from the sides (90º/270º).

What is a super cardioid microphone used for?

When close-miking sound sources, a supercardioid microphone will really focus on what it is pointed at. This makes it an excellent choice when recording instruments in close proximity or when trying to isolate a particular source in a loud environment.

What type of microphone needs phantom power?

Condenser microphones
Phantom Power is a term given to the process of delivering DC (Direct Current) to microphones requiring electric power to drive active circuitry. Condenser microphones such as Shure’s KSM range all have active circuitry and require phantom power.

Why do microphones have different pickup patterns?

Simply put, microphones come with different pickup patterns for the lack of a brain. Omnidirectional microphones are equally sensitive to sound from all directions. Omnidirectional microphones are microphones that hear everything that’s going on around them.

What are Mic pick up patterns?

The pick-up pattern or reception pattern of a microphone refers to its sensitivity at various angles from on-axis (directly in front) to off-axis. The pattern is represented graphically.

What is a mic pickup pattern?

The pickup pattern of a microphone is the classification for how a microphone picks up sound directionally and its sensitivity to sound based on how the microphone is oriented.

What is power mic?

Power Microphones. Power or pre-amplified microphones require a battery and amplify the audio before it gets to the radio. This is useful for those who speak softly or may have a weaker signal.