The human voice is a complex and fascinating instrument. It carries an extraordinary range of subtle inflections and colorful tones that give life to our words and enable us to express our thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
To truly capture its richness and subtlety, no single piece of audio equipment is more critical than a good quality microphone.
But it’s not just about the microphone itself – it’s also about understanding and using one of the fundamental properties that make microphones so versatile in different recording situations: microphone pickup patterns.
Through the years, I’ve found a certain complexity to these patterns essential for every audio professional looking to step up their game with voice recordings.
Moreover, understanding these intricate aspects can significantly enrich our grasp on avoiding unnecessary background noise interference or echo disruptions during a recording session.
So let’s delve into the world of microphone pickup patterns: understanding & using directionality so you can utilize your gear at its fullest potential!
What are Microphone Pickup Patterns?
Microphone pickup patterns – also called ‘polar patterns’ – map out the sensitivity of a microphone to sound arriving from different directions.
In essence, they show how well microphones ‘hear’ sounds from various angles around them. There are three main types of pickup patterns:
- Unidirectional
- Bidirectional
- Omnidirectional
Unidirectional
A unidirectional microphone is designed to pick up sound predominantly from one direction – typically directly in front of the mic.
You’ll encounter three subtypes in this category: cardioid, hypercardioid, and supercardioid, each with unique characteristics.
- Cardioid: Named due to its heart-shaped pattern, cardioid microphones capture sound from the front and slightly on the sides but reject sound from behind.
- Hypercardioid & Supercardioid: These are similar to cardioids but have a narrower focus at the front and slight rear sensitivity.
Bidirectional
A bidirectional microphone has a figure-eight pickup pattern, meaning it captures sound equally well from both directions – front and back – while disregarding sounds coming from sides.
Also Read: The Types Of Microphones & Their Uses
Omnidirectional
An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound evenly in all directions (360 degrees) around its capsule without any preferred order.
It doesn’t matter where the mic is pointed; it will consistently deliver consistent performance.
Each pickup pattern serves different purposes depending on the recording environment and usage intent.
For instance, you might opt for an omnidirectional pattern for capturing natural ambient sounds or choir singers encircling a microphone where you want to register all voices equally.
Conversely, unidirectional microphones prove effective when isolating a single source or reducing background noise during close-up interviews or podcast sessions.
Understanding these three types of microphone pickup patterns – unidirectional, bidirectional, and omnidirectional – can significantly assist in selecting the right mic under various conditions for the optimal acoustic outcome.
How do Microphone Pickup Patterns Work?
Microphone pickup patterns are a testament to how engineering and science combine to amplify our ability to communicate and create.
Let’s investigate the mechanics, physics, and factors influencing these patterns.
The Science Behind Pickup Patterns
We need to understand how sound works to comprehend the science behind pickup patterns.
Sound travels in waves like the ripples created when a pebble is dropped into calm water.
It radiates outwards in all directions from the source. A microphone acts as an ‘ear’ that ‘hears’ these sound waves.
The heart of any microphone, its diaphragm, vibrates when struck by sound waves.
These vibrations convert these waves into electrical energy that gets recorded or amplified (depending on your setup). How much a microphone ‘reacts’ to these incoming sounds from various directions forms its pickup pattern.
Different microphone designs achieve their specific polar patterns through the strategic positioning and design of openings (otherwise known as ports) leading to the back of the microphone diaphragm.
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Polar Patterns and their Behavior
Polar diagrams graphically depict this directionality or behavior of microphones concerning pickup patterns.
For instance, a Cardioid pattern is displayed as a heart-shaped curve on a polar diagram where the flat end faces forward (0°), signifying maximum audio sensitivity in that direction while decreasing sensitivity towards 180° at the back.
For an Omnidirectional microphone, you’d see an unbroken circle denoting evenly distributed sound sensitivity across 360° surrounding it.
As for Bidirectional microphones, you would find an apt ‘figure-eight’ shape indicating equal sensitivity at both front (0°) and rear (180°) sides while offering minimal sensitivity along the ±90° axis (sides).
Viewing these representations simplifies understanding each type’s inherent advantages and limitations, helping you make an informed choice based on your specific recording needs.
Factors that Influence Microphone Directionality
Various factors determine microphone directionality. The primary influences include mic design, the diaphragm’s size and shape, the capsule’s placement within the microphone housing, and the arrangement of ports leading to this capsule.
In addition, acoustic properties of the environment also play a key role in shaping sound perception. Sounds bouncing off walls and other surfaces can enter microphones off-axis and distort their pickup pattern.
Choosing microphone directionality is no less than sculpting sound waves to obtain desired sonic results.
It is essential to evaluate these influencing factors upfront – choosing from cardioid or omni or bidirectional patterns – depending on whether you need broad coverage or selective isolation for your recording purposes.
How do Microphone Polar Patterns Affect Recording?
As I’ve already mentioned, microphone polar patterns play a critical role in influencing the quality of your recordings.
However, understanding how these patterns work in practice is a pragmatic step in crowning you an ace in microphone handling.
Cardioid Microphones
Cardioid microphones are an absolute favorite for studio sessions, live performances, or podcast recordings.
They’re named after their heart-shaped sensitivity pattern, which is concentrated towards the front and rejects sounds from the rear.
Their “directionality” helps reduce room noise and feedback, ensuring that what’s directly in front of them – be it your voice or an instrument – is captured explicitly and precisely.
As a result, cardioids are great for:
- Isolating sound sources.
- Minimizing room reflections.
- Producing warmer tones close up due to their proximity effect.
Also Read: 14 Best Vocal Microphones [Upgrade Your Singing Gear In 2024]
Bidirectional Microphones
Bidirectional microphones, on the other hand, feature a “figure-eight” pickup pattern.
This means they pick up sounds directly in front and behind while ignoring those coming from sides.
Bidirectional microphones offer great accuracy for stereo recording techniques like the Blumlein Pair or Mid-Side (MS) Stereo Technique.
With bidirectional mics, you can:
- Record two sound sources simultaneously.
- Create more open-sounding recordings due to rear sensitivity, providing room ambiance.
Omnidirectional Microphones
Omnidirectional microphones, with their 360-degree capture radius, do not discriminate against sound from any particular direction, making them perfect for capturing the entire sonic environment.
These microphones also exhibit negligible off-axis coloration; even if the sound source moves around the mic or isn’t ideally in line with it, there won’t be any tonality or frequency response change.
Use an omnidirectional mic to:
- Record expansive ambient soundscapes.
- Achieve balanced group vocals or ensemble recordings.
Microphones with Multiple Pickup Patterns
Interestingly, some microphones offer adjustable pickup patterns. These multi-pattern mics often feature selectable cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional (figure-8) patterns and a few derivatives between each main pattern.
Such flexibility can be invaluable when recording various sources in different environments, as it provides multiple microphones in one package.
A multi-pattern microphone gives you the freedom to:
- Experiment with different recording techniques and tonalities.
- Adapt instantly to various recording scenarios.
Let me summarize this by reminding you that understanding the polar pattern of your microphone will allow you to record with intention and precision, providing control over what’s being captured in your audio recordings and what’s being left out.
Roaming blindly in the expanse of sound technology might be exciting for a while, but possessing comprehension will always pave the way to harnessing the potential of any tool to its highest capacity, and microphones are no different!
Types of Microphone Pickup Patterns
One crucial aspect to consider before investing in a microphone is its pickup pattern.
Each pattern provides a unique field of sensitivity that helps determine what will be picked up versus left behind.
These patterns range between capturing everything surrounding the microphone or focusing solely on one specific source.
To help you navigate this essential feature, let’s take a more in-depth look at the different types.
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1. Omnidirectional
An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound equally from all directions around it—an impressively full 360 degrees.
They’re excellent choices for environments where you want to capture full-room audio without favoritism—such as for recording orchestras or choirs or conducting boardroom meetings where everyone’s input is vital.
Pros: Wide reach and room engagement.
Cons: It can capture unwanted background noise due to its all-around sensitivity.
2. Cardioid
The cardioid microphone is named after its heart-shaped pickup pattern. It picks up audio predominantly from the front while minimizing sound coming from the sides and rejecting sounds from behind effectively.
This pattern excels in recording individual sound sources amidst the noise, making it popular for podcasters, vocalists, and streaming gamers wanting to focus purely on their voice without allowing room ambiance or keyboard clacking to disturb their output.
Pros: Focuses directly on the sound source; minimizes background interference.
Cons: Negligible ability for audio registration from the rear.
3. Hypercardioid (Mini-Shotguns)
Hypercardioids, also dubbed mini-shotguns, operate similarly to cardioid mics but exhibit a narrower focus in front with minimal pickup at the back—aiding in increased sound source isolation within noisy environments.
These are often employed for field reporting in public spaces (like news reporting) where ambient sounds might disrupt the piece-to-camera presentation.
Pros: Enhanced focus on the subject, slight noise cancellation from the back.
Cons: Requires careful mic positioning; may lose subject sound if not aligned accurately.
4. Supercardioid (Shotgun)
Supercardioids, or shotgun mics, like hypercardioids, maintain a tight sensitivity field.
Shotgun mics offer an extraordinarily directed pattern with a narrow area of sharpness in front and the tiniest at the back, making it perfect for capturing distant sound sources in outdoor or indoor scenarios—such as bird songs in nature or dialogues on a movie set.
Pros: Excellent at recording distant sounds; provides natural ambiance.
Cons: Limits close-up audio capture due to reduced side rejection capabilities.
5. Lobar (Unidirectional)
The lobar pickup pattern is considered highly unidirectional and comes with some degree of rear sensitivity.
Lobar patterns are most often found in long shotgun microphones that need to pick up audio over greater distances.
Pros: Exceptional ability to isolate far-off sound sources.
Cons: They need careful handling as they’re prone to wind noise.
6. Bidirectional (Figure 8 Pattern)
Last but not least is the bidirectional microphone, which captures sound directly from its front and rear while nearly ignoring sounds coming from the sides—forming a polar pattern resembling ‘figure 8’.
These mics are ideal for duet performances or interview settings where two people speak facing each other with the mic centrally located between them.
Pros: Captures audio from front and rear equally well.
Cons: It is not recommended if you intend to isolate one particular source amongst many as it equally registers sounds directly opposite its frontal capture point, too.
By considering what exactly you’d like your microphone to achieve—whether focusing purely on one speaker, capturing all dimensional soundscapes, or somewhere in between—understanding these six basic types of microphone pickup patterns can lead you toward improving your overall audio recording project.
Also Read: 25 Best Condenser Microphones For Pro & Home Studios In 2024
Choosing the Right Microphone Pickup Pattern for Your Needs
As we delve into microphone pickup patterns, we must consider the sound source, environment, and application before choosing the best way for you.
Here are some details to keep in mind:
Understanding Your Requirements
You must first determine the nature of your recording needs. Are you conducting an interview or podcast?
A unidirectional mic with a cardioid pattern is preferable because it reduces background noise and focuses on the speaker.
If you’re recording audio in a highly ambient setting or trying to capture multiple voices simultaneously — such as during group discussions or choir recitals — an omnidirectional microphone proves more suitable due to its ability to pick up sound from all directions equally.
Analyzing The Environment
The environment can significantly influence your decision for a microphone pickup pattern.
In controlled studio environments where sound can be manipulated, directional microphones (cardioid, hypercardioid, supercardioid) are often ideal as they focus on the intended sound source while minimizing sideway interference.
Contrariwise, in large open spaces or roomy venues with reverberation concerns, omnidirectional mics work exceptionally well as they tend not to spotlight specific sounds and balance out the natural echo.
Versatility and Flexibility
Premium microphones offer switchable pickup patterns, meaning you can change the polar practices based on necessity.
These versatile tools can oscillate between unidirectional (cardioid), bidirectional (figure-of-eight), and omnidirectional patterns catering to a diversified range of recording applications.
Remember that the correct microphone pickup pattern will depend on your specific use case.
Do consider all your recording needs, evaluate your environment, and weigh these factors against the versatility of specific equipment.
Eventually, you’ll find the one that ideally ticks all the right boxes and suits your purposes.
For practical exploration into these concepts, visiting links like Microphone Data can offer a comprehensive list of microphone specs, including detailed discussion on pickup patterns and professional recommendations.
FAQs About Microphone Pickup Patterns
What is a microphone pickup pattern?
A microphone pickup pattern, also known as a polar pattern, highlights the directionality of a microphone, outlining its sensitivity to sounds coming from various angles.
What does an omnidirectional microphone primarily do?
An omnidirectional microphone captures sound from all directions (360 degrees) equally, regardless of where it’s pointed.
When would I opt to use a unidirectional microphone?
A unidirectional microphone is the go-to for isolating sound from one source or reducing ambient noise – perfect for up-close interviews or podcasting.
What is unique about bidirectional microphones?
Bidirectional microphones have a figure-eight pickup pattern, picking up sound equally from the front and back while disregarding sounds from the sides.
Are there subtypes within unidirectional microphones?
Yes, unidirectional mics include cardioid, hypercardioid, and supercardioid microphones – each with distinct patterns determining their precise directionality.
Conclusion
Microphone pickup patterns can make a world of difference in audio recording.
Familiarizing yourself with the basic categories – omnidirectional, unidirectional, and bidirectional– can drastically improve your content’s sound quality.
Remember, it often comes down to choosing the right tool for the job, which entails matching the best-suited microphone pickup pattern to a specific recording scenario.
Hopefully, this guide has demystified the technical jargon and given you a clear understanding of how to use these intriguing microphones’ intriguing properties best.
Here’s to enhancing your audio mastery with a newfound grasp on directionality!
