Last Updated on October 12, 2023 by AG
The quality and clarity of audio recordings depend significantly on various factors, one of which is the polar pattern of the microphone used.
Polar patterns define the microphone’s sensitivity to sound coming from different directions, influencing the way it captures audio in the recording environment.
Understanding the characteristics of different polar patterns can help you choose the right microphone for your specific recording needs, leading to better audio quality and an overall improved recording experience.
A Quick Overview of the Five Main Polar Patterns
- Cardioid microphones: These microphones have a heart-shaped pickup pattern, capturing sound primarily from the front while reducing sensitivity to sounds from the sides and rear. They are a popular choice for recording vocals, instruments, and speech in various settings.
- Omnidirectional microphones: As the name suggests, omnidirectional microphones are sensitive to sound from all directions, making them ideal for capturing ambient sound or situations where the position of the sound source may change, such as field recordings or interviews.
- Bidirectional microphones: Also known as figure-8 microphones, bidirectional microphones pick up sound from both the front and rear while rejecting sound from the sides. They are particularly useful for recording two sound sources facing each other, such as duets or interviews with multiple speakers.
- Supercardioid microphones: These microphones exhibit a narrower pickup pattern compared to cardioid microphones, providing better focus and isolation of sound sources. However, they also have a small pickup area at the rear, requiring careful attention to room acoustics and sound reflections. Supercardioid microphones are well-suited for stage performances or situations requiring enhanced isolation and directionality.
- Hypercardioid microphones: Hypercardioid microphones have an even narrower pickup pattern than supercardioid microphones, offering increased isolation and directionality. However, they also possess a more pronounced rear pickup, necessitating vigilant management of room acoustics and sound reflections. These microphones excel in noisy environments or when the utmost isolation of a sound source is imperative.
Knowing your microphone’s polar pattern is a vital aspect when aiming for high-quality audio recordings. Familiarizing yourself with the five main polar patterns and their applications is a good idea to enable you to make decisions quickly, so let’s look at the patterns in more detail.
Cardioid Microphones
Cardioid microphones have their name because of their heart-shaped pickup pattern, which is designed to capture sound primarily from the front while reducing sensitivity to sounds from the sides and rear. This directional sensitivity makes cardioid microphones adept at isolating the audio source in front of them, minimizing background noise and potential audio interference.
Cardioid microphones exhibit a smooth frequency response, which ensures that the audio captured is natural and true to the original sound source. Additionally, these microphones are less prone to feedback when used in live sound settings due to their focused directionality.
What Are Cardioid Microphones Typically Used For?
1. Studio Recording
Cardioid microphones are a popular choice for studio recording sessions, as their directional nature allows for effective isolation of the desired sound source, whether it be vocals, speech, or instruments. This isolation helps create clean and clear recordings with minimal interference from other sounds in the studio environment.
2. Live Sound Reinforcement
In live sound scenarios, cardioid microphones can be utilized for both vocal and instrument amplification. Their ability to focus on the sound source directly in front of them while rejecting ambient noise makes them an ideal choice for cutting through the mix in a live setting, ensuring that the performer’s voice or instrument is heard clearly.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Cardioid Mics
Pros:
- Effective at isolating sound sources in front of the microphone, leading to cleaner recordings
- Minimized background noise and interference from other sounds
- Smooth frequency response for natural sound reproduction
- Less prone to feedback in live sound settings due to focused directionality
Cons:
- May not capture the full ambiance or atmosphere of a space, as they primarily pick up sound from the front
- Positioning of the sound source is critical, as small changes in angle or distance can significantly affect the captured sound
- Unsuitable for situations where the sound source is constantly changing its position relative to the microphone, as the directional nature of the pattern may cause inconsistencies in the recorded audio
So it is easy to understand why cardioid microphones are so popular for studio and also live recordings. Their versatility, natural sound reproduction, and ability to isolate sound sources while minimizing background noise make them a great mic to work with.
Omnidirectional Microphones
Omnidirectional microphones are designed to capture sound from all directions, offering equal sensitivity to audio coming from any angle around the microphone. This 360-degree sound pickup is due to the absence of directionality in their polar pattern, which results in a natural and open sound reproduction.
Omnidirectional microphones generally provide a consistent frequency response across their entire pickup area, ensuring that audio captured from any direction maintains its quality and fidelity.
What Are Omnidirectional Microphones Typically Used For?
1. Field or Room Recordings
Omnidirectional microphones are an excellent choice for field or room recordings, as they can capture a realistic representation of the surrounding environment. Their ability to pick up sound from all directions enables them to record the full ambiance and atmosphere of a location, making them ideal for capturing nature sounds, cityscapes, or other immersive audio experiences.
2. Interviews
In interview situations, where the position of the speaker may change or multiple speakers are involved, an omnidirectional microphone can be advantageous. By capturing sound from all directions, it ensures that each speaker’s voice is picked up consistently and clearly, regardless of their position relative to the microphone.
3. Conference Settings
Omnidirectional microphones are also well-suited for conference settings, as they can effectively capture the voices of multiple participants situated around a table. Their 360-degree sound pickup allows for clear and consistent audio from all speakers, making them a popular choice for boardroom meetings, panel discussions, or group workshops.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Omnidirectional Mics
Pros:
- Captures sound from all directions, providing a natural and open sound reproduction
- Consistent frequency response across the entire pickup area
- Well-suited for situations where the sound source’s position may change or multiple speakers are involved
- Ideal for recording ambiance and atmosphere in various environments
Cons:
- Lack of directionality can result in the pickup of unwanted background noise or audio interference
- More prone to feedback issues in live sound settings due to their non-directional nature
- May not be ideal for situations requiring focused sound isolation or a high level of background noise rejection
While Omnidirectional Microphones are used a lot for room recordings or capturing the sound of an orchestra, they are not the go-to mic for recording individual musicians, as their lack of directionality can lead to potential drawbacks, such as increased background noise or feedback issues.
Bidirectional Microphones
Bidirectional microphones are also known as figure-8 microphones. They possess a unique polar pattern that picks up sound from both the front and rear of the microphone while rejecting sound from the sides. This characteristic results in a pickup pattern that resembles the shape of the number eight or an hourglass.
Bidirectional microphones provide a consistent frequency response for audio captured from the front and rear, ensuring that sound sources in these areas are reproduced accurately and naturally.
What Are Bidirectional Microphones Typically Used For?
1. Duets
Bidirectional microphones are particularly well-suited for recording duets or any situation involving two sound sources facing each other. By capturing audio from both the front and rear, these microphones can effectively record both performers simultaneously while minimizing the pickup of ambient noise from the sides.
2. Interviews with Multiple Speakers
In interview settings with multiple speakers situated across from each other, bidirectional microphones can be a practical choice. Their ability to capture sound from the front and rear ensures that each speaker’s voice is picked up clearly and consistently, regardless of their position relative to the microphone.
3. Podcasts
Bidirectional microphones can be an excellent option for podcast recording, especially when involving two participants sitting across from each other. The figure-8 polar pattern allows for focused audio pickup from both speakers while reducing side noise, leading to a clean and professional-sounding podcast.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Bidirectional Mics
Pros:
- Effective at capturing sound from both the front and rear of the microphone
- Consistent frequency response for audio sources in front and rear areas
- Ideal for situations involving two sound sources facing each other, such as duets or interviews
- Reduces ambient noise from the sides, leading to a cleaner recording
Cons:
- Limited in applications where sound isolation from the sides is not desired or unnecessary
- May not be suitable for scenarios involving more than two sound sources or sources positioned around the microphone
- Requires precise positioning of sound sources in front and rear areas to achieve optimal results
The unique polar pattern of bidirectional microphones may not be ideal for all scenarios, but they are perfect if you want to record two opposed sound sources at once with just one mic.
Supercardioid Microphones
Supercardioid microphones exhibit a narrower pickup pattern compared to cardioid microphones, providing better focus and isolation of sound sources. However, they also have a small pickup area at the rear, requiring careful attention to room acoustics and sound reflections. The supercardioid polar pattern is characterized by its enhanced directionality and greater off-axis rejection.
What Are Supercardioid Microphones Typically Used For?
1. Stage Performances
Supercardioid microphones are well-suited for stage performances, as their enhanced directionality allows for better isolation of individual sound sources, such as vocalists or instruments. Their improved off-axis rejection also helps minimize feedback and bleed from other instruments on stage.
2. Situations Requiring Greater Isolation and Directionality
In recording situations where greater isolation and directionality are needed, supercardioid microphones can be an ideal choice. Their focused pickup pattern helps minimize unwanted ambient noise and captures the desired sound source with clarity and precision.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Supercardioid Mics
Pros:
- Narrower pickup pattern for better focus and isolation of sound sources
- Enhanced directionality and off-axis rejection
- Ideal for stage performances and situations requiring greater isolation
Cons:
- Small rear pickup area, necessitating careful management of room acoustics and sound reflections
- Less forgiving in terms of positioning compared to cardioid microphones
- May not be suitable for all recording scenarios due to their focused polar pattern
Hypercardioid Microphones
Hypercardioid microphones have an even narrower pickup pattern than supercardioid microphones, offering increased isolation and directionality. However, they also possess a more pronounced rear pickup, necessitating vigilant management of room acoustics and sound reflections. Hypercardioid polar patterns are characterized by their high level of off-axis rejection and extreme directionality.
What Are Hypercardioid Microphones Typically Used For?
1. Recording in Noisy Environments
Hypercardioid microphones excel in noisy environments, as their extreme directionality and off-axis rejection help isolate the desired sound source while minimizing the capture of unwanted noise from the surroundings.
2. Projects Demanding Maximum Isolation of Sound Sources
When recording projects require the utmost isolation of a sound source, such as capturing dialogue on a busy film set or recording an instrument in a loud rehearsal space, hypercardioid microphones can be an excellent choice.
Advantages and Drawbacks of Hypercardioid Mics
Pros:
- Extreme directionality for maximum focus and isolation of sound sources
- High level of off-axis rejection, making them ideal for noisy environments
- Suitable for recording projects demanding maximum isolation
Cons:
- Pronounced rear pickup, requiring careful management of room acoustics and sound reflections
- Less forgiving in terms of positioning compared to cardioid and supercardioid microphones
- May not be suitable for all recording scenarios due to their extreme directionality
So the range of applications for supercardioid and hypercardioid microphones is nearly as narrow as their pickup focus, but for that, they are better suited than any other mic out there.
Tips for Choosing the Right Polar Pattern
To ensure optimal audio quality in your recordings, it’s crucial to choose the appropriate microphone polar pattern for your specific project. Here are some tips to guide you in making the right choice.
Assessing Recording Needs and Environment
Before selecting a microphone, consider the purpose of your recording and the environment in which it will take place. Is your project a live performance, an interview, or a studio recording? Will the environment be noisy or quiet? The answers to these questions will help you narrow down your options and select the most suitable polar pattern for your needs.
Balancing Pros and Cons of Different Polar Patterns
Each polar pattern comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. By evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each pattern, you can make a more informed decision about which microphone type is best suited for your project. Keep in mind the directionality, off-axis rejection, and rear pickup characteristics of each polar pattern when weighing your options.
Considering Additional Factors
While polar patterns play a significant role in determining the appropriate microphone for your project, other factors, such as sensitivity and frequency response, should also be taken into account.
Sensitivity refers to how well a microphone picks up quiet sounds, while frequency response relates to the microphone’s ability to reproduce audio accurately across a range of frequencies. You’ll find more information about the factors to consider in our articles about the different types of microphones and choosing the right microphone.
Conclusion
Microphone polar patterns have a substantial effect on audio quality, as they determine the way a microphone captures sound and how well it isolates the desired audio source. Choosing the right polar pattern for your project can help you achieve optimal audio quality and ensure that your recordings sound professional and polished.
By carefully considering your recording needs and environment, weighing the pros and cons of different polar patterns, and also taking other important factors into account, like sensitivity and frequency response, you can make a well-informed decision and choose the perfect microphone to meet your requirements.