User Manual
7
Cardioid
Figure-8
Omnidirectional
Supercardioid
Wide Cardioid
// Omnidirectional
The omni pattern has the same sensitivity to sound pressure coming from any direction. An omni pattern
provides the best bass response, attest frequency response, and is the least sensitive to handling or
wind noise in comparison to all other polar patterns. It will shine in good sounding rooms and time-
based stereo recordings. It picks up very high frequencies with more directivity leading to higher side
rejection of the signal for these frequencies (this effect turns the omni into gure-8 at the 16 kHz mark).
In most live situations where the picked-up signal is monitored and played back through the PA, feedback
can be an issue.
// Wide Cardioid
A mix between omni and cardioid with all their characteristics.
// Cardioid
The most commonly used polar pattern is most sensitive at 0° and least sensitive at 180°. You cannot
go wrong using this for most recording applications. It is easy to get a dry signal as the cardioid pattern
blends out a bad sounding room, a noisy fan in the background, etc.
// Supercardioid
Supercardioid is even more directive than a cardioid pattern having a bit more side and a bit less rear
rejection. It is very useful in live situations as it allows for very high gain before feedback. It also keeps
the signal very dry; you get mainly the direct signal from your sound source.
// Figure-8
The gure-8 pattern has the same sensitivity at 0° and 180°, it is the least sensitive at 90° and 270°. It
is often chosen for various stereo recording techniques (Mid Side, Blumlein). It can also be very helpful
in situations where you do not want a signal coming from a 90° angle to bleed into the microphone. It
has the highest side rejection of all polar patterns making it very useful to deal with signals bleeding into
the microphone coming from the side. In live recording situations you can achieve fairly dry recordings
although many instruments are recorded in the same room at the same time. In comparison to all other
polar patterns it has the least bass response and it is the most sensitive to wind and handling noise.