Traits
of Different Polar Patterns
Omnidirectional
All-around
pickup
Most
pickup of room reverberation
Not much isolation unless you mike close
Low sensitivity to pops (explosive breath sounds)
No
up-close bass boost (proximity effect)
Extended
low-frequency response in condenser mics. Great for pipe organ or bass drum in an orchestra or symphonic band.
Lower
cost in general
Unidirectional
(cardioid, supercardioid, hypercardioid, hemispherical, half-cardioid,
half-supercardioid)
Selective pickup
Rejection of room
acoustics, background noise, and leakage
Good isolation--good
separation between recorded tracks
Up-close bass boost
(except in mics that have holes in the handle)
Better gain-before-feedback in a sound-reinforcement system
Coincident or
near-coincident stereo miking
Broad-angle pickup of
sources in front of the mic
Maximum rejection of
sound approaching the rear of the mic
Supercardioid
Maximum difference
between front hemisphere and rear hemisphere pickup (good for
stage-floor miking)
More isolation than a
cardioid
Less reverb pickup
than a cardioid
Hypercardioid
Maximum side rejection
in a unidirectional mic
Maximum
isolation--maximum rejection of reverberation, leakage, feedback, and
background noise
Bidirectional
Front and rear pickup,
with side sounds rejected (for across-table interviews
or two-part vocal groups, for example)
Maximum isolation of
an orchestral section when miked overhead
Blumlein stereo miking
(two bidirectional mics crossed at 90 degrees)
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