There are patterns as to what the microphone picks up. If the microphone were to pick up everything, the recording would not be so great. That's why there are directional patterns, which depend on the microphone. A pick-up pattern is an orientation in 3-dimensional space which is relative to the source(s) of the sound. What orientation this is affects where the sound is picked up.
Types of Microphone Directions
Omnidirectional
means that sound waves can and will be accepted from all sides of the
microphone in an equal manner. Front, back, or sideways, the sound will
be accepted in the same manner as long as the distances are the same.
Bidirectional means that sound waves can only be accepted from 2 directions of the microphone; the front side and the opposite side. The sound is accepted in a figure-8 pattern and sound from both sides is collected equally.
Picture courtesy of http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/studio/teaching/audio/Mics/mics.htm
Unidirectional means that the sound waves can only be collected on one side of the microphone. The pattern is cardioid-shape (think of a heart) and blocks sound from all directions that are not covered by the cardioid.
Picture courtesy of http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/studio/teaching/audio/Mics/mics.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go Back Go Home Next Page
Bidirectional means that sound waves can only be accepted from 2 directions of the microphone; the front side and the opposite side. The sound is accepted in a figure-8 pattern and sound from both sides is collected equally.
Picture courtesy of http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/studio/teaching/audio/Mics/mics.htm
Unidirectional means that the sound waves can only be collected on one side of the microphone. The pattern is cardioid-shape (think of a heart) and blocks sound from all directions that are not covered by the cardioid.
Picture courtesy of http://www.leeds.ac.uk/music/studio/teaching/audio/Mics/mics.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go Back Go Home Next Page