Complete Guide To Microphone Frequency Response (With Mic Examples)

Complete Guide To Microphone Frequency Response (With Mic Examples)

Frequency response (along with polar response) is the most important specification of any given microphone. The characteristic sound of any given mic is explained largely by frequency response. What is microphone frequency response? Microphone frequency response is the frequency-specific output sensitivity of a microphone. It details the relative output levels of the sound/audio frequencies a mic…

12 Methods To Prevent & Eliminate Microphone/Audio Feedback

12 Methods To Prevent & Eliminate Microphone/Audio Feedback

Whether you’re a singer, speaker, technician, audience member, or even an at-home hobbyist, microphone feedback is never a welcomed occurrence. Therefore, preventing and eliminating microphone feedback should be of utmost importance when doing any live sound reinforcement. Here Are 12 Effective Methods For Preventing/Eliminating Microphone Feedback: Let’s discuss each of these methods in more detail…

Full List Of Microphone Specifications (How To Read A Spec Sheet)

Full List Of Microphone Specifications (How To Read A Spec Sheet)

There are many ways to describe microphones and many ways in which mics differ from one another. Whether qualitatively or quantitatively, a microphone’s important differentiators and characteristics are listed in a manufacturer-made document called a microphone specifications sheet or datasheet. What is a microphone specifications sheet, and how do we read one? A microphone “spec…

What Is A Cardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

What Is A Cardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

Among the tens of thousands of microphone designs, the cardioid polar pattern is the most popular. As an audio engineer, I use cardioid mics more than all other mic polar patterns combined. What is a cardioid microphone? A cardioid microphone has a unidirectional cardioid polar/pickup pattern. It is most sensitive to on-axis sounds (where the…

The Hemispherical Boundary Microphone/PZM Polar Pattern

The Hemispherical Boundary Microphone/PZM Polar Pattern

The boundary microphone (aka pressure zone microphone) is an often overlooked microphone with a misunderstood polar pattern. Setting these mics up properly will help tremendously to capture the character of an acoustic space, so it’s worth knowing about the polar patterns of boundary/PZM mics. What is a hemispherical boundary/PZM microphone polar pattern? A boundary or…

What Is A Subcardioid/Wide Cardioid Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

What Is A Subcardioid/Wide Cardioid Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

The subcardioid or “wide cardioid” microphone polar pattern is a lesser-known cousin to the famous cardioid pattern. Knowing about this polar pattern and its pros and cons will certainly aid in mic selection and understanding, whether you’re an amateur or professional. What is a subcardioid/wide cardioid microphone? A subcardioid (aka wide cardioid) microphone has a…

What Is A Hypercardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

What Is A Hypercardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

The hypercardioid is an often misunderstood relative of the well-known cardioid microphone polar pattern and is often confused with the supercardioid pattern. Understanding hypercardioid polar patterns and their ideal applications will improve your efficiency both on stage and in the studio. What is a hypercardioid microphone? A hypercardioid microphone has a very directional hypercardioid polar/pickup…

What Is A Supercardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

What Is A Supercardioid Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

The supercardioid is an often misunderstood relative of the well-known cardioid microphone polar pattern. Understanding the supercardioid pattern and when to use it will benefit you greatly in both the studio and the stage. What is a supercardioid microphone? A supercardioid microphone has a very directional supercardioid polar/pickup pattern. It is most sensitive to on-axis…

What Is A Bidirectional/Figure-8 Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

What Is A Bidirectional/Figure-8 Microphone? (With Mic Examples)

The bidirectional (aka figure-8) microphone polar pattern is one of the three main polar pattern types (along with omnidirectional and cardioid). Understanding the ins and outs of the bidirectional pattern and how it’s achieved in microphones will help lay a solid foundation for your understanding of mic polar patterns and microphones in general. What is…

What Is An Omnidirectional Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

What Is An Omnidirectional Microphone? (Polar Pattern + Mic Examples)

The omnidirectional microphone polar pattern is perhaps the simplest polar pattern and is one of the three main polar pattern types (along with bidirectional and cardioid). Understanding the omnidirectional pattern and how omnidirectional microphones perform will give you a solid foundational knowledge of mic polar patterns and microphones in general. What is an omnidirectional microphone?…