FAQ

Microphone Polar Patterns

(also called pickup patterns or directional patterns)

A polar pattern is a graph of a microphone's sensitivity vs. the angle of the incoming sound wave. The farther from center a point on the graph is, the stronger is the mic signal at that angle.

Omnidirectional:

Picks up equally in all directions.

Half-omnidirectional or hemispherical:

Picks up equally over a 180° spherical angle. This is the pickup pattern of PZMs.

All of the following patterns are considered unidirectional because they pick up mainly in one direction.

Cardioid:

“Heart-shaped” pattern that offers maximum rejection (null) at the rear of the microphone.

Supercardioid:

Has a narrower pickup pattern than cardioid, but also has some rear pickup. Note that there are two nulls of maximum sound rejection.

Hypercardioid:

Has a narrower pickup pattern than supercardioid, but also has more rear pickup than supercardioid. Note that there are two nulls.

Half-unidirectional:

The pickup pattern of PCC microphones.

Bidirectional (figure-eight or cosine):

Picks up mainly in two directions (in front of and behind the mic) and rejects sound from the sides.

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)

What else should I consider when purchasing a Microphone?

How do you intend to use your microphone?

Do you need it to perform one specialized task or do you require a general purpose microphone? With Microphone Madness, you get hand-crafted, high quality microphones that are easily customizable for your individual needs.

Sound Quality

We guarantee our products will provide exceptional sound quality and overall performance! Your digital MiniDisc or DAT recorder is capable of handling a very wide frequency range... so why not put all of it to use?

Like everything else in audio, microphones range from budget oriented models to ultra high end systems costing $1,000's. Before you start your research, decide what your budget will be for this project and keep it in mind when evaluating specifications and features. Remember to leave some room for a few accessories, like cables and adapters, you'll be sure to need.

Warranty and Service

With Microphone Madness brand microphones, your microphone comes with a 1 year on parts and labor. If you do need to obtain service for any reason, the helpful engineers at Microphone Madness are only a phone call away and ready to service your microphone in a timely fashion. Bulletproof Build option microphones come with a 2 year warranty on all parts and labor. Your warranty is voided if abused or if the capsule heads are clogged with hairspray or makeup! Bulletproof Builds come with a protective end cap to yield clogs.

Microphone Specifications

Frequency Response

The measure of the consistency with which it translates a given sound pressure level into a given audio signal level at different frequencies.

Polar Response / Polar Pattern / Pickup Pattern

The way in which the element responds to sounds coming in from different directions. The several different kinds of patterns include omnidirectional, cardioid, hypercardioid & figure eight.

Sensitivity

A measure of the output level at a specific SPL level.

Maximum SPL

The maximum SPL a microphone will accept before distorting.

Impedance

The equivalent total AC resistance to current flow that would be "seen" looking into the microphone’s output. Ideally, a microphone should be connected to a load whose input impedance is roughly ten times the mic’s source, or output impedance.

Microphone Types

Dynamic

Works like a loudspeaker; a diaphragm is coupled to a coil of fine wire. The coil is mounted in the air gap of a magnet, free to move about within the gap. As the diaphragm moves in response to acoustical energy, the coil moves within the magnetic field, thereby inducing a small electrical current.

Condenser

A gold plated plastic diaphragm, mounted above a conductive back plate, separated by a small volume of air, form an electrical component called a capacitor. A polarizing voltage (called phantom power) is applied to the diaphragm by an external power supply, charging it with a fixed, static voltage. As the diaphragm vibrates in response to acoustic energy, it moves closer to and farther from the back plate. As it does, the electrical charge that it induces in the back plate changes proportionally, and produces an electrical representation of the diaphragm.

Electret Condenser

Electrets are unique in that the diaphragms are permanently charged in the manufacturing process and retain a static charge indefinitely, thereby requiring no external polarizing voltage. Electrets still require external power (phantom power or an internal battery) for the internal amplifier that is necessary to buffer the high impedance condenser capsule output from the relatively lower impedance of the mic input.

Ribbon

Ribbons employ a transducer system similar to the dynamic microphone, but the diaphragm, a thin, corrugated metal ribbon, is stretched within the air gap of a powerful magnet.

Other Useful Terms

Unbalanced Connection

This is a two-wire system: one wire carries the audio signal, and the other (called the shield) is connected to ground, or the electrical reference point.

Balanced Connection

A three-wire system: two separate wires carry the signal – one inverted in polarity with respect to the other – and the third is the shield, which again is connected to ground. Balanced connections are almost always used for low – impedance microphones. The balanced system is more immune to noise.

Proximity Effect

An increase in low frequency response when a microphone is very close to a sound source. It is an inherent characteristic of directional microphones.

Phantom Power

A system for providing a polarizing voltage for condenser microphones that is sent down the mic line. Most consoles today will generate phantom power.

Mic Pad

Usually a switch on the mic or on a console input that would effectively reduce the output of a mic by a predetermined amount, usually 10dB. Mic pads are used to avoid overloading mic preamps with high output mic signals.