M-Audio Microphone

Omni also exhibits significantly less proximity effect than cardioids.One result is that omnis are

somewhat less sensitive to the movements of an animated vocalist.Another is that omnis tend to

have less need for EQ. As mentioned earlier,while omnis pick up 360 degrees of sound,they tend

to be more directional as frequencies increasees pecial ly in larger capsules.

Figure 8 or bidirectional pattern

The figure 8 or bidirectional pattern is equally sensitive on the two opposing faces of the

microphone,yet rejects sound from the sides.This pattern does exhibit the proximity effect found

in cardioid patterns.

The figure 8 is excellent for capturing a duet or face-to-face

interviews with a single mic.The —40dB side rejection spec

also makes it great for isolating an instrument like a snare

from the rest of the drum kit.Figure 8 is also one of the key

components of M/S (mid-side) mikingan advanced stereo

recording technique well look at little later.

Super-cardioid pattern

The super-cardioidpattern exhibits an even narrower area of

sensitivity than the classic cardioid and is used for very

sonically focused recording. Super-cardioid is great for

zeroing in on that perfect sweet spot for instruments such

as piano or drum.This pattern is also ideal for live recording

sessions where isolation is important,including minimizing

bleed between a vocalist and their own instrument.

Single pattern vs. multi-pattern mics

The most inexpensive way to make a microphone is with a

single fixed pattern.Cardioids have openings in the backs of

the capsules that produce the physics of a unidirectional

pattern.This is an inherently fixed pattern design.An omni-

directional pickup pattern can be achieved by sealing the

back of the capsule, resulting in another fixed pattern.

Super-cardioids employ yet a different design.In most cases,

different back-end electronics are required for each pattern,

thus making it difficult to make interchangeable capsules.

The secret to building a single mic with multiple pickup

patterns is placing two cardioids back-to-back in

combination with various electronic tricks. An omni-

directional pattern occurs as the result of wiring two back-

to-back cardioids in phase with each other.Similarly,those

same two opposing cardioids wired out of phase yield a

figure 8 or bi-directional pattern*. Tweaks to the polarity

and output level result in a super-cardioid pattern.While

the presence of two high-quality diaphragm/backplate

assemblies increases the cost,this solution provides the

best polar pattern performance and is still significantly less

expensive than buying multiple microphones in order to

have a choice of patterns at your disposal.

This approach to capsule design can be seen in the M-Audio Solaris.The Solaris employs an

opposing pair of the same diaphragm/backplate assemblies, thus allowing for the selection of

multiple patterns via switches on the body of the mics.

*Tip: Note that the out-of-phase wiring of the two sides of a figure 8 capsule can play tricks on the

uninitiated.One side will sound strange to a vocalist or speaker who is simultaneously monitoring the mic

Choosing & Using Microphones

Figure 8 patterns are

sensitive on opposing sides

and exhibit strong rejection

at 90 degrees offaxis

The super-cardioid

pattern has an even

greater focus ofsensiti vity

than cardioid

In multi-pattern microphones, two cardioids combine

in different ways to create other patterns

30dB

20dB

10dB

0dB

10dB

20dB

120

330

300

270

240

210

180

150

100 Hz 1kHz 10 kHz

All microphones are less sensitive to high

frequencies offaxis (omni example shown)