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Cardioid unidirectional pickup pattern
iRig Mic HD 2 has a cardioid (unidirectional) pickup pattern. This design means that it primarily picks up sounds
arriving in front of the microphone as opposed to from the sides or behind, this minimizes the risk of feedback.
This makes it ideal for capturing singing, vocals, speech, instruments and interviews.
TIP: The built-in microphone of your mobile device is great for general recordings thanks to its “omnidirectional”
pickup pattern. This means that sounds coming from all directions are captured almost equally. For this reason
the iRig Mic HD 2 is a great choice when increased clarity and isolation from unwanted sound is required.
Proximity effect
iRig Mic HD 2 is unidirectional, therefore it changes its response to low frequencies depending on the distance
from the sound source.
If you want more warmth and bass (fuller, bigger voices, for example), speak or sing very close to the
microphone, just a few inches or even less.
If you are searching for a lighter and brighter sound, speak or sing at a further distance from the microphone,
greater than 10 inches/25 centimeters.
This rule not only applies to vocals, the microphone will also respond this way with all instruments and sound
sources.
Recording Applications
Vocals and speech
iRig Mic HD 2 is a great microphone for recording voice and speech — like interviews. As said, the proximity
effect allows you to model the sound of your recording. The closer you get to the mic, the more warmth and
bass you’ll get. For a “big” vocal sound with maximum presence, get the vocalist within one to three inches of
the capsule (microphone head). The internal buil-in windscreen helps avoid plosives at this close range. For a
lighter sound, place iRig Mic HD 2 further from the vocalist.
The acoustic environment play a key role in the success of a good recording. A room with carpet and curtains
will cause much less reverberation in your vocals, making the recording sound more dry this allows your
recording to be more easily manipulated during the mixing process. By contrast, a room with glass surfaces,
marble, wood floors or tile will yield natural reverb, which may be pleasing to the ear but difficult to remove at a
later time, and make your recording more difficult to mix.
Use iRig Mic HD 2 to record speech and interviews on-the-go with incredible sound quality.
Acoustic instruments
Thanks to its features and its high-quality components, iRig Mic HD 2 can also be used for recording acoustic
instruments with studio-quality sound. For example, place iRig Mic HD 2 so that it’s facing the neck of an
acoustic guitar— right where the neck joins the body (usually around the 12th or 14th frets) — for a balanced
sound with plenty of sparkling high-end. Place the microphone in front of the soundhole to capture a blend
of low-end. Or, for more high-end detail, place the microphone farther from the guitar either at the same neck
