M-Audio Microphone User Manual Download

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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 especially in larger capsules.

Figure 8 or bidirectional pattern

The

figure 8

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-cardioid

pattern 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 off axis

The super-cardioid

pattern has an even

greater focus of sensitivity

than cardioid

In multi-pattern microphones, two cardioids combine