ENGLISH
Directional Characteristics:
Microphones have one or more directional characteristics in order to achieve better sound
recording results, depending on the application. Sound arriving at the capsule from certain angles
can be erased, damped or not influenced at all. How strong or weak these effects are depends on
the microphone. The main polar patterns are omnidirectional and figure-eight, while the cardioid,
wide cardioid, supercardioid and hypercardioid characteristics are mixed.
Example application 1: Omnidirectional
Since the omnidirectional characteristic has no suppression due to the design of the microphone,
sound from all directions can be picked up almost uniformly.
Example application 2: Cardioid
Sound hitting the rear is suppressed or damped by the cardioid characteristic. The focus here is
on the direct signal.
FAME Audio USB Vocal Kit with cardioid polar pattern:
The included USB condenser microphone features a cardioid characteristic that effectively cancels
or attenuates sound from the rear (at 180° or below). This microphone is therefore ideal for
voice, vocal, voice-over and instrument pickups.
(Drawing is for general illustration only and varies according to microphone)
