Microphone Polar Patterns – Video Examples to learn from
Nov 1, 2008 at 6:08 am in location sound by Josh Mellicker
Omni directional Microphone Pickup pattern
Cardioid Microphone Pickup pattern
Super Cardioid Microphone Pickup pattern
Shotgun (Lobar) Microphone Pickup pattern
Summary of Polar Patterns
For more in depth reading, download this PDF from Neumann http://www.neumann.com/?lang=en&id=company_publications_mic_book
Guy, thank you for a very clear and instructive demonstration.
Very good and imformative
That was the most helpful explanation about polar patterns I’ve ever seen. Thank you!
Hi
I was wondering, which microphones have you been using for the test.
thanks
Those are the top of the line Sennheiser 8000 series along with the Sennheiser 416 shotgun. There are less expensive options out there. We’re just testing the pattern here so you can make an informed decision as to what pattern will work best for your application.
Hi, Enjoyed your video. A very clear and straight forward explanation of microphone polar responses. Great teaching demo. Thank you
Hi there!
Excellent explanation/presentation on microphone’s polar pattern. Thank you!
Of great help!!
This “visual” demonstration really explained tons to a sound novice as I am. I now understand what it is I’m looking at on those heart shaped graphs. Most helpful. Thanks.
Thank you for making these movies.
My students will love them!
You’re welcome
It’s great to hear a “thank you” and that your student will find the demonstrations to be useful – that is *exactly* why we produced these videos – to share knowledge.
Thanks a lot for visualizing the different audio patterns, it makes it all much clearer to me now.
This is fantastic! Is it possible for you guys to do this with a PCC and PZM mic as well?
Nice work! I have been in the av industry for 10 years and there has yet to be a more clear way of showing how these patterns work. I’m going to show this to everyone I know! Thank you.
thank you for the great videos! they are really appreciated
Much more meaningful than diagrams, thanks.
Can I second what Matt said about PZM and boundary mikes. I would like to see them illustrated in similar fashion.
If you watch Manhattan, one of the Woody Allen movies where a group sits around a table in a restaurant, the whole scene is recorded with an omni directional microphone fixed above the table. The microphone can be seen at the top of the frame and it appears to be a Schoeps. For what it was, the sound was great for those scenes.
Woody loves the real location sound, no looping!