What Are Microphone Polar Patterns and Gain?
Mics have what’s referred to as polar patterns, which is a elaborate method of claiming instructions of sound that they decide up and reject. Most microphones use what’s referred to as a cardioid sample, the place it picks up what’s in entrance of the microphone, however little to the again and sides. This is nice for a single particular person. Higher-end mics have choices to change to modes for Figure 8, the place the mic picks up the back and front (good for two-person interviews), or omnidirectional, the place it picks up all instructions (good for if it’s good to decide up a complete room’s dialog). There is normally a swap on the microphone that tells you which of them mode it’s in, however for most people, we advocate sticking to cardioid, besides in particular situations like these above.
Another knob you would possibly see on most mics is achieve. This is the knob that adjusts the microphone’s sensitivity. More achieve works higher for selecting up quieter sounds, and you may need much less achieve for louder sounds. Adjust this setting utilizing recording software program and examine outcomes to see what sounds bests. (Some mics even have an auto-gain function of their software program, the place the mic listens and adjusts to loudness routinely.)