Polar Patterns

What is Polar Patterns?

Polar patterns refer to the directional sensitivity of a microphone, i.e., how well it can pick up sound from different directions.

There are several types of polar patterns, including omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid, and bidirectional. An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound equally from all directions, while a cardioid microphone is most sensitive to sound coming from the front and less sensitive to sound coming from the sides and rear. A supercardioid microphone is even more directional than a cardioid microphone, while a bidirectional microphone is sensitive to sound coming from two opposite directions. The choice of polar pattern depends on the application and the desired recording result.