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| Image by VideoMaker |
While
all mics essentially pick up the same audio, they don’t all pick up
audio the same way. The various types of microphones are designed for
specific uses.
To the typical
non-golfer, all golf clubs are the same. In fact, it seems a little
crazy to carry 10 of them around just to get that little ball into the
hole a couple hundred yards away. But expert golfers know that every
club has its own unique and very specific purpose. Knowing the potential
of each club and how to select the correct one at the correct time is a
big part of a professional golfer’s game. In a similar way, microphones
may all seem pretty much the same to the uninitiated videographer. They
all let you record audio, right? Do you really need more than one?
Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each mic type will help the
savvy shooter choose the right microphone for every job. A big part of
this is a simple understanding of the four most common pickup patterns
employed by the majority of mics and how they affect your sound quality.
Most
handheld microphones use cardioid or hypercardioid pickup patterns that
record sound waves primarily in the direction the microphone is pointed
and from the sides in a heart shaped pattern, without entirely
rejecting sound coming from behind the mic. Cardioid mics generally
capture audio in a more rounded area in front of the mic, while
hypercardioids offer a more elongated range of sensitivity and suppress
more sound from the sides than their cardioid cousins.
3 - Bidirectional
If you need to record clear audio to the sides of your mic, but want to supress sound coming from the top and bottom, a bidirectional mic is the choice to make. Mics of this type can be positioned on a table between two interview subjects (think of the big, cool looking mic that sits on David Letterman’s desk), and are often used by artists who record rock music and voice talent in vocal booths.4 - Unidirectional
Most
shotgun mics are highly directional and record audio only in the
direction that the barrel of the mic is pointed. They are typically
mounted on long boom poles and held over the head of the subject, just
outside the visible part of the frame. The long, narrow pickup pattern
of unis makes them the mic of choice for producers making films or shows
built on actors delivering dialogue. They offer good range, and reject
unwanted ambient audio well.
As
you shop for your next mic (or mics), remember to pay close attention
to its pickup pattern. The shape and appearance of the mic is not always
a good indicator of the pickup pattern and performance. The best way to
know what you’re getting and to find what you need is to do a little
research on the model number. Look for the pickup pattern fields in Videomaker’s
microphone reviews and buyer’s guides, and on manufacturer websites.
Now, put down that boom pole and hand me my driver. It’s tee time.
Chuck Peters is a 3-time Emmy award winning writer and producer. He is currently VP of Production at KIDMO/Rivet Productions.
August 30th, 2013
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