When hosting a live event or recording a piece of audio, it’s important to ensure that you choose the right microphone for your setup. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a microphone, as the choice you make will have a huge impact on the quality of the sound output. Part of this is knowing how they respond to sound, and this is influenced by their position with respect to the sound source.
Popular microphone choices include directional and omnidirectional microphones. These two microphone choices have their own features that cater to various recording or live requirements. Let’s delve into the differences between these two microphone types and when would be best to opt for each.
What is a directional microphone?
A directional microphone favours a specific side or direction and has an axis (direction) that it is most sensitive to.. They are most effective at picking up sounds from the front, as opposed to picking up sounds from the sides and rear.
The area of directionality is what is known as a Polar Pattern, which refers to where the microphone collects sound from. The most favoured Polar Pattern used in directional microphones is the Cardioid Polar Pattern, as its directional characteristics mean it will reject unwanted ‘off-axis’ sound.
Directional microphones can be very sensitive to wind noise and it’s highly recommended to use windscreens and cable clips/tape if recording in a windy area. If channel separation is important to you when recording your audio, then a directional microphone would be the preferred option as it allows for the separation of channels to be more precise.
When should I use a directional microphone?
Typically, a directional microphone is used where the sound source is recorded directly in front of the microphone whilst reducing sounds coming from the side or the rear. They can provide crisp, clear recordings as they focus solely on a desired sound which makes them a great choice for podcasts or voiceovers.
Directional microphones are ideal to use in noisy environments when you just want to capture the sound of the speaker and isolate background or unwanted noise. For any recording projects that involve isolating each recorded sound to adjust its level separately, such as when recording a song, a directional microphone would be the preferred choice in this scenario.
What is an omnidirectional microphone?
An omnidirectional microphone operates and picks up sound uniformly well in all directions. Whether a user is standing in front, to the side or to the rear of the microphone, it will record the sound equally.
There are many advantages to using an omnidirectional microphone, such as a reduced proximity effect. Proximity effect occurs when you move the microphone closer to the source and the closer you get, the more bass is added to the sound. Omnidirectional microphones have a lower proximity effect than other microphone styles, including directional microphones. They are also less likely to capture handling noise or lower, unwanted vibrations when recording.
When should I use an omnidirectional microphone?
Using an omnidirectional microphone is best when it’s important that you capture the full scope of the sound, for example if you’re creating an immersive recording. This microphone choice is great when needing to capture a group of people or multiple sound sources. This would commonly be when recording for television shows or a live performance when the audience are expected to hear sounds from all directions.
Omnidirectional microphones are typically used very close to the source, such as lapel, headsets and earset microphones.
Choosing the best microphone
When deciding between a directional or an omnidirectional microphone, the choice ultimately depends on the context of your application. If you’re looking to isolate vocals or a specific sound with no background noise, then a directional microphone is the best option. If you’re looking to capture the complete sound experience, then an omnidirectional microphone is the choice to make.
Having a better understanding of the features and strengths of each microphone type however helps to make a more informed decision that will improve the quality of your recordings. If you’re still struggling to find the perfect microphone for your requirements, our team of experts will be happy to help you find the right one. Contact us on 01274 777 200 or at sales@pasystems.co.uk.
