Mic Polarity

Cardioid (kar-dee-oid) is the most common directional polar pattern, with the highest sensitivity to sound coming in from directly in front of the microphone capsule (0º), practically no sensitivity to sound coming directly from behind (180º), and a reduced sensitivity to sound coming in from the sides (90º/270º).

Does a mic have a positive or negative?

With balanced microphones, polarity is generally given as pin 2 of the microphone output having positive polarity and pin 3 having a negative polarity. From what we've learned above, this means that the microphone diaphragm moved inward causes a positive amplitude on pin 2 and an equally negative amplitude on pin 3.

Does condenser mic have polarity?

Polar Patterns Cardioid mics primarily are sensitive to sound on one side or end of the microphone—that is, they are unidirectional—and reject sound from the sides and rear of the mic. Other polar patterns found in condenser microphones are: Hypercardioid.

Does it matter which way a mic is facing?

The rationale behind hanging a mic upside down comes from tube mics. The heat rising from the tube can cause the diaphragm to change temperature over time, which will change the sound of the mic. Placing the tube above the capsule will let the heat rise without passing over the diaphragm.

Which polar pattern should I use?

The most commonly used polar pattern is most sensitive at 0° and least sensitive at 180°. You cannot go wrong using this for most recording applications. It is easy to get a dry signal as the cardioid pattern blends out a bad sounding room, a noisy fan in the background, etc.

Which polar pattern is best for vocals?

The most commonly used polar pattern for recording vocals is cardioid, which is more sensitive to sound arriving from the front of the mic than the back. Cardioid mics have the advantage of reducing ambient noise; however, they will also colour the sound more than an omni-directional design.

How do you reverse the polarity of a microphone?

If you are seeking polarity cancellation (one mic is 180 degrees out of polarity from the other mic), simply modify a mic cable: at the XLR male connector, unsolder the wire from pin 2 and the wire from pin 3. Interchange the wires and re-solder. Make certain to clearly mark the cable as having the polarity reversed.

What does polarity mean in audio?

The term polarity in audio production refers to the alignment of a waveform, relative to another waveform. Meaning it could be positive(+) or negative(-) from its given median line.

What are the different microphone polar patterns?

There are six main polar patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid, hypercardioid, ultra directional and figure of 8. Most microphones are designed with a specific pattern and are therefore best-suited for specific applications. Other microphones offer selectable polar patterns.

How do I know if my mic is out of phase?

The easiest way to tell if something is in phase or out of phase is if when you flip the polarity, it should sound worse (when the phase relationship is worse you'll hear less low end and smearing of frequencies).

Are condenser mics directional?

In general, the directional characteristics of the condenser microphones are at least as good as can be achieved by any dynamic microphone. But, as always, it's important to pick the right microphone for the job no matter what transducer it may have.

What are the 4 types of microphones?

There are 4 types of microphone:

• Dynamic Microphones.
• Large Diaphram Condensor Microphones.
• Small Diaphram Condensor Microphones.
• Ribbon Microphones.

Which way should a condenser mic face?

You just have to point your mouth to the front of the mic.

How should I angle my microphone?

Mic positioning Front-address mics should be tilted at an angle toward your mouth so your voice hits the head of the mic. A side-address mics pick up sound from the side, rather than the top, so you'll want to orientate the mic head vertically.

What is directional microphone?

A directional microphone picks up sound from an assigned direction, typically from the front of the individual in the context of hearing aids.

Which is better cardioid or omnidirectional?

A cardioid may be the right choice, but often an omni would give a better performance, because of its sonic qualities, low handling-, wind- and pop-noise and lack of proximity effect. Furthermore, the "leakage" in a DPA omnidirectional microphone will sound more natural.

When should you use a cardioid mic?

Cardioid microphones are great for recoding vocals and anything that's supposed to sound “dry” and “close”. Figure-8 microphones are equally sensitive to sound from the front and from the rear, but have great rejection for sound coming from the sides.

What are the 3 types of microphone pickup patterns?

Before we get into some specific benefits for the stage and studio, let's review the basic polar (or pickup) patterns. There are three basic types: omnidirectional, unidirectional and bidirectional (also called figure-of-eight).

What type of microphone is best for vocals?

In my experience, and most musicians and sound engineers' experience, the best microphone type for studio vocals is a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone. It's preferred if this microphone has a consistent polar pattern and a wide, natural frequency response with a boost in the presence range.

What polar pattern are dynamic mics?

As alluded to earlier, cardioid polar patterns are the most common polar pattern for microphones and can be found on everything from small-diaphragm condensers, large-diaphragm condensers, dynamic, lavalier and even USB microphones.