Microphone Pickup Patterns
Pickup Pattern↕ | Sensitivity Angle↕ | Rejection Direction↕ | Proximity Effect↕ | Best Use Cases↕ | Example Microphone↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardioid | 131 degrees | Rear (180 degrees) | Moderate | Vocals, podcasting, live performance, instrument close-miking | Shure SM58 |
Supercardioid | 115 degrees | Rear sides (125 degrees) | Moderate-high | Loud stages, drum overheads, dialogue with bleed rejection | Neumann KM 185 |
Hypercardioid | 105 degrees | Sides (110 degrees) | High | Film dialogue, very loud stages, maximum isolation | Sennheiser MKH 50 |
Omnidirectional | 360 degrees | None | None | Room ambience, lavalier mics, orchestral recording, measurement | DPA 4006A |
Figure-8 (Bidirectional) | Two 90-degree lobes | Sides (90 / 270 degrees) | High | Ribbon mics, Blumlein stereo pair, interview across table, M/S recording | Royer R-121 |
Shotgun (Lobar) | Narrow ~40 degrees | Sides and partial rear | Low | Film production, wildlife recording, sports broadcast, ENG | Sennheiser MKH 416 |
Wide Cardioid (Sub-cardioid) | 180 degrees | Partial rear | Low-moderate | Choral recording, room mics, piano, natural capture | Schoeps MK 21 |
Boundary / PZM | Hemisphere above surface | Below surface | None | Conference tables, stage floors, kick drum inside, theater | Crown PZM-30D |
Multi-Pattern (Switchable) | Variable | Variable | Pattern dependent | Studio versatility, condenser vocal mics, A/B testing patterns | Neumann U 87 Ai |
Toroidal | 360 horizontal, null at top/bottom | Directly above and below | None | Surround recording, ambisonic capture, immersive audio | Sennheiser AMBEO VR Mic |
Parabolic | Extremely narrow, dish-focused | All except focal point | None | Sideline sports, nature documentary, long-range surveillance audio | Telinga Pro 7 Dat |
Mid-Side (M/S Pair) | Adjustable stereo width | Depends on mid mic | Varies | Film stereo, broadcast, mono-compatible stereo recording | Schoeps CMIT 5U + MK 8 |
XY Stereo Pair | Fixed 90-135 degree spread | Rear of each capsule | Moderate per capsule | Field recording, acoustic ensemble, interview stereo | Rode NT4 |
ORTF Stereo Pair | 110 degree angle, 17 cm spacing | Rear of each cardioid | Moderate per capsule | Orchestral recording, natural stereo image, film ambience | Schoeps MSTC 64 ORTF |
Decca Tree | Three omnis in triangle | Minimal per capsule | None per capsule | Full orchestra, film score recording, large ensemble | DPA 4006A x3 on Decca tree |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Frequently asked questions
How is the Microphone Pickup Patterns list ranked?
The Microphone Pickup Patterns list is currently sorted by the source data's default ordering. Community voting is not enabled on this dataset.
How many entries are in this Microphone Pickup Patterns dataset?
This dataset contains 15 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Microphone Pickup Patterns data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 15-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
Related Datasets
More in Technology
Headphone Brands
Leading headphone and audio brands spanning consumer, audiophile, and professional segments.
Headphone & Earbuds Brands
AirPods, Sony WH-1000XM5, Bose, Sennheiser — the headphones glued to the world's ears.
VPN Services
VPN Services
Famous Expedition Vehicles & Craft
The Lunar Rover, Kon-Tiki raft, Trieste bathyscaphe, Spirit of St. Louis — which exploration vehicle made the boldest journey into the unknown?
Handheld PCs
Handheld PCs
CPU Generations
CPU Generations (Desktop & Mobile)
AI Models & LLMs Ranked
GPT-4, Claude, Gemini, Llama — the AI models reshaping civilization, ranked by the humans they might replace.
JavaScript Frameworks
Popular JavaScript and TypeScript frameworks and libraries for frontend, backend, and full-stack development.
Social Networking Services
Social media platforms and networking services worldwide.
AI Chatbots & Agents
AI Chatbots & Agents
Essential Phone Apps
The apps that define modern smartphone life — from communication to productivity to time-wasting.
Types of Insulation Material for Buildings
Fiberglass batts, spray foam, cellulose, mineral wool, aerogel — which insulation material traps heat best while being safest to install?