Today I am discussing uni-directional microphone patterns. Here are a few thoughts and ideas. If you have any questions or knowledge that you want to share feel free to post a comment.
When I first started using microphones, I didn’t fully realize the power of different polar patterns. After years of recording and receiving other peoples recordings to mix, I have learned how important it is to understand and select the right polar patterns for different situations. The wrong polar pattern can ruin an otherwise great performance. It can ruin it by having too much bleed from other instruments. This would put limitations on how you can process signals. It can also ruin a sound if the polar pattern allows the mic to pick up early reflections that could cause destructive comb filtering. The correct polar pattern or the proper use of the one you have can make for a lovely robust recording that stands up well within the mix. Unfortunately, problems caused by microphone misuse can not always be corrected with signal processing in the mix. So, check out this video and feel free to drop any questions below in the comments or shoot me an email.
Thanks for coming along for the ride. Here’s to learning something new!
Jacob Meador
p.s. If you have a suggestion for a topic that you want me to discuss, please comment below or email: manager@orchestratesound.com