Does an H4N pickup differently if mounted vertically vs horiontially

[cylinder]

I'm trying to use the H4N builtin mics to shotgun some ambient sounds mounted on the camera. I was wondering if mounting the H4n vertically on its side rather than on it's back made a difference or not on the pickup patterns of the mics? Thanks!

 

[Richard Crowley]

The built-in microphones are directional. They are more sensitive out the end they are pointed.
If you mount the H4N "on its back" then the microphones are aimed left and right. Most of us have one ear on each side of our head and that is why the microphones are arranged that way.
If you mount the H4N "on its side" then one channel will record what is above the recorder and the other will pick up what is below the recorder. Using the H4N on its side would be appropriate if your audience is lying on their sides, wearing headphones.

The microphones on H4N and other small recording gadgets with built-in mics are nowhere near as directional as an actual "shotgun" microphone. They would not be very effective, for example, at picking up dialog from a boom, etc.

 

[cylinder]

If you mount the H4N "on its side" then one channel will record what is above the recorder and the other will pick up what is below the recorder.

Along these lines, consider you had a row of people talking:

if you had the recorder on its side, since it would be picking up more of the up/down than left/right sound, would it be better at "focusing" on one person talking? Rather than if it were on it's back it would pick up more of the entire row.
(assume the final audio will be made mono rather than stereo)

 

[Steve House]

Along these lines, consider you had a row of people talking:

if you had the recorder on its side, since it would be picking up more of the up/down than left/right sound, would it be better at "focusing" on one person talking? Rather than if it were on it's back it would pick up more of the entire row.
(assume the final audio will be made mono rather than stereo)

Each mic's pattern is hemispherical so mounting it on its side wont' do much to isolate part of the row but the resulting stereo image is going to be pretty wonky. If you need a shotgun, get a shotgun. It's the whole right tool for the job thing.