marstaton4
Well-known member
I'm a little confused on this. Does the orientation of a shotgun or cardioid mic matter. As in it's pointed in the same direction but the mic is physically rotated in the shock mount?
How to read polar chart.
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ullanta
Veteran
Generally, a mic with a round diaphragm has a 3-d polar pattern obtained by rotating the planar pickup pattern around the axis.
That is, as long as the mic is pointed at the source properly, it's rotation about the axis doesn't generally matter.
Mics with non-round diaphragms (e.g., ribbons) do have some effects of rotation to some degree.
Also, a mic's housing has some subtle effect on the pickup pattern, and the long interference tubes of shotguns have all sorts of weird effects on non-direct sound which may not be symmetrical all the way arround the axis. But these efects of rotation are extremely subtle, and generally not worth worrying about...
That is, as long as the mic is pointed at the source properly, it's rotation about the axis doesn't generally matter.
Mics with non-round diaphragms (e.g., ribbons) do have some effects of rotation to some degree.
Also, a mic's housing has some subtle effect on the pickup pattern, and the long interference tubes of shotguns have all sorts of weird effects on non-direct sound which may not be symmetrical all the way arround the axis. But these efects of rotation are extremely subtle, and generally not worth worrying about...
John Willett
Veteran
Generally speaking rotating the microphone in the shockmount has no change as the polar-pattern is the same all round if you twist it on it's 0º axis.
A polar-pattern is measured (if done properly to international standards) at eight set frequencies: 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz & 16 kHz.
As eight frequencies on top of each other would be confusing, most microphone manufacturers measure the first four and then the second four - they then cut the plots in half (as they are symmetrical on both sides) and print the low frequencies on the left and the high frequencies on the right - this just makes them easier to read.
If you see polar patterns measured at frequencies other than those above, ask the question "why?" as these frequencies are agreed internationally.
I hope this explains it OK.
John Willett
Veteran
Yes - but the fig-8 is the SIDE capsule, *not* the MID :laugh::nads:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Simple explanation to the OP:
A polar pattern is a "BALLOON"... NOT a flat "disk".
You are looking at a cross-section of the pattern... as if you could cut it in half and look inside. That's why I'm always talking about the bubble... for good sound you work the bubble with your knowledge of what the mic does... and you can hear the results, even though you can't see the polar pattern in use. If you know the pattern of a mic you can use that as a guideline and do the rest with your ears. The pattern tells you what to expect.
A polar pattern is a "BALLOON"... NOT a flat "disk".
You are looking at a cross-section of the pattern... as if you could cut it in half and look inside. That's why I'm always talking about the bubble... for good sound you work the bubble with your knowledge of what the mic does... and you can hear the results, even though you can't see the polar pattern in use. If you know the pattern of a mic you can use that as a guideline and do the rest with your ears. The pattern tells you what to expect.
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MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
Dude it was for the OP... not you guys.
Do you think a guy that doesn't understand a polar pattern is asking the question regarding his figure-8?
OK... to the OP... this does NOT apply to figure-8 capsules... and probably not to most ribbon mics either... so if you are asking about this for your Royer ribbon mic... the pattern will change with axial orientation... but if you were asking a general question that applies to most mics... such as Oktava or normal shotgun... my simplification should help you understand
Do you think a guy that doesn't understand a polar pattern is asking the question regarding his figure-8?
OK... to the OP... this does NOT apply to figure-8 capsules... and probably not to most ribbon mics either... so if you are asking about this for your Royer ribbon mic... the pattern will change with axial orientation... but if you were asking a general question that applies to most mics... such as Oktava or normal shotgun... my simplification should help you understand
John Willett
Veteran
That's why I answered simply in my earlier post as I did.
Actuallyit *does* apply to a fig.8 and ribbon in exactly the same way as it applies to every other mic.
A fig-8 is like two balloons stuck together.
It only doe not apply when a fig-8 is used as a side mic. where the twist would be *across* the axis rather than *along* the axis.
ullanta
Veteran
Actually, not quite. That's why I specified "round diaphragm" mics. A ribbon mic, because of its inherent asymmetry, has differences in frequency response with rotation about the main axis. Any mic with an asymmetrical diaphragm/ribbon will show at least some effects of rotation about the axis.
Violet makes that weird kidney-shaped diaphragm for one of their mics... I have no idea what differences that will make!
marstaton4
Well-known member
Thanks guys!