7
Microphone Polar Patterns and Other Specifications
Before we can understand how stereo microphone arrays work, we need to understand microphone polar patterns. These are explained in this chapter, as are other specifications that will help you choose appropriate microphones and accessories for stereo recording.
Polar Patterns
Microphones differ in the way they respond to sounds coming from different directions. Some respond the same to sounds from all directions; others have different output levels for sources at different angles around the microphone.
This varying sensitivity versus angle can be graphed as a polar pattern or polar response (see Figure 7–1). Polar patterns are plotted on polar graph paper as follows: In an anechoic chamber, ...
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