Microphones and Mic Technique with Alex the Audio Scientist

Welcome, students! For my first lesson of the new year, I’ll be focusing on a key piece of equipment in your studio – your microphone. The video below is chock full of helpful info, but before we get to that I want to give a quick shout-out to J.L. Rebeor, who was first to comment with all of the correct answers to my quiz last fall. You can check out her ACX profile here. Congrats, J.L.!

Now, on to the lesson. And be sure to stick around for today’s quiz, as I’ll once again honor the first commenter to earn a 100% in my next post.

Pencils down! It’s time for our quiz. Leave your answers in the comments below for a chance at a mention in a future blog post.

  1. A microphone’s polar pattern indicates _______.
  2. What are the three basic polar patterns a microphone can have?
    1. _______
    2. _______
    3. _______
  3. What polar pattern is preferred for audiobook recording?
  4. If your microphone is positioned too close to your mouth, you may end up with excessive _______ and _______ in your recording.

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14 responses to “Microphones and Mic Technique with Alex the Audio Scientist

  1. 1. How it picks up sound.

    2. Omni-directional, cardioid and bi-directional.

    3. Cardioid is preferred for audiobook recording.

    4. If your mic is too close you will get excessive pops and plosives.

    3. Cartiod

  2. A microphone’s polar pattern indicates _how it captures the sound_.
    What are the three basic polar patterns a microphone can have?
    _Omni-Directional_
    _Figure 8 or Bi-Directional_
    _Cardioid_
    What polar pattern is preferred for audiobook recording? Cardioid
    If your microphone is positioned too close to your mouth, you may end up with excessive _pops_ and _plosives_ in your recording.

  3. 1. Polar patterns indicate the way a microphone’s element responds to sounds coming in from different directions

    2. Omnidirectional
    Cardiod and super cardioid
    Figure 8

    3. The cardioid pattern is preferred for audiobook production

    4. Excessive sibilance, splosives and other unwanted mouth sounds

  4. 1. A microphones polar pattern indicates how it captures your voice.
    2. The three basic polar patterns are Cardioid, Omni, Figure eight (Bi-directional).
    3. Preferred polar pattern for audio book recording is Cardioid.
    4. You may end up with excessive pops and plosives.

  5. Pickup pattern Cardioid, imnidirectional, and figure 8 Cardioid Pops and plosives

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

  6. Appreciate the tips but can’t figure out how to take the test!

  7. A microphone’s polar pattern indicates how they capture up sound.
    What are the three basic polar patterns a microphone can have?
    Omni
    Bi-directional
    Cardiod
    What polar pattern is preferred for audiobook recording? Cardiod
    If your microphone is positioned too close to your mouth, you may end up with excessive pops and plosives in your recording.
    Thank you for this information, it is always really helpful and has made my sound soooooooo much better!

  8. 1. A microphone’s polar pattern indicates how well it “hears” sound from different directions.

    2. The three basic polar patterns a microphone can have are A. Omnidirectional B. Cardioid and C. Supercardioid, or Figure-8

    3. I think Cardioid is best for audiobook recording.

    4. If your microphone is positioned too close to your mouth, you may end up with excessive mouth sounds and breath sounds in your recording.

  9. Thanks for this series! Clear and straightforward info.
    Reviewing your quiz about this section, here are the answers I got…
    1. A microphone’s polar pattern indicates how it captures the sound; the areas around the mic from where it accepts or tends to reject sound.
    2. The three basic polar patterns a microphone can have are
    A. Omni directional
    B. Bi-Directional (or Figure 8)
    C. Cardiod
    3. The mic with the preferred polar pattern for audiobook recording is one with Cardiod.
    4. Positioning your mouth too close to the mic can render a recording with excessive Pops and Plosives in your recording.

  10. 1) From Which direction it picks up sound.
    2) Omni- Directional
    Bi-Directional
    Cardiod
    3) Cardiod
    4) Pops & Plosives

  11. Reblogged this on jbcreativ and commented:
    For those just starting out and want to know where to start and what type of microphone to get, Alex’s tips will get you on your way!

  12. 1. polar pattern indicates how expensive the mic is 2. three types are akai, shure, and microtech 3. bbst for audio is shure 4. too close cause smoisture and bacteria/mould to collect in the mic

  13. I agree with the Cardiod setting and also use a small amount of compression and plate reverb, does wonders for the voice and lifts it up

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