INTRO TO DIGITAL VIDEO

PRODUCTION
DAD 247
Ms Berta A. Ayim
INTRO TO TYPES OF MICROPHONES

 A film is only as good as its audio. While it can be easy to get captivated by
the visual side of a film, audio should be high on the priority list of any
director or producer. Bad audio can quickly turn off an already distracted
audience, so it’s important to pick the right mic for the job. Let’s take a look
at six essential microphone pickup patternsthat every filmmaker should
know.
 There is no one-size-fits-all solution when recording audio on a film set.
TYPES OF MICROPHONES

 1. OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
 2. CARDIOID MICROPHONES
 3. HYPERCARDIOID MICROPHONES
 4. SUPERCARDIOID MICROPHONES
 5. LOBAR(UNDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES)
 6. BIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES
OMNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES

 Omnidirectional mics are the easiest to understand. Simply

put, omnidirectional mics record audio from every direction.Typically you
will want to use an omnidirectional mic when recording audio that you can’t
control very well (like ambience, a press conference, or a moving talking
head). Omnidirectional mics are the most flexible mics, but they are also the
noisiest. It’s certainly a balancing act when on set.
CARDIOID MICROPHONES

 Perfect for: documentary recording, weddings, events

 A cardioid pickup pattern is a highly flexible pickup pattern that is great for
all-purpose use. Cardioid microphones come in all shapes and sizes. A
cardioid mic, while slightly directional, should not be confused with a
hypercardioid or supercardioid mic. Cardioid mics will still pickup background
noise if they are not in a controlled environment.
HYPERCARDIOID MICROPHONES

 Perfect for: on-camera mics, documentary recording, and instrument

recording
 A hypercardioid pickup pattern is a directional pickup pattern that is great
for isolating audio. While you may find some lav mics with hypercardioid
pickup patterns, you’ll typically only see this pickup pattern in shotgun mics.
While every brand is different, the biggest difference between a
hypercardioid mic and a supercardioid mic is how much of the rear and side
noise is picked up. Hypercardioid mics are typically used for instrument
recording.
SUPERCARDIOID MICROPHONES

 Perfect for: reality television, scripted content

 Supercardioid mics are the most popular types of microphones for indie
filmmakers because they give users the ability to isolate audio while still
allowing for a slight margin of error. Supercardioid pickup patterns are
typically only found in shotgun mics which are used on boom poles or
mounted to the top of a camera.
LOBAR(UNDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES)

 Perfect for: narrative film, controlled sets

 While there is technically no such thing as a true unidirectional mic, a lobar
pattern is the most directional pickup pattern you can use. The only
microphone that can have a lobar pickup pattern is a shotgun mic, so you’ll
almost always need someone to assist you when operating a microphone with
a lobar pickup pattern.
BIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES

 Perfect for: podcasts, radio interviews

 A bidirectional microphone is a mic designed to pickup audio equally from
the front and back of the mic. Typically, bidirectional microphones are used
for radio interview recording or podcasting. You will probably not find much
use for a bidirectional microphone on a film set, but they can sometimes be
used as a backup mic for talk shows when placed on the hosts desk.