In the beginning I didn't think I would get much from your channel, all I wanted to do was record my classical guitar. I didn't need all that fancy technical stuff. Funny my recordings are getting a lot better, and I am starting to know what to change when they don't. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Finally, I understand how polar patterns work! Until now, the mechanics of it has always been a mystery to me. When I asked my teachers why polar patterns are the way they are, they would simply reply "because they are..." Can't wait to learn about interference tubes!
A lot of well-deserved praise in the comments. AU makes audio-related content easy to digest without sacrificing necessary (vital) details and educational value.
Thank you Kyle, absolutely brilliant practical presentation of a subject which is difficult to decipher even for engineers since microphone pattern documentation is deeply "buried" in sound engineering textbook. Your explanations and description of available pattern with real-life examples makes it almost easy to select proper microphones. Thank you, Ciao, L
Excellent video! Super informative and easy to understand. Thanks! BTW...I recorded my last album with the Lewitt LCT 640 TS. That mic matched my voice so well that I went out and bought one so I'd never have to worry about using anything else. What a great mic!
I have never in my life recorded anything but the way you explain was enough to keep me listening, very well presented information and interesting topic. I feel like I've learned something essential yet I might never use it. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Kyle. This was great! I was aware of these things but I never bothered to look into them. I don't record much but I'm always happy to pick up random audio knowledge.
Too bad that I can give this video only one thumb up 😢 It’s so helpful for a newbie like myself that I really want to give you two thumbs up. Here they are: 👍 👍
Currently enrolled in Blackbird Academy's Studio Engineering program in Nashville and your videos are helping further my understanding by leaps and bounds. Thank you!
Well said, the episode just synced with the previous one on mic choices. I have been using a Samson CO3U since 2016 and it has these 3 options which has helped me to deliver a better quality depending on my preferences while recording.
Thank you so much for making this video. After reading about the different cardioid microphones, I had an idea about how the concept was applied in microphones, but after watching this video and your helpful explanation, I have a better understanding. I have been studying for CTS and I test on Monday, I had a few microphone questions on previous exams and I think that is one of the topics that got me. I feel a lot better going into my next exam after this video.
One of the BEST channels on UA-cam. Thank you for all tips and tricks. If you have online courses you developed, please let us know. Your teaching method is amazing!!!
Sir you are an excellent teacher. I watched 3 of your videos and already learned so much. I mean I finally "get" microphones. Will be very useful for the times I need to record myself at home. Fascinating. Thank you.
Well done! Nicely explained. I'd take issue with only one thing: you will not get nice stereo with a pair of spaced omnis, and I wouldn't choose them for location recording! It will give you two different channels, but there will be no stereo image to speak of. The mathematics of the Blumlein pair (either as crossed cardiods or figure-eights) gives you a proper image. There's no 'hole in the middle' effect. I've done a lot of stereo work with crossed fig-8 mics. When doing stereo recordings with actors in a studio, it's really important to make them aware they can only stand at the mic in two opposite quadrants: the other two quadrants, at the sides, result in out of phase sound between the two channels. We used to put tape strips on the studio carpet to mark the safe areas! Figure of eight mics in particular are invaluable for multi-mic techniques (orchestras, self-balancing bands of all sorts, etc.) and you are dead right that you use them to null out sound you don't want, leaving what you do want. They even have value in PA applications, for example rigged underneath a grand piano, so the dead axis faces outwards towards the PA system and the auditorium. A thick carpet offcut on the floor underneath helps too. Unobtrusive, hard to knock out of position, really clean sound. I'd do that over cardioids any day, not least because figure-8s are _really_ dead off-axis. Take a good ribbon outdoors on a very-still-air day (or an anechoic chamber) and walk round it: you seem to jump to hundreds of feet away - it's amazing.
you a good teacher man big up. I remember being the only one who remembered all the polar pattern in class when the lecture asked what we learned on previous class, And I must say I got more info from this video
How politely and in easy to understand language you told almost complete things about this topic. every word was full of knowdge. thanks a lot sir .... keep educating us :)
I have been contemplating making a video to show to rookie microphone users........... You know exactly who I am talking about. The person who holds the mic at their belt buckle, talks OVER the capsule whilst holding it vertically, and then walks right up to the speaker with it, giving you a rude look when it feeds back.
@@AudioUniversity Hey, one thing i always found confusing is how mics, when used either on stage or recoding, can cancel each other’s signal - how is this possible?
Good e[planation but IMO you gave the impression that the impedance was just some property of the cable. The signal source impedance and the amplifier input impedance are arguably much more important for good common mode cancellation.
@@AudioUniversity I love the way things are explained in a calm fashion. I have learned a lot and now I understand how to properly use the mics I have laying around here. Many, many, many thanks.
Kyle, I need to hire someone to do the testing on a new audio cable I have filed Patent on. It is necessary for me to get a third-party testing of capacitance resistance etc. along with a video explaining the attributes of this new kind of the cable. I’ve tried other means of contacting you but I’ve been unsuccessful. I do have monies budgeted for these services.
Your posts are so useful and on point. I often have to mic a grand piano for stereo recording. In the past, I have stumbled over phasing issues that can make miking an instrument with two mics sound unpleasant. Do you have any tips on mic placement to avoid phase cancellation issues?
Thanks, Jim! I have a video on stereo recording techniques here: ua-cam.com/video/4fPWFAFwIQQ/v-deo.html Check out the section on coincident pairs! I hope this helps!
Nice video. Many times, though, the word is FARther not FURther. FARther refers to distance. FURther refers to amount as in more or in addition. Cheers.
Is omni mode recorded volume less than the sound recorded in cardoid mode, same distance? My u87ai does that. Quality is good. But when I record in omni dorecrion and then keep the distance and my voice volume same and change the mode to cardoid, I find omi comune is less than the sound recorded in cardoid. Appreciate for posting this video
I love the informative content, but I have a sneaking suspicion that some editing was done to over-emphasize the rear and side rejection of the first two patterns.
The only editing was EQ and compression, which was added evenly to all three polar patterns. The compression actually reduced the effectiveness of the rear/side rejection because it reduced the dynamic range. Thanks for watching, Connor!
Bidirectional mics can be used for interviews, but usually two cardioid microphones are used to keep the signals on separate tracks for mixing and editing.
I’m not sure how they compare in frequency response, but the 640 TS is nice for taming sibilant vocals - kinda turns “s” into “sh”. I use it in bidirectional most of the time lately. It helps reject more noise in my space. The build quality is nice, too. I’ll make a video on it soon. Thanks for watching, mixanyar!
A true omnidirectional mic is not. The primary mic in this video is a dual capsule mic with an Omni mode. It is less susceptible to the proximity effect in Omni mode, but a true Omni will have even less proximity effect.
Audio University channel is exactly that: an audio university. Your explanations are helping a lot of people right now.
Thanks, Korkenknopfus!
Crazy I was just in school, learning about polar patterns and you made this video right on time!!!
Nice! Hopefully you can use it as a study guide! Thanks, QuezGot 808’s!
In the beginning I didn't think I would get much from your channel, all I wanted to do was record my classical guitar. I didn't need all that fancy technical stuff. Funny my recordings are getting a lot better, and I am starting to know what to change when they don't. Great stuff! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I’m very happy to hear that, Tony! Thanks for letting me know and thanks for watching.
Finally, I understand how polar patterns work! Until now, the mechanics of it has always been a mystery to me. When I asked my teachers why polar patterns are the way they are, they would simply reply "because they are..."
Can't wait to learn about interference tubes!
Glad to help, vector!
School is a scam, I've learned more from a few UA-cam videos than an entire semester.
It sounds like you had poor teachers...
A lot of well-deserved praise in the comments. AU makes audio-related content easy to digest without sacrificing necessary (vital) details and educational value.
Thank you!
Thank you Kyle, absolutely brilliant practical presentation of a subject which is difficult to decipher even for engineers since microphone pattern documentation is deeply "buried" in sound engineering textbook. Your explanations and description of available pattern with real-life examples makes it almost easy to select proper microphones. Thank you, Ciao, L
Thanks, L!
I know I can always trust these Audio University videos to be really helpful.Thanks Kyle for another super informative and well presented video!
Glad you like them, Gem Indigo! Thank you.
Excellent video! Super informative and easy to understand. Thanks!
BTW...I recorded my last album with the Lewitt LCT 640 TS. That mic matched my voice so well that I went out and bought one so I'd never have to worry about using anything else. What a great mic!
I have never in my life recorded anything but the way you explain was enough to keep me listening, very well presented information and interesting topic. I feel like I've learned something essential yet I might never use it. Keep up the good work.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks, Kyle. This was great! I was aware of these things but I never bothered to look into them. I don't record much but I'm always happy to pick up random audio knowledge.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks, Streck0.
Great work! Btw, the mic fits your voice quite well. Sounds great!
Thanks, @LEWITT! Hands down, the most flexible mic I’ve used!
Too bad that I can give this video only one thumb up 😢 It’s so helpful for a newbie like myself that I really want to give you two thumbs up. Here they are: 👍 👍
Thank you! I’m glad it’s helpful!
Currently enrolled in Blackbird Academy's Studio Engineering program in Nashville and your videos are helping further my understanding by leaps and bounds. Thank you!
You did a Great job explaining. Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Well said, the episode just synced with the previous one on mic choices. I have been using a Samson CO3U since 2016 and it has these 3 options which has helped me to deliver a better quality depending on my preferences while recording.
Thank you so much for making this video. After reading about the different cardioid microphones, I had an idea about how the concept was applied in microphones, but after watching this video and your helpful explanation, I have a better understanding. I have been studying for CTS and I test on Monday, I had a few microphone questions on previous exams and I think that is one of the topics that got me. I feel a lot better going into my next exam after this video.
Glad to help! Good luck on the CTS exam!
Very informative and interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it, Sunny! Thanks for watching.
One of the BEST channels on UA-cam. Thank you for all tips and tricks. If you have online courses you developed, please let us know. Your teaching method is amazing!!!
Thanks! I’m glad you’re finding value in these videos!
This was more helpful than my study guides. Thanks 😊
Nice one bro 🤌
It's also nice to know in which stereo recording setups to use what pattern.
Omnidirectional for AB
Cardioid for XY and ORTF
Sir you are an excellent teacher. I watched 3 of your videos and already learned so much. I mean I finally "get" microphones. Will be very useful for the times I need to record myself at home. Fascinating. Thank you.
I’m glad to help! Thanks for watching.
Well done! Nicely explained.
I'd take issue with only one thing: you will not get nice stereo with a pair of spaced omnis, and I wouldn't choose them for location recording! It will give you two different channels, but there will be no stereo image to speak of. The mathematics of the Blumlein pair (either as crossed cardiods or figure-eights) gives you a proper image. There's no 'hole in the middle' effect.
I've done a lot of stereo work with crossed fig-8 mics. When doing stereo recordings with actors in a studio, it's really important to make them aware they can only stand at the mic in two opposite quadrants: the other two quadrants, at the sides, result in out of phase sound between the two channels. We used to put tape strips on the studio carpet to mark the safe areas!
Figure of eight mics in particular are invaluable for multi-mic techniques (orchestras, self-balancing bands of all sorts, etc.) and you are dead right that you use them to null out sound you don't want, leaving what you do want.
They even have value in PA applications, for example rigged underneath a grand piano, so the dead axis faces outwards towards the PA system and the auditorium. A thick carpet offcut on the floor underneath helps too. Unobtrusive, hard to knock out of position, really clean sound.
I'd do that over cardioids any day, not least because figure-8s are _really_ dead off-axis. Take a good ribbon outdoors on a very-still-air day (or an anechoic chamber) and walk round it: you seem to jump to hundreds of feet away - it's amazing.
Thanks for these additional tips, Simon!
Thank you for your sharing which is very clean and informative.
You are welcome! Thanks for watching, H R!
I should have paid for this level of value.
I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and leaving such a kind comment!
Thanks for simplifying this important subject on microphones, will definitely be tuning in for more audio insights.
Thanks for watching, Charles!
you a good teacher man big up. I remember being the only one who remembered all the polar pattern in class when the lecture asked what we learned on previous class, And I must say I got more info
from this video
Thanks!
How politely and in easy to understand language you told almost complete things about this topic. every word was full of knowdge. thanks a lot sir .... keep educating us :)
It's my pleasure, Rajat! Thanks for watching.
Wow I didn't know all these .thank you
Glad to help! Thanks for watching, Ally Beatz.
Great video! Will you do one on why musicians shouldn't cup their mics?
Great idea, Lance! Thanks for watching!
Ultimate teaching❤
This video answered all the questions I had and more. So good! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Ive watch like 10 videos about it and this is absolutely the best by far
I have been contemplating making a video to show to rookie microphone users........... You know exactly who I am talking about. The person who holds the mic at their belt buckle, talks OVER the capsule whilst holding it vertically, and then walks right up to the speaker with it, giving you a rude look when it feeds back.
Learn a lot in this video on how to read and understand mic polar pattern.
You're so informative I love this
Thanks, Tom!
i learned about things i didn't know were things i didn't know about. awesome
Another great video, thank you. Sharing this with my audio production students today.
Thanks, Bill!
Excellent video on Mic intro. Thank you.
Thanks, John!
@@AudioUniversity Hey, one thing i always found confusing is how mics, when used either on stage or recoding, can cancel each other’s signal - how is this possible?
Check out this video, John: ua-cam.com/video/0wvlrBx3U4c/v-deo.html
Wow! Very interesting, educative, and brilliantly presented! Well done!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the contribution!
Best explanation on UA-cam. Instantly subscribed!
Thanks!
Good stuff ,clearly explained 👍
Thanks, AAAX!
You explain stuff well. Thank you.
Another brilliant explanation, thank you.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Best explanation ever
Thanks!
Brilliant stuff 👏🏼
Thanks, Andrew!
Great 💪💪💪 Thank You ✔
Good e[planation but IMO you gave the impression that the impedance was just some property of the cable. The signal source impedance and the amplifier input impedance are arguably much more important for good common mode cancellation.
Great! Loved it.
Clean and clear explanation,thanks!
That was a great explanation, very good work! 👍💪
Thanks, Vito!
perfect vid - 10 points
Thanks!
Excellent !!!
Thanks, Mario!
@@AudioUniversity I love the way things are explained in a calm fashion. I have learned a lot and now I understand how to properly use the mics I have laying around here.
Many, many, many thanks.
I’m very happy to read this! Glad the videos are helpful, Mario!
Very nice, as usual. Thanks ;)
Thanks, Gib Son!
@@AudioUniversity My pleasure mate ;)....Take care ;)
great video
Thank you❤
Kyle,
I need to hire someone to do the testing on a new audio cable I have filed Patent on. It is necessary for me to get a third-party testing of capacitance resistance etc. along with a video explaining the attributes of this new kind of the cable. I’ve tried other means of contacting you but I’ve been unsuccessful. I do have monies budgeted for these services.
Thank you
Really awesome video!
Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it.
Your posts are so useful and on point. I often have to mic a grand piano for stereo recording. In the past, I have stumbled over phasing issues that can make miking an instrument with two mics sound unpleasant. Do you have any tips on mic placement to avoid phase cancellation issues?
Thanks, Jim! I have a video on stereo recording techniques here: ua-cam.com/video/4fPWFAFwIQQ/v-deo.html
Check out the section on coincident pairs! I hope this helps!
Nice video. Many times, though, the word is FARther not FURther. FARther refers to distance. FURther refers to amount as in more or in addition. Cheers.
Is omni mode recorded volume less than the sound recorded in cardoid mode, same distance? My u87ai does that. Quality is good. But when I record in omni dorecrion and then keep the distance and my voice volume same and change the mode to cardoid, I find omi comune is less than the sound recorded in cardoid. Appreciate for posting this video
The proximity effect is unique to cardiod mics? I thought all mics had that effect
GOAT
I love the informative content, but I have a sneaking suspicion that some editing was done to over-emphasize the rear and side rejection of the first two patterns.
The only editing was EQ and compression, which was added evenly to all three polar patterns. The compression actually reduced the effectiveness of the rear/side rejection because it reduced the dynamic range. Thanks for watching, Connor!
I understand what they do, I do not understand HOW they do it, is it sound processing? does it have multiple microphones? is it sorcery?
Is bidirectional used for interviews?
Bidirectional mics can be used for interviews, but usually two cardioid microphones are used to keep the signals on separate tracks for mixing and editing.
👍
lewitt mics are amazing
how is the 640 ts??? is it good enough for even vocal recording?
i can't choose between 540 s and 640 ts
HELP
I’m not sure how they compare in frequency response, but the 640 TS is nice for taming sibilant vocals - kinda turns “s” into “sh”.
I use it in bidirectional most of the time lately. It helps reject more noise in my space.
The build quality is nice, too. I’ll make a video on it soon. Thanks for watching, mixanyar!
@@AudioUniversity oh thank you bro
that was a lot of information
i really appreciate it
thanks again (i'm waiting for the mic review❤️❤️❤️)
@@AudioUniversity i'm still here for the LCT 640 review :( it's been 3 months
👍🙏
🎤🎧
show 3 d spheres etc,,, not flat paper 2d
Like #567 😎
5:59 y'all don't know how expensive that microphone is. Are you secretly batman? Do you have millions offshore in panama?
I was thinking of the LCT 1040 that costs $3,499.00
Is omnidirectional not affected by proximity effects?
A true omnidirectional mic is not. The primary mic in this video is a dual capsule mic with an Omni mode. It is less susceptible to the proximity effect in Omni mode, but a true Omni will have even less proximity effect.