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What Is A Hypercardioid Microphone? The Performer Mic!
ByAnna Bonilla- Read Time6 mins
What Is A Hypercardioid Microphone?
A hypercardioid microphone operates in a similar way to its cardioid counterpart, but the pattern is more like an inverted V shape. That means that it can be more directional than a cardioid microphone and will reject sound from the sides of the mic. The polar patterns for hypercardioids are generally more focused than those for cardioids, making them ideal for live recording performances where you want to hear everything except what’s happening behind you.
This type of design works by using a capsule that is partially protected by an acoustic baffle or shield. This baffle prevents sound from reaching your recording device from any direction except directly in front of you, therefore rejecting other sounds coming from different directions (such as behind you). The hypercardioid microphone makes it possible to capture a wide frequency range in addition to leaving unwanted sounds but also grabbing important ones at the same time. It’s small enough for use with instruments such as drums or guitars but large enough that it can also be used on vocals if needed.
How Does A Hypercardioid Microphone Work?
A hypercardioid microphone is a directional microphone. This means that it has a heart-shaped pickup pattern and is more directional than a cardioid mic — though not as much as some other types of microphones. The hypercardioid pattern is an ideal choice for recording a single source, such as speech or music. This pattern will reject sound from other directions while focusing on the sound source directly in front of it. Suppose you’re recording a voiceover or an instrument. In that case, the hypercardioid pickup pattern can be beneficial because it delivers high sensitivity and rejection of unwanted sounds (that may be coming from behind or to either side) without sacrificing overall fidelity.
While the hypercardioid pickup pattern is perfect for recording a single source and rejecting ambient sounds, there are some drawbacks that you’ll want to consider before using this type of mic.
Features Of A Hypercardioid Microphone
Hypercardioid microphones have an even more narrow pickup angle than supercardioid microphones, and are capable of rejecting noise from the rear. A hypercardioid microphone can also be used to reduce background noise when recording in loud environments. For example, a hypercardioid microphone could be used for vocals in a nightclub.
The shape of a hypercardioid polar pattern is very similar to that of an omnidirectional polar pattern but with a tighter curve at 90 degrees off-axis (the “null” or “cone”). The nulls are narrower in width than an omnidirectional microphone because they contain less energy than omnidirectional mics; therefore, there’s less room for other sounds to get inside them if they’re close enough (just like with any other polar pattern).
The more directional a microphone is, the less sensitive it is to sounds at other angles. That’s why hypercardioid microphones can be used with sound sources that are furthest away from their mic capsule without sacrificing quality — you’ll get more precise recordings without any unwanted noise in the background.
Like all condenser microphones, hypercardioids are easy to use because they don’t require phantom power (so long as you have access to 48V). All you need is some phantom power or a battery pack, an XLR cable, and the proper preamp settings on your mixer or audio interface.
Uses Of A Hypercardioid Microphone
A hypercardioid microphone is a type of directional microphone. This means that it will pick up sounds from the front and sides, but not from the back or behind.
This makes it great for recording audio and video in a controlled environment. It also makes it perfect for live performances and music recording because you’re able to capture all of the instruments coming from your stage without picking up any unwanted noise from behind you or offstage.
It can be used for video conferencing as well if you have multiple people speaking at once—the mic will focus on whoever is talking at that moment, making sure they are heard clearly by everyone else participating on the call. And with its excellent pickup pattern, this type of microphone can be used with most setups, including podcasts and gaming streams where multiple people may be speaking at once.
Average Price For A Hypercardioid Microphone
The average price range for a hypercardioid microphone is $100 to $200. This makes it more expensive than a cardioid but less expensive than a supercardioid. The price depends on the brand and quality of the microphone, but it’s generally accepted that higher-priced microphones have better sound quality.
Price is a good indicator of quality, so the more you spend on a microphone, the better it will be. If you are on a budget, there are still great options available for less than $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap Up
If you are confused between hypercardioid and supercardioid, we have a separate article for supercardioid mics on our website. We hope you enjoyed this blog post on using a hypercardioid microphone. Again, this type of microphone is excellent for capturing sound from the front while reducing surrounding noise. It is also good at picking up sound sources in close range and isolating them from other sounds around them.
As you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to invest in a hypercardioid microphone. It’s important that you make sure you’re buying one with the right features for your needs, but once that’s done, there’s no denying that this type of device will give you an extra boost when it comes to recording audio.
