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What Is A Supercardioid Microphone? The Filmmaker Mic!
ByAnna Bonilla- Read Time6 mins
What Is A Supercardioid Microphone?
A supercardioid microphone is a type of dynamic microphone with a directional characteristic that is intermediate between the omnidirectional and cardioid microphones. The word “super” in this context means “excessively.” That’s because a supercardioid microphone has a highly narrow pickup pattern compared to other types of directional mics (more limited than hypercardioid), making it very useful for rejecting unwanted sounds from other directions. In fact, its rejection pattern is so narrow that it can pick up sounds coming from just one side of the mic without picking up any sound coming from behind or in front of it.
In contrast to omnidirectional microphones, which pick up sound equally from all directions, and cardioids, which reject noise coming at them from behind, supercardioids have highly selective pickup patterns, which makes them ideal for recording certain kinds of instruments such as drums. This means you can use them for recording instruments in a room without picking up too much instrumentation in the background of your recording space or room tone, like ambient sounds.
How Does A Supercardioid Microphone Work?
A supercardioid microphone has a pick-up pattern of 180 degrees with respect to the axis in which its pick-up element is mounted, between 90 degrees and 270 degrees. That’s only half as much as an omnidirectional mic or cardioid mic. The sound picked up by this type of capsule is most focused on what’s directly in front of it and not so much on anything coming from behind or either side.
A supercardioid microphone will help you reduce feedback and isolate the sound source better than other mics. For live performances, voiceover work, and podcasting, it’s hard to beat. If you’re recording vocals in a home studio or at a professional music studio, then it’s your best friend.
They are ideal for on-stage use because they reduce the risk of feedback from nearby speakers. They also isolate your voice from other instruments that may have their own microphones on stage so that only yours picks up in the mix. Supercardioid microphones can also be used effectively for recording vocals by eliminating off-axis sounds caused by room reflections and close proximity to walls or ceilings.
Features Of A Supercardioid Microphone
It also has some unique applications in the studio as well. Supercardioid mics are more directional than omnidirectional microphones (which pick up sound equally from all directions), which means that they can help eliminate unwanted noise sources like air conditioners or traffic outside. The supercardioid will use its directional nature to minimize feedback from nearby sources and will reject sounds that are not in front of it, creating a more isolated sound source. This makes them perfect for home studio recordings, where open microphones tend to pick up everything happening around them, which can lead to unwanted noise bleeding into your recordings.
They are more directional than a cardioid microphone, which means that it rejects sound coming from the side and rear. Supercardioid microphones also reject or attenuate sounds coming from all other directions better than omnidirectional microphones, which are equally sensitive to sounds emanating from any direction at once.
Although supercardioid microphones are also less susceptible than figure-eight microphones to sounds coming from off-axis at the front and rear of the diaphragm capsule, they may be more directional than bidirectional microphones. This is due to a “proximity effect,” which causes low-frequency sounds that are closer to the microphone to have higher amplitude outputs.
Uses Of A Supercardioid Microphone
It is used for recording vocals or instruments. Since the microphone’s pickup pattern is relatively narrow, it focuses on the sound source in front of it while rejecting sounds from other directions. This can be useful when you want to record a single vocalist or instrument without having to worry about interference from the rest of your band or orchestra.
As well as live performances. If you want to capture both sides of an acoustic guitar but don’t want to use multiple mics — or just don’t have enough available inputs—then try positioning two supercardioid mics at different angles on either side of your speaker cabinet and pointing them toward each other at a slight angle between 90° and 120°, the exact angle doesn’t matter too much.
In other words, it’s great for anyone who needs to pick up their voice and get rid of background noise. If you’re performing on stage with a group of musicians or simply recording music in your room, this type of mic will be perfect. But the number one category of people that love supercardioid mics are filmmakers. The very directionality which is needed for film has been a lifesaver for them.
Average Price For A Supercardioid Microphone
The average price of a supercardioid microphone sits between $100-$300. The quality of the mic and its features play a key role in determining its price. For example, if you buy one from an online retailer like Amazon, your chances of getting it at a lower rate are higher than if you go to a brick-and-mortar store. This is because online retailers have better bargaining power when negotiating with manufacturers and wholesalers than local stores do.
That said, you could save money by buying a used supercardioid mic. Just be sure to read the online reviews for any product before making a purchase so as not to end up with one that doesn’t work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap Up
All in all, a supercardioid microphone is a great choice for a variety of applications. This type of mic provides excellent sound quality and can be used for many tasks, from vocal recording to live performances. The price range varies depending on what features you want or need, but if you’re looking for something that will work well in any situation, then the supercardioid mic might just be right up your alley!
