Omni mics do produce gain in the critical zone, but outside of that they have plenty of advantages. As we earlier mentioned, an omnidirectional mic … Outdoor usage: omni microphones are less affected by the wind noises. Omnidirectional vs. unidirectional microphone An omnidirectional microphone is commonly used for television shows and in concerts when the audience are expected to hear sounds from multiple directions. Which situations are those? Sometimes you want sound coming from all directions, sometimes you don't. In many situations, a unidirectional mic is actually preferable to an omnidirectional mic, because it blocks out unwanted sound. Another risk with omnidirectional microphones involves the triangle between the microphone, the performer, and the speakers. The 3 basic patterns are: omnidirectional; figure-8; cardioid; Here’s a diagram showing how they look: As you can see… Mic 1 has an omnidirectional pattern – meaning the entire red area is equally sensitive to sound. An essential part of a good recording system is a well-chosen microphone. Audio is a science of compromises. 202 posts; 202 posts; Posted April 30, 2015. is there any difference in the sound quality between these 2 mics? If it is a unidirectional mic, then it is only going to pick up sound that is coming from one direction. If you're recording a single person's voice and that is the sole focus, a unidirectional mic will allow you to capture it more clearly. If an omnidirectional microphone is placed too close to the speakers, it will pick up extraneous noise. Some microphones also come with multiple patterns to switch between, including omnidirectional, bidirectional, and unidirectional. Why should I use an omnidirectional microphone? If you don't know the difference, then you should, because finding the right kind of mic for the right situation is a must for any video production. Many people think omni directional mics aren’t great for recording or live sound and that’s just not true. A proximity effect makes bass levels vary depending to the distance from the microphone, so getting to close may result in unnecessary low frequency boost and vice-versa. Using an omni will provide better sound, but more possiblity of … Among other benefits, omnidirectional microphones are less susceptible to what is called a proximity effect. A microphone’s polar pattern is the 3-dimensional space surrounding the capsule where it is MOST sensitive to sound. A unidirectional microphone may be better at keeping background noise out of the recording and amplifying equation. Knowing the similarities and difference between the different types of microphones can help you make the right choice. A polar pattern graph shows the variation in sensitivity 360 degrees around the microphone - assuming that the microphone is in the centre and that 0 degrees represents the front. This can come in handy if you are looking to minimize background noise. Read on. Omnidirectional Microphones Directionality (Unidirectional Vs Omnidirectional) Different mics pick up audio from different directions. 9 Best Omnidirectional Microphones 2020. You will find tons of mics online. However, comparing them and picking one of them will take forever. Recording with the best omnidirectional microphone is easy and can give you major tonal advantages without excess gain. Reel Rebel #36 breaks down the difference between omni-directional and cardioid mics. The three basic directional types of microphones are omnidirectional, unidirectional, and bidirectional. Directional Mic compared to an Omnidirectional Mic The omnidirectional microphone will be more prone to feedback.