What Is A Shotgun Mic?
A shotgun mic is a unidirectional microphone that must be pointed directly at its sound source for proper recording. Shotgun mics are most sensitive to capturing sound entering the front of the mic while softening sounds that enter from the sides or rear of the mic as opposed to omnidirectional mics which capture audio from every direction. Shotgun mics are so named because the body of the microphone is shaped like the barrel of a shotgun. In filmmaking, they are used with boom poles or they can be mounted to a camera.
Unidirectional shotgun mics have three different kinds of pickup patterns: cardioid, supercardioid, and hypercardioid.
The most common unidirectional microphone is the cardioid. Its sensitivity pattern is shaped like a heart, hence its name “cardioid.” While versatile enough to use for a variety of different purposes, cardioid mics are frequently used at red carpet events as well as other live news and sports broadcasting events in which you may want to give viewers a better idea of the action and movement occurring in the space.
Supercardioid microphones offer more isolation than cardioid mics. They can be more resistant to feedback than cardioid mics, but they are stricter in limiting the movement of the subject, requiring the person speaking to remain directly in front of the mic more consistently. Supercardioid microphones are great for capturing audio from specific sources and are the most commonly used boom mics on controlled film sets.
Hypercardioid microphones offer the most rejection of sounds approaching the sides of the mic. Typically used in instrument recordings, they provide the best rejection of background noise but also require the most precise positioning of the person speaking.
Learn more about each of the pickup patterns of unidirectional shotgun mics and how to decide which microphone to use for your project:
“How to Choose the BEST MICROPHONE!!!” by Aputure
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