Supercardioid and cardioid microphone capsules are two of the most commonly used directional microphone types in audio recording and voice capture. Understanding the difference between these two patterns helps in selecting the right microphone for your specific application.
Pickup Pattern
Supercardioid microphone capsules have a narrower pickup pattern compared to cardioid capsules. This means they are more focused on capturing sound directly from the front, with better rejection of side and rear noise.
Cardioid capsules also reject sound from the rear but allow more sound from the sides, making them suitable for slightly wider sound capture.
Usage Scenarios
Supercardioid microphones are ideal for noise-sensitive environments such as indoor presentations, remote conferencing, and studio voice recordings where background noise suppression is crucial.
Cardioid microphones are more commonly used in live performances, interviews, and general-purpose applications where some ambient sound is acceptable and positioning flexibility is needed.
Choosing between supercardioid and cardioid microphone capsules depends on the desired sound focus and the acoustic environment. Supercardioid is better for isolating a sound source, while cardioid offers a good balance between directionality and natural room sound.
