A directional microphone for camera has the greatest sensitivity in one (or more) directions. In other words, it has a polar pattern different from omnidirectional. It is meant to reduce undesirable background noise and to capture the most sounds from the front. It is commonly used in audio recording. In this article, we will discuss the following topics.
- What are the basic types of directional microphones?
- What are the pros and cons of using it?
- How to choose the best directional microphone for DSLR?
Basic types of video camera directional microphone
Directional camera microphone captures sounds from one direction. That is, its polar pattern is designed to focus on sound coming from one direction while rejecting sound coming from other directions. Typically, it can be divided into the following types by polar pattern.
- Cardioid: It picks up sounds in front of the mic in the shape of a small heart-shaped circle.
- Supercardioid: This is a common directional polar pattern that has a tighter zone of front focus than the cardioid. It picks up sounds from heart-shaped area in front of it and captures a little bit of sounds from behind the mic.
- Hypercardioid: It is similar to supercardioid, but has an narrower region of front-focus.
- Subcardioid: Again, it is similar to supercardioid but featuring a wider area of front-focus. In other words, it is a directionality somewhere between cardioid and omnidirectional pickup pattern.
Both the super and hyper-cardioid patterns offer a tighter front-focus area than the cardioid pattern, making them suitable in circumstances when you desire high directionality and little to no background noise. However, they need cautious setup since your sound quality would suffer if a vocalist or speaker were to move off-axis while being recorded.
The sub-cardioid has a more open, natural sound and is more suited for a broad sound source than the super and hyper varieties. However, it is more vulnerable to input.
Pros & cons of directional microphone for camera
Using directional microphone for streaming brings the following advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
One of the main advantages is the focused pickup area. This means that it won’t pick up unwanted sounds or background noise. As a result, it won't record undesired audio or background noise. This is helpful when the sound source is close to the microphone, such as during a speech or lecture, or if a band is playing in front of the mic directly.
Other advantages are as below:
- Higher gain relative to feedback compared to omni microphones, as it is more sensitive to direct sound from a confined region in space.
- Low sensitivity to undesired ambient noises or background noise.
- Better channel separation during audio recordings, due to a higher ratio of direct sound pickup to indirect sound pickup as compared to omni microphones.
Cons
Directional microphone for podcast has a major disadvantage of proximity effect. That is, the influence on its frequency response as it comes closer to sound source. When it's close to the source, this causes an overwhelming bass response.
Due to the proximity effect, a vocalist, for example, might hear a louder bass response as they move closer to the mic. This may be helpful in some cases, such as when adding a deep, earthy tone to the voice, but it is undesirable when a constant tonal balance is necessary.
Other disadvantages include:
- In comparison to most omni mics, the frequency response is somewhat deficient in the bass range.
- Does not record ambiance or other noises that convey a sense of the environment in which the microphone is utilized.
Go and buy SYNCO directional microphones at Moman PhotoGears Store
Five factors to consider for best directional microphone for video
There are numerous essential factors to consider when starting a YouTube channel or purchasing a directional microphone for camera to boost your video content creation. The following is a brief summary of factors that influence the overall quality and use case of your projects.
Directionality - Supercardioid or hypercardioid pattern works better to minimize background noise.
The fundamental reason for selecting a shotgun microphone over lavalier microphones or wireless microphone systems is to pick up sounds from a certain direction (on-axis) while eliminating background noise or an off-axis sound source. Most shotgun microphones perform admirably in this regard, but the best options feature the industry-standard supercardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern.
Self noise - It is advised to look for a mic with low self-noise and shock mount included.
Cheap microphones frequently introduce "self-noise" created by circuitry. This often appears as a mild, audible "hiss". The best microphones will reduce unwanted noise through high-quality design or built-in ANR (active noise reduction) algorithms that eliminate self-generated structural noise. Furthermore, it will have shock-isolating mounts to eliminate noises created by camera movement. For example, the SYNCO D30 includes a dual shock mount in the package for tightly holding the mic and reducing vibration noises.
Sensitivity - High sensitivity is necessary when capturing sounds from a distance.
Professional directional condenser shotgun microphone for DSLR cameras has high sensitivity since it is usually used to capture sources from a great distance. While cheaper mics can boost sensitivity, they frequently produce undesired self-noise. A good signal-to-noise ratio is used to produce a good balance.
Connectivity - The connecting cable should match the camera’s mic input jack.
It is of great importance to consider what type of camera you will use the mic with and what type of audio input jack is equipped with the camera. Most mirrorless and movie cameras nowadays use mini-jack inputs, whereas higher-end cinema cameras use XLR connections. Ensure that the mic plug matches the input jack, or you need an adapter to complete the connection.
Price - Pick cost-effective directional mic that is within your budget.
The price ranges from below $50 to above $1,000. You should determine your budget and find a balance between price and quality.
Table: Specs of SYNCO shotgun microphones for camera
SYNCO has launched several models of directional microphones for using with cameras. They come with different polar patterns and features. Below we list their specs for brief introduction. If you are interested in it and want to know further details, Click Here to check SYNCO shotgun microphones and see their features.
|
Directional mic |
D1 |
D2 |
D30 |
|
Polar pattern |
Hypercardioid |
Hypercardioid |
Supercardioid |
|
SNR |
78dB(1KHz at 1Pa) |
80dB(1KHz at 1Pa) |
82dB(1KHz at 1Pa) |
|
Sensitivity |
-34dB/-32dB±2dB(1dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz) |
-32dB±3dB(1dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz) |
-24dB±2dB(1dB=1V/Pa at 1KHz) |
|
Connector |
XLRM |
XLRM |
3.5mm TRS/TRRS |
|
Price |
$129(regular $199) |
$169(regular $259) |
$129 |
Note: The price is specially offered at Moman PhotoGears Store.