A Brief Guide to Microphone Directionality and Polar Pattern 2026

When choosing a microphone, we typically compare them based on the following parameters: wired or wireless? Dynamic or condenser? But what if I told you that these aren't the most important characteristics to consider when choosing a microphone for a public address (PA) system?

A microphone's polar pattern, also known as its directivity, is what ultimately determines the clarity of sound capture and the likelihood of feedback or unwanted noise pickup.

After reading this article, you'll learn about the three most common microphone polar patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, and supercardioid. Additionally, for those who have difficulty comparing microphone directivity, you'll gain a basic understanding of how to choose one for a PA system.

Contents

1. What is Microphone Directivity?

2. Omnidirectional Microphones

3. Cardioid Microphones (the most common unidirectional characteristic)

4. Supercardioid Microphones (narrower front pickup)

5. Omnidirectional vs. Unidirectional (Cardioid/Supercardioid): How to Choose

6. Choosing a Polar Pattern for Lavalier, Lapel, and Headworn Microphones

7. Practical Tips for PAs: Best Results with Any Polar Pattern

8. Conclusion

1. What is Microphone Directivity?

A microphone's polar pattern describes the microphone's sensitivity to sound coming from different directions around the capsule. It is typically shown as a circular pattern (a "polar pattern"), where 0° corresponds to sound coming from the front.

Why are polar characteristics important for PA and speech reinforcement?

Speech clarity: A properly selected polar characteristic captures more of the direct voice and reduces room reflections.

Noise control: Directional characteristics help reduce noise pickup from ventilation systems, crowds, and industrial equipment.

Feedback control: The more effectively the signal from loudspeakers and reflections is suppressed, the higher the gain before feedback.

User motion: When worn, polar characteristics affect the stability of the perceived voice level when the head is turned.

Most microphones used for speech and PA systems fall into two broad categories:

• Omnidirectional microphone (uniform pickup from all directions)

• Unidirectional microphone (primarily from one direction, typically cardioid or supercardioid)

2. Omnidirectional (Omnidirectional) Microphones

Definition of an Omnidirectional Microphone

An omnidirectional microphone captures sound equally from all directions (360°) around the capsule. This is a classic microphone characteristic and the main reason it's found in most common microphones. The short answer to the question "What is an omnidirectional microphone?" is that it hears everything around it with approximately equal sensitivity, so the placement of such a microphone is important for ensuring the best possible capture.

Applications of Omnidirectional Microphones

Omnidirectional microphones are often chosen for stable speech capture when the speaker is moving or turning their head. Because they don't require the capsule to be precisely aimed at the mouth like directional microphones, they are more forgiving in real-world settings—especially in wearable devices.

Advantages of Omnidirectional Microphones

• Consistent sound capture with head movement

• Less off-axis coloration compared to many directional microphones

• Less sensitivity to wind noise

Disadvantages of Omnidirectional Microphones

• Poor background noise rejection: They more easily capture room sound, crowd noise, ventilation systems, or industrial equipment.

• More room reflections: In reverberant spaces, speech intelligibility can be reduced if the gain is too high or the microphone is too far away.

• Higher risk of feedback in some configurations: Because they do not reject speakers directionally, system gain control requires special attention.

Practical Tips for Omnidirectional Lavalier/Lapel Microphones

• Hold the microphone as close to the mouth area (usually near the upper chest) as possible to improve the speech-to-noise ratio.

• Avoid friction and clothing rustling.

• When PA speakers are located close together, system setup (speaker placement and equalization) becomes more important because the polar response will not "hide" errors.

3. Cardioid Microphones (the most common unidirectional characteristic)

What is a cardioid microphone?

Now that we've covered the omnidirectional microphone, which captures sound in a 360° radius, let's look at the unidirectional: cardioid microphone. Unlike the omnidirectional, it focuses on capturing sound from the front, while sound from the rear and sides is primarily filtered out. The polar pattern clearly resembles a heart, hence the name ("cardioid" comes from the Latin word for "heart").

Why are cardioid microphones popular in PA?

In a word: the lowest feedback probability of all polar characteristics. Thanks to the unidirectional characteristic, unless the microphone is pointed directly at the loudspeaker, the sound around it is unlikely to be captured. This also simplifies handling: the speaker can hold it freely without worrying about feedback.

Typical applications: handheld vocal microphones for PA and live speech, podium/lectern microphones, intercoms and paging in noisy environments, and speech reinforcement in reverberant spaces.

Cardioid Dynamic Microphone vs. Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Both can be cardioid, but their behavior differs.

Dynamic: rugged, handles loud sources well, and is forgiving in live situations. Excellent for handheld microphones at speech events and in more challenging environments.

Condenser: more sensitive and detailed, potentially clearer speech, but can pick up more background sound when over-amplified. Excellent with proper positioning and setup.

Cardioid microphones can exhibit proximity effect (a boost in low frequencies when positioned very close), which can be desirable for warmth or undesirable due to muddying, depending on the application. Voices can change if the user is off-axis; proper technique and stable positioning are essential.

4. Supercardioid Microphones (Narrower Front Pickup)

What is a supercardioid microphone?

A supercardioid microphone is a more directional version of a cardioid microphone. It captures a narrower "front" area and is more effective at rejecting side noise. However, it typically has a small rear lobe, meaning it can capture some sound coming from directly behind.

When is a supercardioid microphone a good choice?

• High-noise environments requiring greater isolation

• Situations where the microphone's direction remains stable (fixed position)

• Higher gain-before-feedback targets (with proper speaker placement)

What to consider when placing in PA systems

Due to the rear lobe, a loudspeaker positioned directly behind the microphone can sometimes perform worse than a cardioid configuration. Loudspeaker placement and orientation still play a significant role.

5. Omnidirectional vs. Unidirectional (Cardioid/Supercardioid): How to Choose

Quick Selection Rule

Choose an omnidirectional microphone when stable sound capture while moving is a priority and environmental conditions are reasonably controlled.

Choose a cardioid or supercardioid microphone when noise reduction and feedback control are a priority and the microphone can be pointed correctly or fixed in position.

6. Selecting Characteristics for Lavalier, Lapel, and Headworn Microphones

Omnidirectional Lavalier/Lapel Microphone

Many presenters prefer an omnidirectional lavalier microphone because it provides a stable grip even when moving their head. This is especially convenient for teachers, tour guides, and presenters who move naturally.

Choose this if:

• the room isn't excessively noisy;

• you need the most stable voice level;

• the user doesn't want to "think about microphone direction."

Cardioid Lavalier/Lapel Microphone

A cardioid lavalier microphone can be useful in noisier environments or when speakers are close, but it's more demanding regarding placement and orientation. If the microphone shifts on clothing, the voice level may fluctuate more than with an omnidirectional microphone.

Choose if:

• background noise levels are high;

• additional isolation is required;

• placement can be carefully controlled and consistent orientation maintained.

Omnidirectional Headworn Microphone

Omnidirectional headworn microphones are widely used for active use (fitness, presentations) because they maintain a consistent distance from the mouth. Even with an omnidirectional characteristic, close placement typically provides high speech intelligibility.

Choose if:

• the speaker moves frequently;

• a stable voice is required without constant adjustments;

• stable speech capture is required with minimal microphone technique.

7. Practical Tips for PA: Best Results with Any Polar Pattern

Even the "correct" polar pattern will yield poor results if the system is improperly designed. Below are some highly effective tips for improving the performance of PA systems.

• Whenever possible, position speakers in front of the microphone and do not point them toward the microphone position. • Use zoning and reasonable volume levels: don't try to cover large spaces from a single zone at a single volume level.

• If feedback is a problem, first eliminate it through proper placement and gain structure adjustment, then apply equalization if necessary.

• For bodypack microphones, the priority is distance from the mouth and reducing clothing noise.

8. Conclusion

Microphone directionality is key to ensuring reliable performance in speech and PA systems. An omnidirectional microphone offers stable and natural sound pickup characteristics, often making it the optimal choice for bodypack devices: omnidirectional lavalier, lapel, and headworn microphones. A cardioid microphone provides improved isolation and greater resistance to feedback in many PA and speech reinforcement applications. A supercardioid microphone allows for even more focused sound pickup with precise control of placement and orientation. With proper system design, placement, gain adjustment, and zoning, polarity response can transform from an unknown quantity into a powerful tool.