polar patterns

Polar patterns describe how a microphone picks up sound from different directions. Imagine a shape that shows which angles the microphone is most sensitive to. For example, a cardioid pattern mainly captures sound from the front and rejects noise from behind, ideal for vocals. Omnidirectional mics pick up sound equally from all directions, good for ambient recordings. Bidirectional or figure-eight mics pick up from the front and back but reject sides. Understanding these patterns helps in choosing the right microphone setting for clear recordings, minimizing unwanted noise, and capturing sound more effectively in various environments.