Proximity Effect

The proximity effect refers to the phenomenon where a directional microphone's bass response increases when it is close to a sound source, especially in the presence of nearby reflecting surfaces or other microphones. This occurs because the microphone picks up more of the low-frequency sound waves directly from the source, making the sound warmer and fuller. The effect is most noticeable with microphones that have a tight, cardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern. Sound engineers use this effect intentionally or adjust for it to ensure the desired tonal quality, especially in settings like singing or speech recordings.