Microphone pick-up patterns

Omni-directional polar pattern

The omni-directional picks up sound information evenly in all directions.

Cardioid polar pattern

The cardioid features broad directivity and a wide apex angle. Sound that hits the back of the microphone is attenuated the most.

Supercardioid polar pattern

The supercardioid is slightly more directional than the cardioid, meaning it suppresses even more noise from the side, but also picks up some sound from behind.

Supercardioid | lobar polar pattern

The supercardioid or lobar has the strongest directional effect, i.e. the greatest suppression of sound from the side, but also absorbs sound from behind. However, the ratio is lower here than with the supercardioid.