thinQmaster Virtual testing partner Adaptive practice exams that find your weak spots and drill them. Every answer explained. From $69
Enroll

thinQmaster

Find your exam

Five questions free, before you decide.

Step 1 · choose a vendor

In one of our camps? Your practice exams come with the tuition — they are on your study page already.

Collaboration, Voice & AV · Foundational

Polar Pattern

The directional sensitivity of a microphone or loudspeaker, such as omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid or figure-8.

Definition

Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound equally from all directions; cardioid patterns reject sound from the rear; supercardioid and hypercardioid are narrower with small rear lobes; figure-8 (bidirectional) picks up front and back while rejecting the sides. Choosing the right pattern controls feedback and room noise. Loudspeakers have dispersion patterns that determine coverage.

Example

A cardioid lectern microphone is aimed away from the stage monitor to place the monitor in its null.

Exam tip

Place loudspeakers in the microphone's null, which is the rear for cardioid and about 125 degrees off-axis for supercardioid.

Related terms