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-   -   Purpose of round microphones? (https://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-things-audio/12268-purpose-round-microphones.html)

Michael Wisniewski July 20th, 2003 06:50 PM

Purpose of round microphones?
 
Why are some microphones round?

Matt Stahley July 20th, 2003 08:50 PM

What exactly do you mean by round?

Peter Moore July 20th, 2003 09:33 PM

Yeah that's kind of a hard quesiton to answer, but the bottom line is a microphone's shape and electronics affect its sound and pickup pattern. For instance mics that are long and thin (shotguns) have a narrow pickup pattern suitable for films and braodcast. Stage microphones have a heart-shaped pickup pattern (hence they're called cardioid) which is more suitable to being held under the chin as opposed to on a boom high above the actor.

Michael Wisniewski July 20th, 2003 09:54 PM

I'm just wondering why some mics have a use a round ball to cover the mic vs. a different shape.

For example: Shure SM58 vs. Shure SM57 vs. MXL2003

Jacques Mersereau July 21st, 2003 11:22 AM

In the case of the Shure SM58 and SM57, the round ball of the 58 acts
as a windscreen, and in addition, keeps the source (usually a voice w/ a 58)
from getting too close to the capsule which can caused a bass boost or
"proximity effect."

Peter Moore July 21st, 2003 11:40 AM

And the MXL2003 is a condenser microphone, so that affects the shape as well.

Rob Belics July 21st, 2003 11:48 AM

It's also used for well-rounded speakers.


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