StudioLife 10X
Microphone Polar Pattern Explorer
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Explore five idealized directional patterns and compare response at different angles.
Objective: Distinguish relative sensitivity, rear lobes and ideal zeros from real isolation.
Preparing the interactive controls. JavaScript is required; related lessons remain available below.
Explore ideal directional response
0°/360° front; 90° right side; 180° rear; 270° left side.
Model, nulls and real-world limits
Sensitivity magnitude is |a + b cos θ|, normalized to the front: omni (1,0), cardioid (0.5,0.5), supercardioid (0.37,0.63), hypercardioid (0.25,0.75), figure-eight (0,1). The displayed dB comparison is 20 log10(magnitude), except that ideal zeros are labeled rather than presented as achievable infinite rejection.
The curve uses linear radius; it is not a manufacturer dB polar plot. Rear-lobe polarity can differ although magnitude is drawn positive. Real microphones vary with frequency and construction. Reflections arrive from multiple directions, off-axis sound can change tone, and directionality does not soundproof a room. Consult the actual microphone charts and make a controlled placement test.
Local-only practice: no account, automatic saving, third-party tracking, or input submission is used by these tools. Reloading clears the working state.