[Don Pearce[_3_]]

On 20 Jun 2017 09:13:16 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

In article , Mike Rivers wrote:

** Normally it will.

Partly because it is directional but more importantly due to proximity effect - which at close rage is dominant. Omnis have no such effect.

Proximity effect is a rise in low frequency response when the source is
close to the mic. How does this reduce ambient noise? Mostly it makes
the subject sound un-natural, ranging from god-like to muddy.

It boosts low frequency of close sources, meaning that you can then cut the
low end down to get flat response on close sources and therefore reduced low
frequencies from distant (noise) sources. Which is a win.

However, if the surrounding noise is objectionable when the subject is a
foot and a half away from the mic, moving the mic so that it's a few
inches from the subject's mouth will increase the SPL of the subject at
the mic substantially, however that change in mic position, unless the
subject is standing next to the cement mixer, will make a nearly
insignificant increase in SPL of the noise. And miking up close, you
usually don't want the proximity effect bass boost, so an omni is
usually the better choice.

This is all true, but the real problem is invariably that the microphone isn't
in the right place, and the talent won't stay in the right place, and then the
talent starts trying to control where the microphone is and then it all goes
wrong.

If unwanted noise is coming from specific directions then a microphone
pattern with nulls in those directions may help a great deal.

** Only if you are outdoors and only if you aim the rear of the mic at the noise source. In practice, a near impossible task.

Shotgun mics have nulls off to the sides, though these are really
intended to reduce noise from reflections in a room rather than actual
noise sources.

Shotgun mikes use a trick.... they eliminate distinct noise sources from
off-axis but the interference tube is of no use at all for dealing with
noncoherent sources like room reverb. For the most part they are a win
outdoors and a total loss indoors. Where they work they are invaluable,
where they don't work you'd be much better off with a hypercardioid.
--scott

Bear in mind also that the directional quality of a shotgun relies on
sound entering the tube vents at essentially the same level all the
way along the tube. Once you are close, the front vents are getting
the lion's share of SPL, so the directional effect of the shotgun is
largely lost.

d

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