Comparison Sennheiser EW 122-P G4 vs Sennheiser EW 112-P G4

Directionality describes the ability of a microphone to pick up sounds coming from different directions, more precisely, the dependence of sensitivity on the direction from which the sound comes.

— Unidirectional. As the name implies, these microphones are capable of picking up sound coming from only one side. Note that the coverage area itself can be quite wide, but anyway it is located “in front” of the microphone. Unidirectional models are very convenient for the perception of sound from a single source, with maximum clipping of ambient noise.

— Bidirectional. This term in our case means two types of microphones. The first option is the classic bidirectional models, designed for the possibility of normal perception of sound from two opposite sides — roughly speaking, "front" and "rear"; at the same time, dead zones are formed on the sides, from where the sound is practically not perceived. This format of work can be useful, for example, for broadcasting a dialogue in a radio station studio, or when simultaneously recording two voices on one microphone. The second variety is microphones with a pair of capsules directed at an angle to each other (most often perpendicular); a similar design is used in models with a stereo recording function.

— Omnidirectional. Also, this variety is called "non-directional", which also to a certain extent ch...aracterizes its features. Such microphones do not have a clearly defined directionality — they perceive the sound coming from any direction with full sensitivity. An example of a situation where this format might be useful is a recording of a roundtable discussion.

Note that while most microphones only work in one directional pattern, some models support multiple directional patterns, with the ability to switch between them as desired by the user (see Features/Characteristics). The methods of such switching can be different: in some models it is enough to move the switch, in others you need to change the capsule.

The polar pattern of a unidirectional microphone (see above). There are models with DN switching.

By itself, such a diagram is a graph of sensitivity versus direction, built in the so-called polar coordinate system. For unidirectional models, there are three main options for the shape of the line on such a chart:

— Cardioid. A chart shaped like an inverted heart symbol (hence the name). Microphones with these characteristics cover a fairly large area in front, which makes it difficult to filter out extraneous sound sources that are close to the main source. At the same time, they are completely insensitive to sound coming from the rear.

— Supercardioid. These mics have a narrower front coverage than "classic" cardioid mics, making it easier to pick up directional sound. The downside of this is some (albeit rather low) sensitivity to sound coming directly from behind.

— Hypercardioid. The hypercardioid pattern further narrows the microphone's sensitivity zone in the front (compared to the supercardioid pattern), but widens this zone in the back.

Sensitivity describes the signal strength at the output of a microphone when it processes a sound of a certain volume. In this case, sensitivity means the ratio of the output voltage to the sound pressure on the membrane, expressed in decibels. The higher this number, the higher the sensitivity. Note that, as a rule, values in decibels are negative, so we can say this: the closer the number is to zero, the more sensitive the microphone. For example, a -38 dB model outperforms a -54 dB model in this parameter.

It should be borne in mind that high sensitivity in itself does not mean high sound quality - it only allows the device to “hear” a weaker sound. Conversely, low sensitivity is not an unequivocal sign of a bad microphone. The choice for this parameter depends on the specifics of the application: a sensitive device is useful for working with low sounds and in cases where it is necessary to capture the smallest nuances of what is happening, and a “weak” microphone will be convenient at high sound volume or, if necessary, filter out extraneous weak noises. There are models with sensitivity adjustment(and for models with a headphone output , headphone volume control may be provided).

The maximum sound pressure perceived by the microphone, at which the harmonic oscillation coefficient does not exceed 0.5% — in other words, the highest sound volume at which no noticeable interference occurs.

The higher this indicator, the better the microphone is suitable for working with loud sound. Here it is worth considering that the decibel is a non-linear quantity; in other words, an increase in volume from 10 dB to 20 dB or from 20 to 40 dB does not mean a 2-fold increase in volume. Therefore, when assessing, it is most convenient to refer to comparative tables of noise levels. Here are some examples: a level of 100 dB roughly corresponds to a motorcycle engine or subway car noise; 110 dB — helicopter; 120 dB — the work of a demolition hammer; 130 dB, comparable to the sound of a jet aircraft taking off, is considered a pain threshold for a person. At the same time, many high-end microphones are able to work normally at a sound pressure of 140 – 150 dB — and this is a noise level that can cause physical damage to a person.

This parameter directly affects the freedom of movement and ease of use: the farther the microphone can be taken from the connection point, the more convenient it is, especially when used in large spaces.