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CM12C Polar Pattern
Every microphone has a characteristic polar pattern that determines how well it accepts or rejects signal com-
ing from various areas around the microphone. For example, omnidirectional mics accept all signals regardless
of where those signals originate (in front of the mic, behind it, to the side, etc.).
In contrast, directional cardioid mics are specifically designed to accept mostly signal coming from directly in
front, and to reject signal coming from behind or from the side. The cardioid pattern is utilized by the CM12C
(as shown in the illustration below). For this reason, the CM12C excels in envi-
ronments where there is a good deal of unwanted ambient sound—it delivers
those signals originating directly in front of the mic capsule itself while rejecting
those that originate from behind.
The polar pattern also determines how prone a particular mic is to inducing
feedback. Feedback is that characteristic nasty howling sound that occurs when
a mic is placed too close to a loudspeaker—the signal from the loudspeaker
is fed into the mic, then into the loudspeaker, then into the mic, over and over
again until an oscillating tone is generated. Because the cardioid pattern utilized
by the CM12C is so good at rejecting signal coming from in the rear of the mic,
youʼll find that use of the CM12C greatly minimizes feedback problems.
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