Qsnare Characteristics - Samson Q snare Owner's Manual

QSNARE Characteristics

Every microphone has a characteristic polar pattern that determines how well it
accepts or rejects signal coming from various areas around the microphone. For
example, omnidirectional mics accept all signals regardless of wherever 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 QSNARE (as shown in the
illustration below). For this reason, the QSNARE excels in environments where
there is a good deal of unwanted ambient sound—it delivers those signals origi-
nating 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 feed-
back. 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
QSNARE is so good at rejecting signal not coming from directly in front of the
mic, you'll find that use of the QSNARE greatly minimizes feedback problems.
QSNARE Polar Pattern
QSNARE Frequency Chart
6