Sound Track: An Introduction to Microphonicus Videus

Greetings, students. During this class period we'll be taking a closer look at the sometimes peculiar characteristics of Microphonicus Videus, or the video microphone. A solid understanding of how mikes interact with their environment will aid you in your dealings with these creatures, and will help you apply them toward better-sounding video productions.

Mikes Don't Concentrate Well
When using your first camcorder, you were no doubt impressed with the ability of its lens to zoom in on a distant subject. Some camcorders have optical zoom ranges that make them work almost like a telescope, focusing attention on a very small area. Unfortunately, microphones don't work this way. Because of the way sound behaves, no mike can concentrate on a subject the way a lens can. Even a highly directional shotgun mike (with a long, slender barrel) picks up sound over a roughly 60-degree swath. Compare that to a zoom lens' ability to hone in on just a few degrees worth of real estate in front of it. Even so-called "zoom" mikes pick up sound over a relatively broad range.

The most common microphone pickup pattern is called "cardioid." Its pattern is roughly heart-shaped if viewed from the side of the mike. This type of mike is dramatically less directional than a shotgun mike, picking up sound over an angle of roughly 130 degrees. In other words, the average microphone is picking up sound at an extreme wide angle setting all …