Condenser Microphone
Figure Eight microphones are used in recording studios across the world to accurately capture a wide range of sound sources. While cardioid microphones block out ambient reflections from the rear axes, figure eight microphones capture these reflections, allowing a more natural and open sound to be translated.
Polar Pattern
A microphone with a figure eight, or bidirectional, polar pattern picks up sound from both the front and rear axes, but has minimal pickup at its sides. Bidirectional microphones are often used when capturing sound from both sides of the microphone is desirable. This polar pattern is especially useful when simultaneously recording two individual sound sources, such as two vocalists, or one sound source and its ambient reflections.
Microphone Types
Ribbon microphones are the most common form of figure eight microphones, although many multi-pattern condenser microphones also feature this polar pattern. Popular ribbon microphones include the Royer 121, Coles 4038 and AEA R84. Popular multi-pattern condenser microphones featuring a figure eight pattern include the AKG C414, Nuemann U87 and Shure KSM44.
Single Microphone Recording
A figure eight microphone is preferred for recording a single horn or stringed instrument due to the natural sound that its pickup pattern captures. Both the sound of the instrument and the sound of the room are captured through the use of only one bi-directional microphone.
Mid-Side Recording Technique
The mid-side, or M/S, recording technique utilizes a figure eight microphone as well as a cardioid microphone. This stereo recording technique is unique in that it requires a decoder, such as the Waves S1 Stereo Imager plug-in, in order to translate the captured sound into a stereo image. In mid-side recording, the mid position, which most commonly utilizes a cardioid microphone, faces toward the sound source while the side position, which utilizes a figure eight microphone, is oriented sideways. Through this placement, the mid microphone captures the direct sound while the figure eight microphone picks up the ambient sound. When these signals are combined through a mid-side decoder, the signal is translated into a stereo image that maintains complete mono compatibility.
Blumein Recording Technique
The Blumein recording technique utilizes the principles of X/Y stereo miking, but instead substitutes two figure eight microphones for the two cardioid microphones traditionally used in X/Y stereo miking. When performing the Blumein technique, two figure eight microphones are crossed, pointed at the source, and then offset by 90 degrees to one another. Through this setup, excellent ambient results can be achieved that cannot otherwise be captured when using a cardioid stereo pair of microphones.
Tags: figure eight, figure eight microphone, figure eight microphones, ambient reflections, cardioid microphone, cardioid microphones