Cardoid or omni mic?

[Mark Shea]

Hi

I want to get the a wireless mic kit

I will be using it for interviews and outdoor to camera pieces.

Should I get the Sennheiser evolution ew 112-p or the 122-p

The only difference is the mic, the 112 being omni and the 122 being cardoid. I know how both these patterns work but was wondering if people have first hand experience of both mics in the field?

[Steve Oakley]

omni. despite what you might be thinking, with a cardiod lav when the talent moves their head the levels can change quite a bit. simply getting the mic close will do. I've used ECM44's for NYC street interviews and gotten very clean sound when placing the lav very high up.

[John Willett]

Definitely get the 122 omni kit and avoid the cardioid.

Omni = yes
Cardioid = no

If you use a cardioid to get more "drop out" as the person moves their head.

Also the back of the cardioid is pointing towards the body, so you don't get much of the good things about a cardioid and get all the bad.

Omni is best.

In addition, the difference is only 1.7. This means that an omni aboit 10cm away from the mouth will be equivalent to a cardioid at 17cm. Also, an omni does not suffer from proximity effect, so you can move it closer without changing the quality of the sound.

I hope this helps.

[Gary Nattrass]

Just to add as the guys say omni is best for personal lav's, you can also use them upside down to stop nasal blasts to the capsule.

[Mark Shea]

Thanks guys

Can someone tell me when a cardioid lav mic would be useful?

regards

Mark

[Jack Walker]

Originally Posted by Mark Shea

Thanks guys

Can someone tell me when a cardioid lav mic would be useful?

regards

Mark

In a controlled situation where the directional pattern is desired (extra off-axis rejection helpful), and the mic is being used by an experienced person who will stay on mic.

For example, stand up news anchor, a pitchman giving a demo at Costco, a sidelines reporter at a sporting event. (Note that all of these and similar are also situations where a handmic is often used.)

[Steve House]

Originally Posted by Mark Shea

Thanks guys

Can someone tell me when a cardioid lav mic would be useful?

regards

Mark

In addition to Jack's comments ... primarily in sound reinforcement applications where conditions make controlling feedback between the PA speakers and mic a problem. Secondarily in a high noise environment. It's almost never used for dramatic material, interviews, etc, because the natural movement of the subject inevitably takes him on and off mic.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Mark Shea

Thanks guys

Can someone tell me when a cardioid lav mic would be useful?

I cannot think of any situation where a cardioid lav. would be better than an omni.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Jack Walker

In a controlled situation where the directional pattern is desired (extra off-axis rejection helpful), and the mic is being used by an experienced person who will stay on mic.

For example, stand up news anchor, a pitchman giving a demo at Costco, a sidelines reporter at a sporting event. (Note that all of these and similar are also situations where a handmic is often used.)

Even here I would use an omni over a cardioid.

The axis of maximum rejection of the cardioid is pointing mostly towards the chest and you get no real benefit.

You can improve the feedback rejection of an omni just by moving it closer, a cardioid has to stay further away.

No - steer clear of cardioid lavs.

I really don't like them at all.