Figure 8...?

[Zetajazz44]

I'm fairly new to the recording scene, but in what application would one want a figure 8 polar pattern? I've thought and thought and just can't come up with an answer... I've got a Rode K2 and it has adjustable patterns from the power supply and I've just not found when the figure 8 would be useful...

 

[krs]

Most commonly used in stereo techniques Blumlein and M/S. Otherwise can work for recording duos. I think this was covered in the big mic thread, which if you didn't read already, you probably ought to

 

[Big Kenny]

I also use it on acoustic guitar once in a while, over the soundhole, pointing at the bottom and head, sounds different and in some cases, works well in a mix

 

[Harvey Gerst]

I'm fairly new to the recording scene, but in what application would one want a figure 8 polar pattern? I've thought and thought and just can't come up with an answer... I've got a Rode K2 and it has adjustable patterns from the power supply and I've just not found when the figure 8 would be useful...

A lot of us "old fart" engineers came from an era where consoles had an 80Hz knob for lows, and a 10kHz knob for highs, and that was about all the eq we had.

We quickly learned that the adjustable patterns on mics could be used as an outboard eq - omni for flat, and as we turned the polar pattern knob towards the figure 8 side, we got more bass boost (from increased proximity effect). Figure 8 patterns are a pure pressure gradient pattern; they have the most proximity effect.

All multi-pattern mics work the same way, omni at one end, figure 8 at the other end, and all the various cardioid patterns in between (by varying the mixtures of figure 8 and omni). So in addition to controlling the amount of room pick up, you can use the pattern knob to control the "tone".

 

[chessrock]

Major use for them is their ability to reject other instruments/sound sources by doing what even young fart engineers would call: "working the nole."

 

[JohnnyMan]

Here are two links to the "Big Thread". I edited the thread, removed the chatter, and posted it in two Word documents.

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1221538&postcount=713

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=1221548&postcount=714

I hope you find them useful.

 

[DJL]

There are many uses... for example, figure 8 can also work good for when you want to record two singers at the same time who want to face each other while singing.

 

[chessrock]

That's why most mics with a figure-8 pattern come standard with a pack of breath mints.

 

[Zetajazz44]

Thanks for all the answers! This was my first post on this board and I found it very helpful... Think I'll hang around...

 

[tdukex]

I also use it on acoustic guitar once in a while, over the soundhole, pointing at the bottom and head, sounds different and in some cases, works well in a mix

I like that sound on solo acoustic and will soon try it in a fairly sparse mix.

 

[slobbermonster]

variable pattern is a great "eq" for a mic. I've got a mic that sound just like a ribbon mic in figure 8