'Gated-sounding' mic?

[notCardio]

On a recent thread SOMEWHERE on this board, someone described a mic as sounding like it was 'gated', which to me would mean it wasn't extremely sensitive. I thought he was talking about the ECM8000's, but now I can't find the thread. Does anyone remember? I hope it wasn't in the "size/pattern" thread. I gave up looking through that one.

 

[Dolemite]

On a recent thread SOMEWHERE on this board, someone described a mic as sounding like it was 'gated', which to me would mean it wasn't extremely sensitive.

Uhhh...it should mean just the opposite.

 

[notCardio]

Why would it be just the opposite? If something sounded gated, to me that means it's letting the louder (closer) sound through, while rejecting the quiter (farther) sound. IOW, when the loud sound isn't present, the mic sounds like it's turned off, or gated. What part of this am I not seeing, or getting backwards?

 

[notCardio]

And if it only picks up the loud sounds, while not picking up the quiet sounds, I would call that mic 'not very sensitive', whereas a very sensitive mic will pick up ALL of the sounds.