[MacDV] Re: Audio-Technica ATR25 microphone

[Karla-Tonella at uiowa.edu]

>Sounds like a figure-8 pattern to me.

The figure-8 pattern is bi-directional, front and back, not stereo -- 
it is a mono signal but accepts sound from both directions.  Like the 
old ribbon mics used in early radio, two people could share a single 
mic but only one signal is sent to the recording equipment. Stereo 
mics send two signals, usually from two mics (that can be combined in 
one casing) aimed in a variety of patterns.  There is a 
"middle-sides" pattern that uses a figure-8 pattern in one mic and a 
unidirectional aimed at the middle for the other.  Better stereo mics 
have switchable patterns that often include middle-sides and 
crossover patterns where the left mic is aimed at the right and vice 
versa.

Karla-Tonella at uiowa.edu