cardioid microphone

electroacoustic device

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A cardioid microphone is an electroacoustic transducer that converts sound waves into electrical signals. It is known for its directional characteristics, meaning it picks up sound more effectively from certain directions than others. The term "cardioid" comes from the heart-shaped polar curve that represents its directional response, with maximum sensitivity in the front and minimum sensitivity in the back. This directional quality makes it useful for isolating sound sources and reducing unwanted background noise, such as audience sounds during live performances.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

electromechanical transducer
Linearity and directivity
…common directional microphone is the cardioid microphone, so called because, when the intensity response as a function of angle is plotted on a polar graph, the curve is heart-shaped. A cardioid microphone is useful for recording live performances, where it is desirable to eliminate audience noise. A shotgun microphone has…
Read More
…common directional microphone is the cardioid microphone, so called because, when the intensity response as a function of angle is plotted on a polar graph, the curve is heart-shaped. A cardioid microphone is useful for recording live performances, where it is desirable to eliminate audience noise. A shotgun microphone has…
Read More