6.10: Frequency Response
- Page ID
- 388277
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Each microphone has a frequency response curve, showing how it reacts across frequencies. Flat responses are best for accurate recordings, while shaped responses may boost certain ranges (like vocal presence). However, the majority of microphones will not have a flat response. Instead each mic will do better with certain frequencies. This is shown on a frequency response curve graph as shown below.
To reiterate, low frequencies tend to have an omnidirectional response, meaning they spread out and are captured more evenly from all directions. High frequencies are much more directional, creating a narrower pickup pattern. This principle is critical to understand because it directly affects how microphones capture different sounds in real-world environments.