A shotgun microphone is a microphone with a __________ pickup pattern.

A shotgun microphone is a microphone with a __________ pickup pattern.

• A. Broad
• B. Cardioid
• C. Omnidirectional
• D. Narrow

Answer: (D)

Shotgun mics are built for high directionality. They capture sound from a very small area in front of the microphone while largely rejecting noise from the sides and rear. This extreme focus comes from the interference tube inside the mic, which cancels off-axis sounds and creates a tight front lobe. Because of that, the pickup pattern is best described as narrow. Broader or omnidirectional patterns would pick up sound from many directions, and cardioid, while directional, isn’t as tightly focused as a shotgun. So the term that fits the behavior of a shotgun mic is narrow.

Shotgun mics are built for high directionality. They capture sound from a very small area in front of the microphone while largely rejecting noise from the sides and rear. This extreme focus comes from the interference tube inside the mic, which cancels off-axis sounds and creates a tight front lobe. Because of that, the pickup pattern is best described as narrow. Broader or omnidirectional patterns would pick up sound from many directions, and cardioid, while directional, isn’t as tightly focused as a shotgun. So the term that fits the behavior of a shotgun mic is narrow.