What is a Bidirectional Microphone?

A bidirectional microphone is a microphone that captures sound from two opposite directions, typically the front and the back, while rejecting sound from the sides. This pickup pattern is often called a figure-8 polar pattern because of its shape.

In a bidirectional microphone, the microphone diaphragm is designed so that sound arriving from the front and rear is captured equally, while sounds coming from the sides are minimized. This design allows the microphone to focus on two sound sources positioned opposite each other.

Bidirectional microphones are commonly used for interviews, duet recordings, mid-side (M/S) stereo recording techniques, and certain studio applications. Ribbon microphones often use a natural bidirectional pattern due to their design.