OMNIDIRECTIONAL SENSITIVITY PATTERNS
A microphone's directionality pattern can be described in terms
similar to what we use for antennae. Its sensitivity can be measured
as a function of direction. Microphones can be classified as
omnidirectional (nondirectional) and directional
(e.g., bidirectional and unidirectional).
The polar response of an ideal omnidirectional microphone is:
A cross-sectional view of the microphone:
reveals that the diaphragm is designed to be sensitive to signals emanating
from any direction.