On Tue, 09 Jul 2002 19:37:44 -0400, SEE-SIGFILE@rcn.com (Jay Rose) wrote:

>> I am looking for a quality all purpose mic. I am looking for something that
>> would have a narrow/wide toggle, preferably with as narrow a narrow and as
>> wide a wide mode as possible (e.g. 1 deg & 360 deg hehehe). I frequently
>> tape seminars and would like to pick up voice as clearly as possible
>> (therefore the req for a narrow setting) - as well as audience questions
>> (therefore the req for a wide setting).

>I hope none of these are physics seminars. "Zoom mic" is a marketing term,
>not an engineering one. Mics pick up a spherical pattern. The only
>difference is that good shotguns have some 20 dB less pickup from parts of
>the side, at specific frequencies. In practical terms, that means the most
>directional mic won't sound much different at 4' from the subject as a
>completely non-directional mic at 1' from the subject. (And a shotgun does
>other damage to the sound.) The so-called zoom mics range from maybe 6 dB
>side rejection to maybe 10 dB... that's an estimate based on their
>construction; the manufacturers don't publish specs.
>
>If you want to pick up the voice clearly, get the mic on the podium.
>
>Of course, this flies counter to what you'll read on manufacturer's
>websites and in some ads. You may prefer to believe those claims instead.

Thanks for a few good laughs!;-)
You are right, of course! And you handled
the "reality vs. marketing" thingy so well,
something I often fail to do in posts,
alas...;-)