What describes the shape and directionality of a microphone's sensitivity?

• A. Polar Pattern
• B. Frequency Response
• C. Pick Up Pattern
• D. Noise Floor

Answer: (C)

Pickup pattern describes how sensitive a microphone is to sound from different angles, which defines its shape in space and its directionality. This pattern shows where the mic picks up sound strongest (front, sides, rear) and where it rejects noise, and it’s why mics are chosen for specific setups—cardioid, omnidirectional, figure-8, and so on. Understanding the pickup pattern lets you place the mic to capture the desired source while minimizing unwanted spill. By comparison, frequency response describes how the mic responds across frequencies, and the noise floor is about the mic’s own hiss and noise. So the term that best captures both the shape and directional sensitivity is the pickup pattern.