What type of microphone picks up sound primarily from the front, with little sensitivity to its sides and rear?

The shotgun microphone is specifically designed to capture sound from a focused direction, primarily from the front, while rejecting noise from the sides and rear. This directivity is achieved through a narrow pickup pattern, which allows it to isolate audio sources that are directly in front of it. This makes it an excellent choice for applications like film and television production, where the goal is to capture dialogue or specific sounds without interference from ambient noise.

In situations where background noise is prevalent or where the subject is positioned at a distance, the shotgun microphone effectively minimizes unwanted sounds, allowing for clearer audio capture. This characteristic is critical in environments where precision and clarity are essential, such as interviews or outdoor recordings where wind noise might be a concern.

In contrast, the other types of microphones mentioned have different characteristics. Dynamic microphones are versatile and can handle high sound pressure levels but do not have the same directional focus as shotgun mics. Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound equally from all directions and are not suited for isolating sound from a specific source. Lavalier microphones, while convenient for hands-free use, also have a more omnidirectional response, picking up sound from multiple directions rather than being tightly focused.