Which microphone type records sound in a heart-shaped pickup pattern?

The microphone type that records sound in a heart-shaped pickup pattern is the cardioid microphone. This design is particularly effective for isolating sound from a specific source while minimizing background noise, making it ideal for live performances, studio recordings, and situations where you need to capture audio from the front while rejecting sound from the sides and rear. The cardioid pattern is characterized by its sensitivity to sound coming from the front, creating that distinctive heart shape when visualized.

The design of the cardioid microphone allows for a more focused audio capture, which is especially beneficial in environments with potentially distracting ambient sounds. Its effective rejection of sound from the sides is due to the way the microphone's diaphragm is constructed and the physics of sound wave capture.

In contrast, other microphone types, such as the supercardioid and hypercardioid, have a more narrow pickup pattern with added sensitivity to sound from the rear, while others like omnidirectional microphones pick up sound from all directions equally. This makes cardioid microphones the choice for applications where concentration on a sound source, such as vocals or instruments, is essential.