I recently got a NW-700 microphone. It's specs says that the reception pattern is a cardioid. However, no axis is specified. Is this pattern along the length of the mic? (Purple) or is there a front (orange) and back (red) of a mic?

Mic Axis

Should I be speaking from the top of the mic? (Purple) or the front (Orange)? Or both? Is this pattern a 3D solid?


The cardioid pattern is a 3D pattern and is taken along the front direction of the mic.

This video explains the concept pretty well -

The internal structure of the microphone shows that the condenser surface is pointed in a specific direction.

enter image description here

  • Yeah, the zero degree axis of the polar pattern points straight out from the diaphragm. – Marc W Mar 30 '16 at 21:36

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