Why a Figure 8?

American indie pop band, Lucius, taking full advantage of the Cloud 44-A's figure-eight polar pattern.

Did you know that a figure 8 microphone can often provide more directional control than a cardioid or unidirectional microphone? One reason directional microphones can lack the precise focus of a figure 8 is their wide pickup pattern, capturing sound across an entire side.

The Cloud 44-A was designed with perfect symmetry on both sides to achieve an identical frequency response on each. The ribbon itself vibrates from sound waves much like an eardrum, capturing a stunningly realistic sound. The backside of the microphone acts like a negative image, canceling out sounds that reach both sides equally. The magic of the figure 8 lies in its ability to capture a balanced, natural sound

by embracing the entire acoustic space. Why? Because this mimics how our ears perceive sound. We have two ears, giving us a natural sense of our sonic environment.

The symmetrical, tightly focused figure-8 pattern of the Cloud 44-A offers precise control over your sound, allowing you to shape the ambience and reject unwanted reflections. The tight focus and deep nulls create a remarkable ability to eliminate unwanted sound, not only from the sides, but also from the floor and ceiling, with subtle adjustments in mic placement.