What microphone type records in a heart-shaped pickup pattern?

The microphone type that records in a heart-shaped pickup pattern is the cardioid microphone. This design is specifically engineered to capture sound from the front while rejecting noise and sound coming from the sides and rear. This characteristic makes it ideal for live performances and studio settings where you want to focus on a specific sound source, such as a vocalist or a musical instrument, while minimizing background noise.

The heart-shaped pickup pattern, known as the cardioid pattern, provides a good balance between sensitivity and rejection, making it versatile for various applications such as recording and broadcasting. In contrast, other microphone types, such as omnidirectional microphones, pick up sound equally from all directions, which would not be suitable for isolating a specific audio source. Shotgun microphones typically have a more elongated pickup pattern, focusing on sound sources directly in front while being more directional than cardioid microphones. Dynamic microphones can come in various pickup patterns, but they can also include cardioid designs. However, not all dynamic microphones exclusively exhibit the heart-shaped pattern characteristic of cardioid microphones.