Which type of microphone is designed to pick up sound primarily from the front and minimize sound from the sides and back?

The shot gun microphone is specifically engineered to capture sound primarily from the front while minimizing noise from the sides and rear. This directional sensitivity is achieved through its elongated shape and highly directional polar pattern, often characterized as supercardioid or hypercardioid. This design makes it ideal for scenarios where focused sound capture is essential, such as in film production or live performances, where isolating the subject's voice from surrounding noise is critical.

In contrast, other types of microphones have different applications and polar patterns. For example, condenser microphones typically offer a wider pickup pattern and are more sensitive, making them excellent for capturing a full range of sounds rather than isolating a specific source. Dynamic microphones are versatile but generally have a cardioid pattern that does not provide the same focused pickup as a shotgun design. Lastly, lavalier microphones are small and often used in interviews or presentations, but they are omnidirectional, capturing sound equally from all directions rather than focusing primarily on the front. This additional context highlights the significant advantages of shotgun microphones in their intended use cases.