Samson VR88 - Manual (Page 8)

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Operating the VR88
Powering the VR88
The VR88 features an active head amplifier and therefore needs to be operated by
connecting a phantom power supply. Phantom power is standard on most quality
mixers, outboard mic-pres and hard disk recorders. If necessary, an external phantom
supply can also be used. The VR88 receives the phantom power directly from a mic
cable when connected to a mixer or other microphone input that includes a phantom
supply. Most mixers have a switch to engage the phantom power so be sure to check
that the phantom power is on.
Polar Pattern
The most important characteristic of any microphone is its directionality or “pick-
up pattern”. There are three basic categories of pick up patterns; omnidirectional,
unidirectional and bidirectional. Omnidirectional mics pick up sound from all
directions while unidirectional, or cardioid, mics pick up the sound from the front
and reject the sound from the rear. Bidirectional, or figure-8, mics pick up the sound
directly in front and back of the microphone while rejecting the sound on the left and
right sides.
While omni and unidirectional microphones are very useful for a variety of
applications, the VR88's bidirectional pick up pattern is very desirable and performs
well in many recording situations. You can use the bidirectional pattern to capture
room ambiance by carefully placing the microphone between the sound source and
studio walls. You can also capture the simultaneous performance of two instruments
or vocalists by positioning the microphone directly between them, so one is
addressing the front of the microphone and the other the rear.
Microphone Placement
In order to maximize the sound quality, you must pay careful attention to the
placement of your VR88 and how it is positioned for the instrument or vocalist that
you are miking. The VR88 is a side address microphone employing a bidirectional pick
up pattern, so it picks up sound from the front and rear. All microphones, especially
unidirectional and bidirectional microphones, exhibit a phenomenon known as
“proximity effect.” Very simply put, proximity effect is a resulting change in the
microphone's frequency response based on the distance of the mic capsule relative
to the sound source. Generally, you will get a bass boost when miking in close. It
is also important to pay attention to the direction of the microphone's element.
When you point a unidirectional or bidirectional mic directly at the sound source
(on axis) you will get the best frequency response, however when you start pointing
the microphone slightly away (off axis) you will notice the high frequency response
dropping off and the microphone will start to sound like it has more bass.
For most vocal applications you’ll want to position the microphone directly in front of
the artist. The same may be true for miking instruments, however, you can make