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[Chuck Simon]

What do you think?  It seems to have a flat freq response.

[Andre Vare]

What do you think?  It seems to have a flat freq response.

The SM81 is a cardioid microphone.  Right off the bat that means the low end frequency response will vary with the distance from the sound source.  Second, the results will not match measurement microphones which pick up sounds in all directions equally. IOW the results will not be usable to compare against omnidirectional microphones.

If you are fooling around for the pleasure of fooling around, go for it.

Andre

[Chuck Simon]

Good point, Andre.  I forgot about the cardioid effect.

[Art Welter]

Good point, Andre.  I forgot about the cardioid effect.

In the case of the SM-81, it does not appear the low end frequency response will vary much with the distance from the sound source, but the off axis rear response will.

Depending on what you want to measure, the SM-81 could be useful, but as Andre mentions, the results will be different than the normal measurement choice of an  omnidirectional microphone.

[Chuck Simon]

So if I wanted to RTA the speakers more so than the room, with the mic aimed directly at the speakers, would the cardoid actually be advantageous? 

[David Sturzenbecher]

So if I wanted to RTA the speakers more so than the room, with the mic aimed directly at the speakers, would the cardoid actually be advantageous?

RTA's are a noun, not so much a verb.  What exactly are you going to do?

[Tim McCulloch]

So if I wanted to RTA the speakers more so than the room, with the mic aimed directly at the speakers, would the cardoid actually be advantageous?

No.

How microphones develop a "pattern" is by acoustic cancellation caused by controlled phase cancellations within the microphone capsule.  This is what causes the proximity effect and part of what creates off-axis "coloration" of the sound being picked up.

At the price of "good enough for the Lounge (and many LABsters too) measurement mics you're being penny-wise and pound-foolish.  Even the lowly B* mic typically is usable from 30Hz to around 8kHz or ever higher, depending on the individual mic.

What are you trying to accomplish?

[Chuck Simon]

Thanks guys, I think I got my answer(along with an English lesson).

[Brad Weber]

I think it depends on what you are trying to do.  If you will be using the SM81 and are trying to include its effect as part of the measurement then it makes sense.  If you are trying to make more general measurements then probably not the best idea.

[ProSoundWeb Community]