What Is a Cardioid Microphone?
Updated Nov 11, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A cardioid microphone picks up sound from the front and rejects sound from the rear and sides. Its pickup pattern looks like a heart shape on a polar plot, with the strongest pickup in front of the mic. Cardioid mics suit voices and instruments where you want the source up close and sound from behind the mic held back.
What the cardioid pattern means
A cardioid microphone picks up sound mainly from the front. Its polar pattern is heart-shaped, with the strongest pickup on the axis in front of the mic and the weakest pickup directly behind it. Sound from the sides comes in at a lower level. That shape is why a cardioid mic fits a voice or an instrument in front of the mic with less sound from behind it.
How to aim a cardioid microphone
Point the front of the mic at the source and keep the rear of the mic toward the noise you want to cut. Speak or sing into the front, not across the top or the side. Keep the same distance from the mic while you record so the level stays even. If the level drops or the sound changes, move a little closer or farther back and listen again.
Cardioid vs omnidirectional
An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound from all sides at the same level. A cardioid microphone favors the front and holds back sound from the rear. Choose cardioid when background noise sits behind the mic and you want it lower in the mix. Choose omnidirectional when you want sound from all sides at the same level.
Do cardioid mics need phantom power
Dynamic cardioid microphones make their signal without outside power, so they do not need 48V phantom power. Condenser cardioid microphones do need it, and the power comes from the interface or mixer over the XLR cable. Check the mic's own specs for its power source before you connect it.
Where cardioid mics are used
Cardioid mics turn up on podcasts, streams and stages, where the pattern keeps the voice in front and holds back sound from behind. Rode, NEEWER, Sennheiser and FDUCE all make dynamic cardioid mics with XLR outputs, and each one is built around the same front-focused pattern.
What you need
Rode RØDE PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone
A cardioid dynamic microphone with an internal pop filter and shockmount, a yoke mount with dual 3/8 inch and 5/8 inch threads, and a 2-year warranty.
- XLR output
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- 2-year warranty stated
NEEWER NW-040 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone with XLR
A cardioid dynamic microphone with a metal housing, an included XLR male to XLR female cable, and a 1-year warranty.
- XLR output
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- 1-year warranty stated
Sennheiser Pro Audio e 935 Cardioid Dynamic
A cardioid dynamic vocal microphone with a hum-compensating coil, a shock-mounted capsule, and a 10 year warranty.
- XLR output
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- 10 year warranty stated
- 0.8 lb, the lightest here
FDUCE SL40X XLR Dynamic Podcast Microphone
An all-metal cardioid dynamic microphone with voice isolation tech, a 2m XLR audio cable, and a 1-year warranty.
- XLR output
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- 1-year warranty stated
These come from our ranked list Best Cardioid Dynamic Microphone, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Does a cardioid microphone pick up sound from behind?
Loud sound behind the mic still gets in, so keep noise sources behind the mic down or move them away.
Is a cardioid microphone good for podcasting?
Yes. It keeps the voice in front of the mic up front and holds back sound from behind, which suits a host at a desk. Point the front of the mic at your mouth and keep noise sources behind the mic.
Do cardioid microphones need phantom power?
Dynamic cardioid microphones do not need 48V phantom power. Condenser cardioid microphones do, and the power comes from the interface or mixer over the XLR cable.
What is the difference between cardioid and omnidirectional?
A cardioid microphone favors sound from the front and holds back sound from the rear. An omnidirectional microphone picks up sound from all sides at the same level.
Ranked dynamic microphones lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.