Best Figure-8 Microphones

The best figure-8 microphone is the one whose pattern, connection and output match the job you need it for. A figure-8, or bidirectional, microphone picks up sound equally from the front and the back and strongly rejects sound arriving from the sides. That makes it excellent for some tasks and a poor fit for others, so this guide helps you narrow the field by requirements rather than by a ranking.

Start with the intended use

Decide what the microphone has to capture before comparing models. The figure-8 pattern is most useful when you want sound from two opposite directions, or when you want to place an unwanted source in the side null where pickup is lowest.

• Two people facing each other across one microphone, such as an interview, a podcast at a small table or a vocal duet.
• Mid-side stereo recording, where the figure-8 provides the side signal and a cardioid or omnidirectional microphone provides the mid signal.
• Blumlein stereo, which uses two matched figure-8 microphones crossed at 90 degrees.
• Reducing spill by aiming the side null at a nearby instrument, loudspeaker or other source you do not want.
• Capturing a voice or instrument together with the room sound behind the microphone.

A figure-8 is usually the wrong choice for a single speaker in a noisy or reflective room. The rear lobe hears as much as the front, so reflections from the wall behind you and background noise in that direction reach the recording at full strength. For one person on video calls, a cardioid pattern is typically easier to manage.

Also note the practical constraints: how many sources you are recording, whether the room is treated, whether you will connect through an audio interface or directly to a computer by USB, whether you need stereo, and whether the setup must be portable or stay on a desk.

Features that matter

The type of microphone determines most of the other requirements, including power, gain and handling.

• Passive ribbon: many ribbon designs are naturally figure-8. Output is low, so they need a preamp with plenty of clean gain. Follow the manufacturer's guidance on phantom power, cabling and handling.
• Active ribbon: built-in electronics raise the output level and require phantom power.
• Multi-pattern condenser: switches between figure-8 and other patterns such as cardioid and omni. Useful if you also need a cardioid microphone for other work. Requires phantom power or another power source specified by the maker.
• Dedicated figure-8 condenser: a single fixed pattern, often chosen as the side microphone in a mid-side pair.
• USB multi-pattern microphone: includes its own converter and connects straight to a computer, with figure-8 as one selectable mode.

When reading specifications, look at the polar pattern and its polar plots across frequency, sensitivity or output level, self-noise for condensers, maximum sound pressure level, frequency response, and whether there is a pad or high-pass filter. Check whether the microphone is side-address or end-address so you know where the front and rear actually are. A specification describes the design under the manufacturer's own test conditions; it is not a quality score, and figures from different makers are not always measured the same way.

Figure-8 microphones are pressure-gradient designs, so they show a noticeable proximity effect: bass rises as the source moves closer. Plan on working at a consistent distance or using a high-pass filter. The rear lobe is opposite in polarity to the front, which matters when you combine the figure-8 with other microphones on the same source.

Consider physical handling as well. Ribbon elements can be sensitive to strong air blasts and wind, so a pop filter and careful placement are worth planning for. Check what mount, shock mount and storage the microphone is supplied with or needs.

Check compatibility

For XLR microphones, confirm that your interface or mixer provides enough clean gain and phantom power when the microphone requires it. Passive ribbons in particular may push a modest preamp to its limit. An inline gain booster is one option; many draw phantom power themselves, so check that the booster and microphone documentation agree on how they should be powered.

Stereo techniques need two inputs. Mid-side recordings must be decoded, either with a plugin in your recording software or on a mixer that supports it, before they play back as normal left and right channels. A Blumlein pair calls for two microphones that are matched closely enough to keep the stereo image balanced.

For USB microphones, check operating system support and whether a driver is required. Select the microphone as the input device in both the system settings and the app you use, and, if it has a headphone jack, choose it as the output device for monitoring. Confirm the supported sample rate and bit depth suit your recording software. Video call apps may apply their own noise suppression or automatic gain, so review the app's audio settings if the result does not match what you hear in a recorder.

Some microphones need a companion app for pattern switching, gain or firmware updates. Before relying on one, verify in the vendor's documentation what the app requires, such as an account or system permissions, where any recordings are stored and whether data leaves your device. Do not assume these details from the product category.

Once connected, set the input level while speaking or playing at a normal volume. Leave headroom so loud peaks do not clip, and remember that raising gain also raises background noise and preamp noise.

Build a shortlist

Write down your requirements first, then keep only the models whose published specifications and documentation confirm every item on the list.

• Main use: two-person recording, mid-side, Blumlein, spill rejection or room capture.
• Pattern: fixed figure-8 or switchable between patterns.
• Type: passive ribbon, active ribbon, condenser or USB.
• Connection: XLR or USB, and how many free inputs you have.
• Power: whether you have phantom power and what the manufacturer says about using it with this microphone.
• Gain: whether your preamp can supply enough clean gain for the microphone's output.
• Address: side or end, and whether it fits your stand and space.
• Stereo: whether you need a matched pair or a compatible mid microphone.
• Computer: operating system support, drivers, sample rate and correct input device and output device selection in your apps.
• Software: whether any feature depends on a companion app, and how that app handles permissions and files.
• Accessories: mount, pop filter, cables and storage.

If you can try candidates in your own space, record a short take with each at the same distance and gain. Move around the microphone to hear the front, rear and side null, and listen on headphones. Check the seller's return policy before buying, since room and preamp differences can change how a figure-8 microphone behaves in practice.