What type of microphone is prone to picking up coughs and other noises?

An omnidirectional microphone is designed to capture sound from all directions equally. This characteristic makes it particularly sensitive to ambient sounds, including coughs and other noises that may not be directly in front of the microphone. Because it picks up sound from a wide area, it can record unintended noises more readily than directional microphones, which focus on sound from a specific angle or direction. This quality is what makes omnidirectional microphones suitable for capturing natural soundscapes in some contexts, but it also means they can inadvertently record sounds that the user might not want, like coughs or shuffling papers.

Unidirectional microphones, on the other hand, feature a more focused pickup pattern, which helps in isolating the sound source and minimizing background noise. Lavalier microphones, while they can be omnidirectional, are typically clipped directly to the speaker and may have a reduced pickup of nearby sounds depending on placement. Shotgun microphones are designed to capture sound from a specific direction while rejecting noise from the sides and back, further reducing the likelihood of picking up incidental sounds like coughs.