What characteristic defines a directional microphone?

A directional microphone is specifically designed to capture sound from primarily one direction. This feature allows it to isolate the desired audio source, such as a speaker or instrument, while minimizing background noise from other sources. This characteristic makes directional microphones particularly useful in environments where there are competing sounds, as they can help improve audio clarity and focus.

In contrast, a microphone that captures sound from all directions is known as an omnidirectional microphone, which picks up sound evenly from all angles. This broad capturing pattern is not suitable for applications where isolating specific sounds is necessary. A limited dynamic range refers to the range between the softest and loudest sounds a microphone can accurately capture, which is not a defining characteristic of directional microphones. Finally, while some directional microphones may operate on battery power, this is not a defining characteristic and does not apply to all directional microphones, as many can function with phantom power or through direct connection to audio equipment.