What is a primary drawback of using an omni-directional microphone in a loud environment?

An omni-directional microphone captures sound equally from all directions, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. In a loud environment, this characteristic becomes a significant drawback because the microphone will pick up not just the intended sound source but also all the surrounding noise. This includes background conversations, machinery sounds, or any other ambient noise present, making it challenging to isolate the desired sound. The result is often an audio recording that lacks clarity and focus, as it can become muddied with all the extraneous sounds captured alongside the primary audio source.