Microphones? Omnidirectional, unidirectional, shotgun, or what?

Question

I was wondering which type of micro[phone would be best for some recording I'd like to do. I would like to be able to go outside at night, say to a river, and record the noises I can hear such as bullfrogs and traffic and what not. What would be the best kind of mic. to use?

Answer 1

Omni mike, most likely.

Answer 2

Depends on what you want to do with the sound. If you want to grab only the sound from a specific source amid a cacophony of others, use a shotgun mike or a parabolic mike as you see at football games on TV. A cardoid mike will pick up sounds in a pattern similar to the shape of a lily pad. It will pick up stuff in front of and around the front, but not behind. An omnidirectional mike will pick up stuff from all around...