What type of microphone polar pattern is generally preferred for recording vocals in an untreated room to minimize ambient noise?

When recording vocals in an untreated room to minimize ambient noise, a cardioid polar pattern is generally preferred. A microphone's polar pattern describes its sensitivity to sound from different directions. A cardioid pattern is most sensitive to sound coming from the front of the microphone, less sensitive to sound coming from the sides, and rejects sound coming from the rear. This directional characteristic helps to isolate the vocal performance and minimize the pickup of unwanted ambient noise and room reflections, which are more prominent in untreated rooms. Untreated rooms tend to have poor acoustics, resulting in excessive reverberation and unwanted reflections that can muddy the vocal recording. By using a cardioid microphone and positioning it carefully, it's possible to capture a cleaner vocal signal with less room coloration. While other polar patterns exist, such as omnidirectional (picks up sound equally from all directions) or figure-8 (picks up sound from the front and rear, but rejects sound from the sides), these patterns are generally less suitable for recording in untreated rooms because they capture more ambient noise and room reflections. Hypercardioid and supercardioid patterns offer even narrower pickup patterns than cardioid, but they also have a lobe of sensitivity at the rear, making them more susceptible to picking up reflections from behind the vocalist if not positioned carefully. Therefore, the cardioid pattern provides a good balance between isolation and practicality for recording vocals in less-than-ideal acoustic environments. Using acoustic treatment in conjunction with a cardioid microphone is always preferred for optimal results.