What is the result when frequencies fall below the cut-off of a directional microphone's filter?

When frequencies fall below the cut-off of a directional microphone's filter, the result is a limitation in performance. Directional microphones are designed to focus on sounds coming from a specific direction while reducing sounds from other directions. The cut-off frequency serves as a threshold that determines which frequencies are allowed to pass through the microphone and which are attenuated. Frequencies that fall below this cut-off are attenuated, resulting in a reduction of certain sounds that the microphone is capable of picking up effectively. This can lead to an overall diminished capability of the microphone in various listening situations, especially in environments with background noise.

In this context, while options such as enhancing gain or increasing directionality might sound plausible, they do not apply specifically to the effect concerning lower frequencies. Reducing sound clarity might seem relevant, but the core issue lies with the microphone's performance capability being limited due to the attenuation of the frequencies below the cut-off. Thus, the focus on performance accurately captures the essence of what occurs in this scenario.