Off-axis

Off-axis (or off-mic) is used to describe a recording whose source (a voice, instrument, sound effect, etc.) was located outside the optimum pickup area of the microphone. This results in a recording that lacks the proper frequency response and timbre of the source, sounding hollow, thin, or distant.

A source that was recorded "off-axis" cannot be fixed or be made to sound "close mic'd and present.” While the sound of such a recording is generally not desirable, sometimes it is purposely utilized to achieve said effect.