The perfect cellular microphones for 2024

Rode’s Lavalier II iis a slick-looking low-profile lavalier that sounds nice. Whereas it’s not a wi-fi lavalier microphone, at $99, it’s someplace within the candy spot between funds and higher-end clip-on choices. It’s straightforward to suggest the Lavalier II simply on its sound alone, but it surely comes with a rugged case and a wide selection of equipment. For much more flexibility you’ll be able to pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which offers straightforward connection to an iPhone or Android cellphone (and even PCs) and provides help for a second mic – excellent for recording podcasts or interviews.

At $60, Sennheiser’s XS (USB-C) lav condenser mic is pretty reasonably priced, sounds nice and plugs proper into your cellphone (or laptop computer) while not having an adapter. This not solely makes it handy however reduces the general price as you don’t want a headphone adapter on your cellphone, which is a superb profit of those mini mics. What’s extra, the XS has a 2-meter lengthy cable which supplies you loads of scope for motion or framing.

After we examined the VideoMic GO II we have been shocked at simply how good it sounded proper out of the field. At $100 it rivals many desktop microphones that price 3 times the value. You’ll want a companion app to alter settings, in any other case this performs properly throughout the board.

If there was an audio “penknife” then the iRig Stream Mic Pro might be it. It’s a chunky condenser microphone, however you’ll be able to join devices and even different mics to it through a 3.5mm enter. When you have background music in your cellphone or PC, it’s also possible to pipe that into the combo through a loopback mode. In brief, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting, reside streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options it is advisable to flip a fundamental recording into an expert one.

Cell connectivity is a main function with choices for Lightning and Sort-C/Android included within the field. The mic itself affords 4 polar patterns that ought to cowl most recording eventualities — be that recording a singer, two individuals talking head to head or the final atmosphere round you in a TikTok or Instagram video. The Stream Mic Professional won’t be probably the most pocketable on this listing, but it surely’s probably probably the most versatile.

This dynamic mic is a favourite with podcasters, with many manufacturing corporations utilizing it as their customary mic to ship out to distant friends due to its wonderful high quality to worth efficiency. The Q2U options each USB (sadly not Sort-C) and XLR connectivity making it versatile for each desktop and cellular purposes, but it surely’s the previous we’re concerned about right here as that’s what means that you can join it to your cellphone with nothing greater than a USB cable and an adapter (see under).

What’s extra, the Q2U is stable sufficient to endure slightly little bit of tough and tumble, so will fortunately reside within the backside of your backpack prepared for whenever you want it. In the meantime, the hand-held design is flexible sufficient it could possibly flip its hand to singing/devices, podcasts, interviews and extra.

You will not be aware of the identify, however Tula snuck into our hearts with its versatile, classic impressed debut microphone. From a cellular perspective, the Tula connects to Androids instantly over USB Sort-C or iPhones with the suitable USB-C to Lightning cable (extra on this under) or a USB “camera kit” adapter. What makes the Tula particular is that it’s additionally a desktop mic and transportable recorder with lavalier enter and 8GB of storage and even options noise cancellation – excellent for chopping down on exterior background sounds. With the Tula you could possibly theoretically have one mic for residence, cellular and standalone recording. Due to its transportable design and as much as 12 hours of battery life, the Tula can act as a wi-fi microphone whenever you want it, too.

A lot of the microphones on this information will do a good job of recording musical performances, however some are particularly constructed for it. Based in 2019, Audigo places artists and performers entrance and middle. At time of writing, it solely affords one mannequin and all its focus goes into that. In the event you’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you’ll be able to maintain in your pocket for every time inspiration strikes, the Audigo is perhaps for you.

The sq., puck-like Audigo mic is mainly a pocketable rival to iZotope’s (now discontinued) Spire transportable studio, proper right down to the companion app. The Audigo is way extra transportable than the Spire ever was and you’ll mix a number of gadgets for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your observe, you’ll be able to add reverb, delay, equalize and extra to offer it some polish earlier than exporting it out to your most popular platform. There’s a video mode, too, so it’s excellent for sharing edits to TikTok and Instagram.

This compact wi-fi microphone requires the app (iOS just for now) to work, which isn’t ideally suited and we’d love to have the ability to use it over USB to increase its performance, however for performers on the transfer Audigo affords options which are laborious to seek out with out having to buy round for numerous completely different apps.

With the iPhone 15 becoming a member of the USB-C household, there are tons of gaming and podcasting microphones that may merely plug straight into your cellphone. However if you wish to use nearly any professional microphone system for recording discipline interviews, foley sounds, podcasting on the go and something for broadcast, then an interface just like the Centrance MicPort Pro is a should.

With its XLR-combo connection, the MicPort Professional works with all the published customary microphones like Shure’s SM7B or the Electro Voice RE20 — together with mics that want phantom energy. In contrast to different, cheaper XLR interfaces, there’s virtually no self noise (hiss) and there’s a built-in battery that ought to final for round 5 hours of discipline use. You possibly can cost it whereas in use through a USB-C ought to it is advisable to.

Centrance has stored issues easy, however you’ll nonetheless discover vital instruments like real-time monitoring, a high-pass filter to fight wind or dealing with noise and there’s even a limiter that ought to cease any surprising loud noises from ruining your recording. For shotgun mics, the MicPort Professional may even double as a deal with. As cellular as this factor is, it’ll fortunately function a easy audio interface when you’re again within the residence workplace too.

This information is about cellular recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t help telephones. However what? It undoubtedly does work with the telephones we’ve tried, together with a number of Androids and the iPhone 15. The excellent news is that it’s half the value of the Centrance. The unhealthy information is that the settings can solely be modified through Shure’s desktop app, so if it is advisable to regulate one thing out within the discipline, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an amazing worth possibility should you can reside with its limitations.