A clip on microphone for phone, also known as a lapel or lav mic, is a tiny microphone that you can clip to your clothes near your face. Its portability enables content creators to move or wander about while still picking up sounds. To use it to get high quality audio, the first step is to choose the one that suits your recording device and contents. And there are some tips you need to pay attention to during use. In this post, we will dive into the above topics.
Four factors to consider when choosing clip on microphone for iPhone or Android phone
Clip on phone microphones are available in a variety of designs and prices. You'll need the one that matches your style if you want to utilize it for your video production or live streaming. Below are four factors to consider:
Budget: How much will you spend on the purchase?
Most clip on microphones are reasonably priced. You can locate a good one without spending too much money. If you choose a higher-priced lav mic, you will notice a significant improvement in quality. Pick whatever your budget permits, but keep in mind that when it comes to lav mic, you always get what you paid for.
Connection: Do you prefer wireless or wired connection?
There are wired and wireless clip on microphone for phone. Depending on your setup and intended use, you can decide which option is ideal for you. You always have greater mobility and freedom with a wireless one while moving or rearranging your setup. However, it is frequently more costly, and you must also worry about battery life and frequency availability.
The good news is that there are affordable and user-friendly wireless clip on microphones on the market. For example, the SYNCO P1 is such a product among them. Its carrying case is also a charging case for the transmitter and receiver, which offers two additional quick charges. When you tap the case to open it and take out the transmitter and receiver, they will pair with each other automatically. You can save the time of pairing and setup.
Check the video to see what is in the P1 package and how to use it.
The P1 is now on sale at SYNCO seller Moman PhotoGears Store. You can click the button below to make a quick purchase.
Go and but at Moman PhotoGears Store
Type: Do you want omnidirectional or cardioid pickup pattern?
When we talk about the types, we're referring to how they pick up sound. There are two types in this sense. The first kind is omnidirectional, whereas the second type is cardioid. Omnidirectional lav microphones detect sound from any direction, so you may wear them, place them in your hair, or use them anywhere near your mouth. Cardioid lav mics record sound only from the direction they are pointed.
Generally speaking, most clip on microphone for phone feature omnidirectional polar pattern. And they perform better than cardioid ones in audio recording.
Compatibility: What kind of mic input port is on your phone?
The compatibility is determined by what it connects to. When selecting a lav mic, you should determine what you're recording with. DSLR cameras, portable audio recorders, Laptops, mixers, and even smartphones may all be used with lapel mics.
Audio recording on a smartphone is becoming widely available as the technology improves. Phones are portable and easy to use, and the audio quality is decent provided you use the correct app. A lav mic with a TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) plug is required for smartphone recording if there is a headphone port on your phone. If no, you will need the one with Lightning or Type-C plug so as to plug it into the charging port.
[For more types of microphones for your phone recording, check the article What smartphone microphone is best for vloggers and podcasters? to choose the one that interests you.]
Seven tips to use clip on microphone for phone to get great audio
After getting the right clip on microphone for your mobile phone, it is time to use it to record target sound. But how to use it to record audio properly? Read on and get the steps on how to record audio with this mic and your smartphone.
Position the clip on microphone for android or iPhone properly
The lav mic has to be near your mouth so that it can clearly take up sounds, but not too close so that plosives and breathing noise become a problem. Place the mic as centrally as possible, between 6 and 8 inches from your mouth. You can get away with having lav microphones that are slightly off-axis because the majority of them are omnidirectional. For the same reason, you are permitted to make a slight head movement while speaking. Even so, the quality of the audio is improved by placing the mic more in the middle of your head and keeping your head steady.
Choose suitable clothes to wear
Clothing is a crucial factor to take into account while recording with a clip on microphone for phone.
A button-down shirt is the best choice since the microphone may be attached through the spaces between the buttons in the middle of the shirt. A blazer or jacket with lapels also works nicely. Avoid wearing round-necked t-shirts, sweaters, and other clothing that don't have a place low enough for the microphone to connect to.
Your clothing's material is also important. Compared to synthetic materials, natural fibers like cotton are less prone to ruffle or make annoying noises. You can rub two portions of a garment against one another to see whether it is appropriate. The better, the less noise.
Manage cable to avoid snags
If you use clip on microphone wireless for iPhone or android phone, you can stay away from the trouble of managing the cable. However, if you use the wired one, the cable that connects your smartphone and microphone is crucial. Whatever recording you are making will be messed up if it snags or catches on anything. What's worse, it can wind up damaging the microphone.
Connect the mic's cable to your smartphone by running it through your clothing. If you're wearing a button-down shirt, the cable should emerge through the opening where the microphone is fastened.
Never let the cable be pulled taut. Place your smartphone properly to ensure there is plenty of space between it and the microphone. The cable shouldn't dangle either since it increases the chance that it may catch on anything or be seen in the finished video.
The cable should be taped to your body whenever it's practical. This keeps it from moving too much while giving the clip on microphone for phone enough cable to move as much is necessary. The best option is medical tape because it adheres to skin and clothing equally well without breaking or leaving a sticky residue. And the price is reasonable!
Set up your mobile phone
Your smartphone is a great tool, but it is first and foremost a phone. Everything pauses if the phone rings while an audio recording is being made. Before you start filmmaking, put your phone on Airplane Mode.
Set up audio levels before using lapel microphone for phone vlogging
Record audio at the maximum sampling rate supported by your equipment. Also, look for greater data rates: 24-bit is better than 16-bit. Assess your setup's maximum capacity and make advantage of it. You want to acquire as much data as possible.
Test and set your levels before recording. With the mike properly set, speak like you would during filming. Check the levels to ensure they are not too high or too low. The bar should reach a maximum of around -12 dB. You want to avoid clipping, which occurs when the amount of signal exceeds the recorder's capacity.
Sync audio to the camera
If you're recording video and audio with mono or dual lavalier microphone for cell phones separately, you'll need a method to sync the two in post. The most effective method is to employ a production slate. You can use your hands if you don’t get a slate. Clap them loudly near to the microphone and in front of the cameras that are filming the take. This is ideal for capturing small scenarios with one or two cameras. A slate, on the other hand, will make post-production considerably easier if you're filming something more intricate.
Save the file for post production
While you can edit video and audio on your smartphone, it is preferable to use a powerful non-linear editor. It's critical to provide your editing software with as much data as possible so that you don't lose any information when you export it from your phone.
All professional audio programs support a variety of file types. To maintain the best audio quality, utilize a high bitrate or lossless format. When editing everything together, it provides you with the most versatility.