The very best 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 simple to advocate the Lavalier II simply on its sound alone, nevertheless it comes with a rugged case and a wide selection of equipment. For much more flexibility you may pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which gives simple connection to an iPhone or Android cellphone (and even PCs) and provides assist for a second mic – good 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) without having an adapter. This not solely makes it handy however reduces the general value as you don’t want a headphone adapter in your cellphone, which is a good 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 value thrice the value. You’ll want a companion app to alter settings, in any other case this performs nicely 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 may join devices and even different mics to it by way of a 3.5mm enter. When you’ve got background music in your cellphone or PC, you may as well pipe that into the combination by way of a loopback mode. In brief, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting, dwell streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options it’s good to flip a fundamental recording into knowledgeable one.

Cell connectivity is a main characteristic with choices for Lightning and Kind-C/Android included within the field. The mic itself gives 4 polar patterns that ought to cowl most recording situations — be that recording a singer, two folks talking nose to nose or the overall atmosphere round you in a TikTok or Instagram video. The Stream Mic Professional may not be essentially the most pocketable on this record, nevertheless it’s possible essentially the most versatile.

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

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

You might not be accustomed to the title, however Tula snuck into our hearts with its versatile, classic impressed debut microphone. From a cellular perspective, the Tula connects to Androids straight over USB Kind-C or iPhones with the proper USB-C to Lightning cable (extra on this beneath) 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 – good for chopping down on outdoors background sounds. With the Tula you might theoretically have one mic for house, cellular and standalone recording. Because of 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 gives one mannequin and all its focus goes into that. Should you’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you may preserve in your pocket for every time inspiration strikes, the Audigo could be for you.

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

This compact wi-fi microphone requires the app (iOS just for now) to work, which isn’t very best and we’d love to have the ability to use it over USB to increase its performance, however for performers on the transfer Audigo gives options which are arduous to seek out with out having to buy round for varied totally 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 subject 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 normal microphones like Shure’s SM7B or the Electro Voice RE20 — together with mics that want phantom energy. Not like 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 subject use. You’ll be able to cost it whereas in use by way of a USB-C ought to it’s good to.

Centrance has stored issues easy, however you’ll nonetheless discover essential 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 house workplace too.

This information is about cellular recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t assist telephones. However you understand 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 by way of Shure’s desktop app, so if it’s good to modify one thing out within the subject, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an important worth possibility in case you can dwell with its limitations.