The most effective cell 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 finances and higher-end clip-on choices. It’s simple to advocate 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 possibly can pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which offers simple connection to an iPhone or Android telephone (and even PCs) and provides help for a second mic – good for recording podcasts or interviews.

At $60, Sennheiser’s XS (USB-C) lav condenser mic is pretty inexpensive, sounds nice and plugs proper into your telephone (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 to your telephone, 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.

Once we examined the VideoMic GO II we had been stunned at simply how good it sounded proper out of the field. At $100 it rivals many desktop microphones that price thrice the value. You’ll want a companion app to vary settings, in any other case this performs effectively throughout the board.

If there was an audio “penknife” then the iRig Stream Mic Pro could be it. It’s a chunky condenser microphone, however you possibly can join devices and even different mics to it by way of a 3.5mm enter. In case you have background music in your telephone or PC, you may also pipe that into the combo by way of a loopback mode. Briefly, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting, stay streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options you could flip a fundamental recording into knowledgeable one.

Cell connectivity is a main function with choices for Lightning and Sort-C/Android included within the field. The mic itself presents 4 polar patterns that ought to cowl most recording eventualities — be that recording a singer, two individuals talking head to head or the overall 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 doubtless probably the most versatile.

This dynamic mic is a favourite with podcasters, with many manufacturing firms utilizing it as their commonplace 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 cell functions, but it surely’s the previous we’re curious about right here as that’s what permits you to join it to your telephone with nothing greater than a USB cable and an adapter (see under).

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

You will not be conversant in the identify, however Tula snuck into our hearts with its versatile, classic impressed debut microphone. From a cell perspective, the Tula connects to Androids straight over USB Sort-C or iPhones with the appropriate 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 moveable recorder with lavalier enter and 8GB of storage and even options noise cancellation – good for reducing down on exterior background sounds. With the Tula you might theoretically have one mic for dwelling, cell and standalone recording. Because of its moveable design and as much as 12 hours of battery life, the Tula can act as a wi-fi microphone while you want it, too.

Many 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 presents one mannequin and all its focus goes into that. In the event you’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you possibly can hold in your pocket for each 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 moveable studio, proper all the way down to the companion app. The Audigo is much extra moveable than the Spire ever was and you’ll mix a number of units for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your monitor, you possibly can add reverb, delay, equalize and extra to present it some polish earlier than exporting it out to your most well-liked 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 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 presents options which can be 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 telephone. However if you wish to use nearly any professional microphone system for recording area 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 printed commonplace 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 area use. You possibly can cost it whereas in use by way of a USB-C ought to you could.

Centrance has saved issues easy, however you’ll nonetheless discover necessary 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 sudden loud noises from ruining your recording. For shotgun mics, the MicPort Professional may even double as a deal with. As cell as this factor is, it’ll fortunately function a easy audio interface when you’re again within the dwelling workplace too.

This information is about cell recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t help 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 you could regulate one thing out within the area, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an incredible worth choice in case you can stay with its limitations.