The best mobile 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 suggest the Lavalier II simply on its sound alone, nevertheless it comes with a rugged case and a wide variety of equipment. For much more flexibility you may pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which offers simple connection to an iPhone or Android cellphone (and even PCs) and provides assist for a second mic – excellent 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 cellphone (or laptop computer) while not having an adapter. This not solely makes it handy however reduces the general value as you don’t want a headphone adapter on your cellphone, which is a good profit of those mini mics. What’s extra, the XS has a 2-meter lengthy cable which provides you loads of scope for motion or framing.

After we examined the VideoMic GO II we have been stunned 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 vary settings, in any other case this performs effectively throughout the board.

If there was an audio “penknife” then the iRig Stream Mic Professional could be it. It’s a chunky condenser microphone, however you may join devices and even different mics to it through a 3.5mm enter. If in case you have background music in your cellphone or PC, you may also pipe that into the combo through a loopback mode. In brief, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting, stay streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options it’s essential flip a primary 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 gives 4 polar patterns that ought to cowl most recording situations — be that recording a singer, two individuals 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 checklist, nevertheless it’s doubtless essentially the most versatile.

This dynamic mic is a favourite with podcasters, with many manufacturing firms utilizing it as their customary mic to ship out to distant visitors due to its glorious 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 functions, nevertheless it’s the previous we’re focused on 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 beneath).

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

You might not be conversant in the identify, however Tula snuck into our hearts with its versatile, classic impressed debut microphone. From a cellular perspective, the Tula connects to Androids immediately over USB Sort-C or iPhones with the best USB-C to Lightning cable (extra on this beneath) or a USB “digital camera equipment” 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 – excellent for slicing down on outdoors background sounds. With the Tula you may theoretically have one mic for residence, cellular and standalone recording. Due to its moveable 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 heart. At time of writing, it solely gives one mannequin and all its focus goes into that. When you’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you may maintain in your pocket for each time inspiration strikes, the Audigo could be for you.

The sq., puck-like Audigo mic is mainly a pocketable rival to iZotope’s (now discontinued) Spire moveable studio, proper right down to the companion app. The Audigo is way extra moveable than the Spire ever was and you’ll mix a number of gadgets for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your observe, you may 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 gives options which are laborious to search 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 virtually 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 Professional 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. 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 area use. You possibly can cost it whereas in use through a USB-C ought to it’s essential.

Centrance has stored 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 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 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 through Shure’s desktop app, so if it’s essential regulate one thing out within the area, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s a terrific worth choice when you can stay with its limitations.