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 straightforward to advocate the Lavalier II simply on its sound alone, however 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 gives 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 to 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 had been shocked at simply how good it sounded proper out of the field. At $100 it rivals many desktop microphones that price thrice the worth. You’ll want a companion app to alter 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 may join devices and even different mics to it through a 3.5mm enter. In case 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, stay streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options it is advisable flip a fundamental recording into an expert one.

Cellular connectivity is a main function with choices for Lightning and Kind-C/Android included within the field. The mic itself affords 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 probably the most pocketable on this listing, however it’s seemingly probably the most versatile.

This dynamic mic is a favourite with podcasters, with many manufacturing corporations utilizing it as their normal mic to ship out to distant company because of its glorious 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 functions, however it’s the previous we’re eager 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 just a little little bit of tough and tumble, so will fortunately stay within the backside of your backpack prepared for once you want it. In the meantime, the hand held design is flexible sufficient it may possibly flip its hand to singing/devices, podcasts, interviews and extra.

You will not be acquainted with 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 correct 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 – excellent for chopping down on exterior background sounds. With the Tula you possibly can theoretically have one mic for dwelling, cellular 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 once 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 affords 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 may 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 may mix a number of units for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your monitor, 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 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 preferrred 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 exhausting 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 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 Pro is a should.

With its XLR-combo connection, the MicPort Professional works with all the printed 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 area use. You possibly can cost it whereas in use through a USB-C ought to it is advisable.

Centrance has saved 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 dwelling workplace too.

This information is about cellular recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t help telephones. However you recognize what? It positively 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 worth of the Centrance. The unhealthy information is that the settings can solely be modified through Shure’s desktop app, so if it is advisable alter one thing out within the area, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an important worth possibility in the event you can stay with its limitations.