The perfect cell microphones for 2024

Rode’s Lavalier II is a slick-looking low-profile lavalier that sounds nice. At $99, it’s someplace within the candy spot between price range and higher-end clip-on choices. It’s straightforward to suggest 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 offers straightforward 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 mic is pretty inexpensive, 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 price as you don’t want a headphone adapter to your cellphone. 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 price thrice the worth. You’ll want a companion app to vary settings, in any other case this performs properly 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 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 combo by way of a loopback mode. Briefly, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting 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.

Cell connectivity is a main function with choices for Lightning and USB-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 head to head or the overall atmosphere round you. The Stream Mic Professional won’t be essentially the most pocketable on this listing, however it’s doubtless 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 visitors because of its wonderful high quality to worth efficiency. The Q2U options each USB and XLR connectivity making it versatile for each desktop and cell functions, however it’s the previous we’re curious about 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 under).

What’s extra, the Q2U is stable sufficient to endure slightly 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 will possibly flip its hand to singing/devices, podcasts, interviews and extra.

You is probably not acquainted with 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-C or iPhones with the correct USB-C to Lightning cable (extra on this under) or a USB “digicam package” 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 possibly can theoretically have one mic for residence, cell and standalone recording.

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. In the event you’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you may hold in your pocket for each time inspiration strikes, the Audigo may be for you.

The sq., puck-like Audigo mic is principally 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 may mix a number of gadgets for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your observe, you may add reverb, delay, equalize and extra to provide it some polish earlier than exporting it out to your most well-liked platform. There’s a video mode, too, so it’s excellent for sharing edits to TikTok and Instagram.

The mic requires the app (iOS just for now) to work, which isn’t excellent 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 can be 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 for recording subject 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 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 is advisable.

Centrance has stored 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 cell 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 cell recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t assist telephones. However you already know 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 by way of Shure’s desktop app, so if it is advisable alter one thing out within the subject, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an excellent worth choice in case you can stay with its limitations.