Best Microphones To Use With Your Camera Or Mobile For Video Recordings

Camera microphones are an essential accessory to ensure excellent audio during recording. In our store we have the best products on the market, so you can choose from a wide variety of brands and models according to your needs.

In this article, we provide you with a small guide on the different microphones that you can find and we recommend some.

Types of microphones

Most of the microphones on the market are either condenser or dynamic. We will talk about their characteristics down below:

Condenser microphone

This type of microphones present a clear and precise sound in closed environments and with good acoustic isolation.

Condenser microphones usually offer much higher sensitivity and that's why it is not recommended for outdoors situations or places with a lot of noise interference, as it captures all the audio around it, which can affect the result of your work.

However, if you have a quiet place, which allows the microphone to be directed only to the sound you want, it can be a good investment!

These microphones need a phantom power condenser to work, which would be like the power supply of the equipment.

What microphone format do you need for your camera?

We are going to talk about two of the most commonly used formats: the lavalier micrphone and the directional microphone.

Lavalier microphone

Lavalier microphones are small and you can clip them onto your shirt, collar, or tie. It is used mainly in interviews and journalistic reports.

The positioning of this type of microphone must be close to the mouth of the interlocutor or the place of origin of the sound, to avoid interference from possible noises present in the environment and to capture the audio in the best possible way.

For the transmission of sound it is necessary to have a receiver that, in the case of a wired lavalier microphone, must be connected to it and, in the case of a wireless model, it must be within reach so that there is no interference or abrupt disconnections.

Its main advantage is that it is discreet and allows the interlocutor to have their hands free while recording (which can be excellent for carrying out product presentations and tutorials).

An example of this type of microphone would be the Sharkoon SM1 Lavalier Microphone. Micrófono de solapa Sharkoon SM1.

Directional microphone

This is ideal for recording outdoors and eliminating the ambient noise that surrounds us. It usually mounts to the camera's hot shoe connector, but there are many that can be threaded onto a tripod or stand.

Directional microphones are perfect for picking up audio sources by pointing the microphone in their direction, while all other sounds are minimized.

Within the directional format we can define several directivity patterns, these are: omnidirectional, cardioid, supercardioid and hypercardioid and bidirectional.

• Omnidirectional

They collect the sound equally in the entire sphere around them. They are ideal for example to pick up ambient sound. The Natec Fox Omnidirectional Microphone Black, would be an example of this type of microphones.

• Cardioids

They are more sensitive in one direction. That is, if they are pointing in one direction, all the sound that comes from behind or from the sides will be very attenuated. We recommend the Rode NT1-A Cardioid Condenser Microphone

or the Feelworld FM8 Microphone

• Supercardioids, hipercardioids…

Different versions of directional microphones, with narrower pickup angles. Shotgun microphones are typical in this format. Of this type we recommend the Rode VideoMic Rycote Microphone.

• Bidirectionals

Basically they would be like two cardioids joined into a single microphone. They pick up sound from the front and rear, and attenuate sounds from the side. One microphone that allows you to do this is the BOYA BY-PM700 USB Condenser Microphone.

Wired or wireless?

Both have their pros and cons, it will depend on what you are going to use them for.

• Wired microphones: the signal arrives very clean and the latency is negligible. In addition, with this type of microphones you will avoid interference or signal loss.
• Wireless microphones: There is a reduction in signal quality and latency compared to the previous ones, however, we recommend them to those who prefer comfort or who need them for something in specific.

We hope that this brief guide will help you when it comes to buying the most suitable microphone for your needs.