One of the best cellular 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 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 possibly can pair this with Rode’s AI Micro interface ($79) which gives straightforward connection to an iPhone or Android cellphone (and even PCs) and provides assist for a second mic – good 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) with no need an adapter. This not solely makes it handy however reduces the general price as you don’t want a headphone adapter in your cellphone, which is a superb 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 3 times the value. You’ll want a companion app to alter settings, in any other case this performs nicely 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. You probably have background music in your cellphone or PC, you can even pipe that into the combination by way of a loopback mode. Briefly, whether or not you’re busking, podcasting, reside streaming or acting on the go, the Stream Mic Professional has all of the core options you might want to flip a fundamental recording into an expert one.

Cell connectivity is a major function with choices for Lightning and Sort-C/Android included within the field. The mic itself affords 4 polar patterns that ought to cowl most recording eventualities — be that recording a singer, two folks talking nose to nose or the final 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 possible probably the most versatile.

This dynamic mic is a favourite with podcasters, with many manufacturing corporations 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 cellular purposes, however it’s the previous we’re thinking about right here as that’s what lets you join it to your cellphone 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 reside within the backside of your backpack prepared for if 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 might not be conversant in 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 Sort-C or iPhones with the suitable 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 slicing down on outdoors background sounds. With the Tula you can theoretically have one mic for house, 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 if 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. If you happen to’re a musician on the go, or need one thing you possibly can hold 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’ll mix a number of units for multitrack recording. When you’ve recorded your observe, you possibly can 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 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 ultimate 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 can be exhausting to search out with out having to buy round for numerous 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 nearly any professional microphone system for recording subject 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 subject use. You’ll be able to cost it whereas in use by way of a USB-C ought to you might want to.

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 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 house workplace too.

This information is about cellular recording, and formally, Shure’s MVX2U XLR to USB interface doesn’t assist telephones. However you realize 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 value of the Centrance. The dangerous information is that the settings can solely be modified by way of Shure’s desktop app, so if you might want to regulate one thing out within the subject, you’re out of luck. Nonetheless, it’s an amazing worth possibility if you happen to can reside with its limitations.