In search of a lav mic? You’ve come to the correct place. Our information to lavalier microphones will show you how to select the best choice for you, your funds, and your podcast.
I’ll check out among the finest lavalier mics in the marketplace so that you don’t waste your hard-earned cash. In the event you’d wish to be taught a bit about what makes lav mics such a superb possibility for podcasters, then I get into what they are, how they work, and why they suit afterward. Be happy to leap forward to that when you’d like all of the background data. In any other case, let’s crack on with our greatest lavalier mic suggestions.
Finest Lavalier Mics for Podcasters
A fast heads up earlier than we dive in: We use some affiliate hyperlinks in our posts, which assist assist all of our free content material, however these by no means cloud our judgment with regards to trustworthy opinions and proposals!
Rode Wi-fi Micro: Our Most Really helpful Lavalier Mic
There are not any total finest choices that go well with completely everybody in podcasting, however the chances are high that the Rode Wireless Micro is most likely what you’re searching for.
It’s similar to the Rode Wi-fi Professional (the tremendous fancy premium possibility we’ll cowl subsequent) however designed predominantly for smartphone use and can also be loads cheaper.
You’ll be able to decide up both the Android (USB-C) or iPhone (Lightning) model of the Rode Wi-fi Professional for across the similar worth, and it’ll provide you with first-class audio proper into your smartphone.
Try our Rode Wireless Micro review for the complete lowdown on our most advisable lav mic for 2025.
- Prices: £140/$145
- Works With: Smartphone, laptop
- Connection: USB-C or Lightning
- Powered By: Battery (USB charged)
Rode Wi-fi Professional: Highest High quality Lavalier Mic
The Rode Wireless Pro is an outstanding piece of equipment, so it’s rather more than “a lav mic”. Lavaliers are only one possibility amongst many right here, as there are two Rode Lavalier II mics within the field. You’ll be able to document through these or straight into the transmitters, which pin onto your clothes like every other lav (besides in a a lot cooler means, as they use magnets to connect!)
There’s a receiver which might plug into your smartphone, laptop, recorder, DSLR, or every other piece of drugs. However, every transmitter additionally shops its recording, providing you with an nearly infinite variety of choices.
You may get the complete lowdown in our Rode Wireless Pro review, however one very last thing to say right here is its 32-bit floating expertise, which protects your audio from distortion brought on by overly loud sounds or sloppy achieve settings.
Naturally, such an excellent equipment doesn’t come at an entry-level worth. However contemplating all you get (and all of the choices you could have), it’s a fairly nice deal. In the event you love the wi-fi idea however want one thing cheaper, then try the Rode Wireless Micro in its place.
- Prices: £370/$400
- Works With: Recorder, laptop, smartphone, DSLR
- Connection: Has a cable for each scenario
- Powered By: Battery (USB charged)
BOYA BY-V2: Price range Wi-fi Smartphone Lavalier
In the event you’re on a really restricted funds and $145 for the Rode Wi-fi Micro appears an excessive amount of of a stretch, then the BOYA BY-V2 is a extra inexpensive different.
Positive, it doesn’t sound nearly as good because the Micro, and is extra restricted in some ways, however for over $100 much less, there’ll at all times be just a few trade-offs.
- Prices: £39/$40
- Works With: Smartphone, laptop
- Connection: USB-C or Lightning
- Powered By: Battery (USB charged)
Rode Lavalier II
I discussed the Rode Lavalier II, which comes as a part of the Rode Wi-fi Professional equipment, and by itself, that is additionally a strong lav mic possibility for podcasters – particularly if the Wi-fi Professional looks as if overkill (and over funds) for you.
- Prices: £84/$82
- Works With: A digital recorder, receiver, or mixer, or straight into your laptop
- Connection: 3.5mm
- Powered By: Plug-in energy
Right here’s a sound pattern of the Rode Lavalier Go from the Rode Wi-fi Professional assessment…
Rode Lavalier Go
Prone to this turning into the Rode present, right here’s but an alternative choice from the corporate – the Rode Lavalier Go. It’s pretty much like the Rode Lavalier II, with just a few small exceptions:
- The Lavalier II mic is barely larger and feels extra sturdy
- The Lavalier II has a screw lock to forestall it from being yanked out, mid-recording
- The Lavalier II prices about $25 extra
The Rode Lavalier Go is a good ‘all-rounder’ lavalier mic possibility, and it appears to tick each field when it comes to sound high quality, construct, and worth. See our review of the Rode Lavalier Go to get the complete lowdown.
- Prices: £43/$54
- Works With: A digital recorder, receiver, or mixer, or straight into your laptop
- Connection: 3.5mm
- Powered By: Plug-in energy
The Movo LV8-D XLR Lavalier Microphone
The Movo LV8 is theoretically a extra pro-level lavalier microphone than the others right here, coming with an XLR connection as commonplace. This implies it plugs straight right into a high-quality recorder just like the Zoom H5 or the Zoom H6, with no adapters required. One other bonus is that it may then be phantom-powered, so that you get a very nice stage of achieve.
We examined out the Movo LV8 mics and located them to be an honest possibility if in case you have an XLR recorder. We did find yourself with one damaged unit, however I’m positive that was simply dangerous luck, and the opposite unit was nice high quality and with a strong construct.
- Prices: £75/$70
- Works with: Digital recorder or interface with XLR enter
- Connection: XLR
- Powered by: Phantom energy
Large Squid Podcasting Omni Stereo Lavs
The Giant Squid Podcasting Omni Stereo mic is a singular, hand-built mannequin that feeds two high quality lav mics into one plug, and supplies a stereo recording.
It’s superb for interviews and co-hosted podcasts that are recorded regionally. The mics will document on both facet of a stereo observe, which might be break up in post-production, providing impartial management over their ranges.
- Prices: From $66
- Works With: A digital recorder or mixer, or straight into your laptop
- Connection: 3.5mm
- Powered By: Plug-In Energy
The Finest Lavalier Mics for Smartphones
Plan to podcast completely together with your smartphone? Our high choices, the Rode Wireless Pro and Rode Wireless Micro, are excellent for the sort of setup. However they’re not the one choices.
The BOYA BY-M1 Smartphone & Digital Digicam Lavalier
So, that is undoubtedly the funds possibility on this finest lav mics roundup.
The BOYA BY-M1 is much like one in all our favorite (non-smartphone) lavalier mics in some ways – the (sadly now discontinued) ATR3350.
It has a 6m (236″) lengthy cable, which, just like the 3350, is usually a curse or a blessing, relying on whichever means you have a look at it.
- Prices: £15/$15
- Works With: Smartphones, digital cameras, camcorders
- Connection: 3.5mm (TRRS)
- Powered By: Cell battery
The Rode SmartLav+ Lavalier
Worth – $60/£55
The Rode Smartlav+ is maybe the best-known of all smartphone lavalier mics, constructing on the repute they constructed with the unique Rode Smartlav.
The Smartlav+ is powered by your telephone, so doesn’t want its personal battery. This implies you’ll want to show the achieve up slightly larger than when you have been utilizing a self-powered mic just like the BY-M1.
The Smartlav’s cable is the shortest of the three of our Smartphone lavalier mic choices right here, with a size of 115cm (45″). This is usually a little awkward when you’re recording a video in your telephone whereas utilizing the mic. However, for a lot of, much less cable means much less problems!
- Prices: $60/£55
- Works With: A smartphone
- Connection: 3.5mm
- Powered By: Plug-In Energy
The Shure MVL Smartphone Lavalier
Shure are a legendary microphone producer. Historically a serious participant within the analogue mic world, they’ve launched a handful of USB and smartphone fashions in recent times because the digital media world continues to develop.
The Shure MVL is their tackle the smartphone lavalier, and it’s fairly much like the Rode Smartlav+ in some ways.
It’s additionally a ‘plug in and play’ with no battery necessities.
The Shure MVL’s cable size is 50″ (127cm), making it barely longer than the Rode Smartlav +, although each fall miles in need of the BOYA BY-M1 on this entrance.
- Prices: $70/£60
- Works With: A smartphone
- Connection: 3.5mm
- Powered By: Plug-In Energy
Evaluating Smartphone Lavalier Sound Samples
Listed below are all three clips working one after the opposite: the BOYA BY-M1, the Rode Smartlav +, and the Shure MVL.
These clips have been recorded with the Shure MOTIV app on the iPhone 5.
The Smartlav+ and MVL sound samples have been recorded with the achieve set to 100%, while the BY-M1 was recorded at 77%.
In the event you’re podcasting together with your smartphone, you’ll want to obtain a recording app that permits you to set your achieve manually. In any other case, you possibly can find yourself with clipped and decrease high quality audio.
All three samples have been normalised to -3dB in Adobe Audition. No cleansing, EQ, or every other post-processing was utilized.
The samples have been recorded within the workplace, relatively than the studio. As lavs are sometimes an on-the-go possibility, you’ll hardly ever document in correctly sound-dampened circumstances.
Now that we’ve run by our greatest Lavalier mic choices let’s deal with some often requested questions on the sort of equipment.
What Are Lavalier Mics?
‘Lav mics’, as they’re usually recognized (or collar mic, physique mic, lapel mic), are mostly related to TV and movie work. They’re actually small microphones which pin to the speaker’s clothes, and I’m positive you’ve seen one connected to your favorite information reporter sooner or later.
In tv, an enormous a part of their attraction is that they’re simply hidden or disguised. This makes them a fantastic match for video podcasting, however audio podcasters can actually profit from utilizing them, too. Listed below are some the explanation why:
- They’re very small, gentle, and transportable. Not everybody has a everlasting recording area, so utilizing a lavalier microphone or two might be nice for the ‘every time, wherever’ podcaster who information within the automotive, out strolling, and so forth.
- They’re wonderful for conducting location interviews. Many individuals might be participating audio system till you maintain a microphone of their face, they usually seize up. Lavalier mics are a lot much less intimidating and result in a extra pure dialog.
- Smartphone lavalier microphones have actually taken off now, so that you don’t even want a recorder. Which means your recording equipment might be sufficiently small to slot in a shirt pocket. Discuss cellular!
With that mentioned, let’s crack on and have a look; what’s the most effective lavalier microphone in your scenario?
What Are We In search of in a Good Lavalier Mic?
Sound high quality, background noise, and sturdiness are priorities for any podcast mic suggestions. Lav mics can produce other execs and cons, too, from flimsy, simply damaged clips, to quick cables or ranges in the event that they’re wi-fi.
Most lavalier mics will plug into and run by a digital recorder, mixer, or laptop. Typically, they are going to run on ‘Phantom Energy’, which we’ll cowl shortly. Smartphone lavs (which, funnily sufficient, plug straight into your smartphone) have gotten more and more standard too.
Smartphone Lavalier Microphone vs Normal Lavalier Mic?
It is a good query, and an enormous potential confusion. There are a great deal of completely different lavalier mics in the marketplace, and never all of them will work together with your smartphone.
Lavalier Mics For Older Smartphones
Smartphones have modified significantly previously decade. Older smartphone lavaliers would plug in through 3.5mm headphone jacks, which you hardly ever see these days.
In the event you nonetheless have an older mannequin with a 3.5mm jack, then taking a look at a lav mic’s plug is a simple strategy to inform if one will work. If it has two little bands round it, then it’s a TRS plug (tip-ring-sleeve) and received’t work.
If it has three little bands round it, although, as seen within the illustration, then it’s a TRRS (tip-ring-ring-sleeve) and may work together with your older smartphone.
That is principally as a result of we plug a smartphone lav into the system’s headphone jack, which is predominantly an output. Having that additional ring on the plug means it may act as each an enter and an output on the similar time.
That’s why you possibly can discuss by the mic on the default set of earbuds you most likely acquired together with your telephone – as a result of it’ll be a TRRS plug on there.
Rode has an adapter – the Rode SC4 – which helps you to flip a TRS plug right into a TRRS so you should use non-smartphone lavs into your telephone this fashion.
It is a helpful possibility in a pinch, but when the lav you’re utilizing isn’t battery-powered, you possibly can find yourself with a really weak sign in your recording. So, when you’re recording in your Smartphone, it’s usually clever to stay to particular smartphone lavalier microphones.
Lavalier Mics for Smartphones With out Headphone Jacks
The three.5mm jack is turning into much less widespread on smartphones these days. Your telephone might need a Lightning or USB-C connection as an alternative.
As we lined on the very starting, the Rode Wireless Micro and Rode Wireless Pro are excellent choices for the extra trendy smartphone. And, as you possibly can little question guess from their names, they’re absolutely wi-fi, too!
Utilizing 2 Older Smartphone Lavaliers on the Identical Time
In the event you already personal a few older (3.5mm) lavalier mics into your telephone, you’ll want an adapter to make use of them each directly.
Up to now, we advisable the Rode SC6 for this. However, as you’ll know by now, many new smartphones don’t also have a 3.5mm jack.
With that in thoughts, a fantastic different is Rode’s AI Micro. It’s a recording interface so small it may slot in your pocket. It weighs in at a whopping 13 grams, and you may plug it into your smartphone, too. In our devoted Rode AI Micro review, Sarah examined it with just a few completely different lavalier mics. Test it out, take a hear, and see if it’s for you.
Clearly Rode can have designed the AI-Micro to be used with their Smartlavs, nevertheless it works with every other TRRS mic too, such because the MVL or the BY-M1.
You’ll be able to combine and match your mics right here, however for a extra constant sound stage, I’d advocate utilizing two of the identical microphones when you can.
Selecting your Lavalier Microphone
In the event you’re searching for a Lavalier microphone to document podcast episodes or interviews, then, for me, you’ve acquired three decisions.
If you wish to document in your Smartphone, particularly with in-person visitors or co-hosts, the Rode Wireless Micro is the standout selection. However, you may see the BOYA BY-V2 as a viable different in case your funds is tremendous tight.
Or, when you’re searching for the absolute best wi-fi lavalier equipment with choices to document into any digital recorder, mixer, or interface, you may think about forking out on the Rode Wireless Pro. It isn’t low-cost, however for what you get and what it does, it’s nonetheless super worth for cash!
Want Extra Assist With Your Podcast?
We’ve got assist areas and suggestions instruments inside our Podcast Host Academy. You’ll be able to ask your whole gear questions in there, and we’ll show you how to make the correct selection and get all of it arrange appropriately.
Alongside that, now we have a variety of programs, from launching your present to rising your viewers and monetising the consequence. Be a part of us, and we will help you construct a profitable podcast!
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