Which Microphone is Right For Your Video?

Have you noticed that there are a million different microphones on the market, available in all colors, shapes, and sizes, ranging wildly in price and purpose? I’d be willing to guess that you got into video to work with cameras, not sign yourself up for audio engineering school. How on earth are you supposed to know which mic is right for your project?

Well, my friend, you’re in luck. Long before I stumbled into the video space, I was (and still am) a musician. I can still remember tinkering with a Little Tikes piano and singing my heart out as a toddler. I sang in my first talent show at the age of 11, and by the time I hit middle school, it was time for a change. Drums. Yeah, my parents didn’t love it either, but they supported the dream nonetheless. From there I moved to guitar, and now I do a bit of everything. Enough about my glory years as a kid! I share this to say that I have used more microphones than I can count, and I have become obsessed with figuring out how to capture that same quality of audio I’m accustomed to hearing on TV or the radio (or Spotify/Pandora/Amazon Music/etc).

Today, I am going to introduce you to three microphones that are most commonly used in video, starting with the shotgun mic.

#1 - The Supercardioid Directional Condenser Microphone

First on the list is the Supercardioid Directional Condenser Microphone, also known as the tube mic or shotgun mic. This mic is found on every film set, and looks a bit like a big straw. Its primary purpose is to capture dialogue and is perfect in film because it really only registers the audio source it’s aimed at. For instance, you can film a scene of two people having a conversation across a table from one another, while positioning two shotgun mics overhead with one pointed at one subject, and the other at, well, the other. Each mic will pick up its intended voice with very little bleed from the other person.

One thing to note is that you will need to supply some type of power to a shotgun mic for it to work. Some models, like my Rode NTG-2, open up to reveal a replaceable AA battery inside, while newer models can be charged via USB - I don’t love this method, though, because it can be difficult to tell when your mic’s battery is low. One further option is to introduce what is called Phantom Power, which I will describe in a minute. All that to say, if you plan on doing video for any length of time, I highly recommend investing in a quality shotgun mic. You’ll never regret it.

#2 - The Lavalier (Lav) Microphone

Moving on, we have the Lavalier Microphone, or Lav for short. This is also known as a ‘lapel’ mic because it’s designed to clip right onto your lapel, or a tie, or any piece of clothing that positions it close to the mouth. Lav mics are extremely common in video production as well as live speaking engagements. It’s a tiny mic that gets up close and personal, and is typically offered with an omnidirectional or cardioid polar pattern. Don’t worry if this sounds like gibberish, it simply means that they’re designed to capture everything around them. Now in most cases, you don’t want your mic to hear everything, but since the lav sits so close to the subject and their mouth, you’re almost always guaranteed clean audio.

Now similar to the shotgun mic, you will need to power your lav, but phantom power is not required. The mic is connected to a transmitter (imagine a black box hanging from somebody’s belt loop) which will need batteries. That transmitter then sends the audio over the air waves to a wireless receiver that will also require batteries. I strongly suggest keeping an arsenal of batteries lying around as these things love to gobble them up. Replace them early and often so you don’t have to worry about failing audio mid shoot.

Speaking of failing mid shoot, I’ll leave you with two final recommendations here:

1. Always use two sources of audio when filming. Technology is not perfect, and mics can either run out of battery or fail entirely without warning. Nothing is more frustrating (and embarrassing) than telling your subject they’re going to have to redo all their killer lines because your mic died and their performance has now become practice. Save yourself the headache and use two mics.
   
   
2. You can use a shotgun mic and a lavalier mic in tandem! This is a great way to ensure clean and clear audio while backing yourself up with redundancy. Now since I don’t currently own a lav mic (bonus tip: don’t buy something unless you truly have a need for it), I use a small shotgun mic attached directly to my camera, in addition to a separate shotgun mic recording to a completely different device. Lots of redundancy!

#3 - The Field Recorder

Finally, we have the Field Recorder. Now this one may turn heads a bit because I don’t think it technically falls into the microphone category, but it’s got a built-in mic, it powers mics, and it’s used extensively in video production so I think it’s worth mentioning here. I currently use the Zoom H4 Essential, but there are so many great field recorders on the market today that you really can’t go wrong. That said, I’d like to highlight a few things to look for when purchasing your first (or next) field recorder.

• Microphone Inputs - Not all field recorders contain a mic input, but I recommend finding one with a minimum of two XLR or mic line inputs. As mentioned previously, you’ll want to use two sources of audio, and this will allow you to do so. Additionally, if you film a conversation between two people, or a video podcast, you’ll need at least two mics.
  
  
• Built-In Stereo Mic - Another useful feature found on the Zoom models and many others, is the built-in stereo mic. This is great for capturing room tone on a set, but it also doubles as a backup mic in the event your primary mic fails (or worse, you left it at home).
  
  
• Memory - You’ll need to supply your field recorder with a memory card. Don’t skimp out here! Make sure the card is big enough to handle hours of audio. I’d even recommend multiple cards if you can swing it. Personally, I prefer recorders that will take a full size SD card, as opposed to a micro SD card, which is ironic because Zoom H4 Essential only has a micro SD slot. Either way, technology has advanced far enough that you should be able to find appropriate storage in whichever format you choose.
  
  
• Internal Power - As with all electronics, your field recorder will likely need batteries. Some models allow for a DC power block to be attached, which can be great in the studio, but not so great when filming outside. Just a reminder here: you can never have too many batteries on hand.
  
  
• Phantom Power - Finally we have made it to Phantom Power. This is designed specifically to supply nonpowered mics (like your shotgun mic) with 48v of power, and most field recorders possess the capability of doing so! When you’re filming offsite, you’ll need some type of interface that will not only supply power to your microphone, but will store the audio information as well, and the field recorder does it all.
  
  

And there you have it! A microphone for every occasion. Do you need to go out and buy them all? Absolutely not! Just take some time to understand the type of filming you’ll be doing the most of and invest in the mic that best suits your needs. As your skillset grows, you can always upgrade your gear down the road. Now go grab your mic and create something amazing!