How to Choose the Right Microphone for Your Video Project
Why Audio Quality Matters
Audio is a crucial element of any high-quality video. People will forgive lower quality video content, but they won’t forgive poor audio. When I started hosting a podcast for my job as a content producer, I knew that I needed to choose the right microphone. At the time, I lived in a very noisy area. I was within steps of a train station. You could feel the house vibrate when the freight train rolled by. My goals were: Reduce noise as much as possible and make my audio editor’s life easier by decreasing post-production time. With that information in hand, I chose the microphone that I knew would help me get the job done and was within my budget. So how do you do that?
While there are a lot of recommendations out there or you could just watch a video telling you exactly which microphone to buy, I’d like to try to help you understand how to choose the right microphone. In this article, I’m going to share three essential tips to help you select the right microphone for your needs.
Choose the Right Type of Microphone
Before I dive into recommendations, I think it’s important to understand the difference between the three classes of microphones you can choose from — Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Hypercardioid. Why? Because if you know the difference, you can make an informed choice based on the job.
Omnidirectional: Omnidirectional microphones capture sound from all directions. Their pickup pattern is wide. An example of an omnidirectional microphone is what you might see a speaker or performer holding on stage during a concert or an event. Lavalier microphones are also omnidirectional microphones.
Cardioid: Cardioid microphones have a narrower pick up pattern making them great for controlling moderate sound. An example of a cardioid microphone is a podcast microphone like the Rode PodMic (which I own) or the Shure SM7B. I’ll share links below.
Hypercardioid: Finally, these microphones are the industry standard when you’re working on a film or video project. If you’ve ever recorded a video or seen a behind-the-scenes of a video project, they’re the microphones you see on a pole above your head or someone else’s head. They might be covered with a fuzzy sleeve or not.
Which microphone did I buy for my podcast? You might have guessed it…A cardioid microphone. I ended up purchasing the Rode NT1-A and it was well within my budget. This is why it is helpful the understand the difference. Having this information not only helped me achieve my goal of moderate sound reduction, but it also helped me save time on the post-production side as well as money. And speaking of saving money, the Shure SM7B is next on my list. I see them popping up more and more in YouTube videos, so it’s time to cook.
Examples of Recommended Mics:
Wired vs. Wireless
In my opinion, a podcast microphone or shotgun microphone is the only time you should see a wired microphone. If you’re an influencer, content creator, presenter or facilitator, aim for mobility and go with a wireless microphone.
Right now, I use the Rode Wireless Go II system as my lavalier microphone. I’ve been using them for several years now and I love their sound quality and versatility. This set of lavalier microphones are a little more expensive, but this system comes with one receiver and two transmitters, making it very easy to record two interviews if you need to. I’ve used them for this exact purpose in the past. I also love that I can easily switch between using them with my Sony a6700 camera or my iPhone. They’re lightweight which also makes them great for travel.
Recommended Wireless Mics:
Compatibility and Versatility
Before you purchase any microphone, make sure it is compatible with your existing equipment or that you have some understanding of how to make it compatible. It’s very frustrating to discover that your brand new microphone finally got delivered and you’re excited to use it but it’s not compatible with your phone because you’re missing some kind of cable. Been there and done that!
As I mentioned earlier, my Rode Wireless Go II works seamlessly with my iPhone and my digital camera, but I had to purchase an additional cable to make the microphones compatible with my phone. I should tell you, I didn’t realize the first lavalier microphone I owned would only work with my phone or laptop. It wouldn’t really work with my digital camera. These days it seems unlikely you’ll come across something like that, but it’s still a good idea to check for compatibility..
Conclusion
Choosing the right microphone is essential for producing high-quality video content. By understanding the different types of microphones—Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Hypercardioid—you can select one that best suits your specific needs. Opting for a wired or wireless model and ensuring it is compatible with your existing equipment, can make a big difference in your audio quality and production.
What About You? Have any additional tips or personal experiences with microphones that could help others? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
