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Best External Mics for Smartphones: How to Choose the Right One

February 11, 2021 3 min read

In today's digital age, creating content with smartphones is not just common; it's a professional standard for many. With advancements in video quality, the need for superior audio to match has never been more critical. This guide explores the best wireless microphones for smartphone users, ensuring your content sounds as good as it looks.

Elevating Your Smartphone Audio

Smartphones have revolutionized content creation, offering high-resolution video capabilities at our fingertips. However, the built-in microphones often fall short, particularly in dynamic environments or when capturing sound from a distance. These microphones struggle with background noise and fail to deliver the clarity needed for professional-quality audio, making an external microphone not just an enhancement, but a necessity for serious content creators.

The leap in quality with external microphones comes down to advanced features such as directional audio capture, which isolates the sound source, minimizing background noise. Noise reduction technology further cleans the audio, ensuring that the focus remains on the intended subject. Real-time monitoring is another critical feature, allowing creators to hear exactly what the microphone picks up, enabling adjustments on the fly for the best audio quality.

Benefits of Wireless Microphones

Wireless microphones are a game-changer for mobile content creators. They offer the freedom to move without being tethered by cables, enabling more dynamic and engaging recordings. Beyond convenience and mobility, wireless microphones provide superior sound quality. By eliminating the reliance on the smartphone's internal mic, creators can capture crisp, clear audio that complements the visual quality of their videos.

How to Choose the Best External Microphone for Your Smartphone

  • Assessing Your Needs: Start by considering the content you produce. Different types of content—vlogging, podcasting, interviews, filmmaking—demand different audio solutions. Your choice should reflect your primary content format.
  • Compatibility Check: Ensure the microphone you choose works seamlessly with your device, whether it's an iPhone or Android. Check for compatibility with connection ports like USB-C, Lightning, or the traditional headphone jack.
  • Audio Quality Priorities: Identify your audio priorities—whether it’s clarity, background noise reduction, or the ability to capture ambient sounds. Different mics are designed to excel in specific areas.
  • Form Factor and Portability: Your content creation style will influence whether you need a compact, easily portable mic or can accommodate something more substantial.
  • Budget Considerations: Microphones range from affordable to professional-grade prices. Determine your budget based on how much you're willing to invest in improving your audio quality.
  • Additional Features: Look for mics with useful extras, such as headphone jacks for real-time audio monitoring, windshields for outdoor use, and shock mounts to dampen handling noise.
  • User Reviews and Recommendations: Researching and reading reviews from fellow content creators can offer invaluable insights into how a microphone performs in real-world scenarios, helping you make an informed decision.

Microphone Choices for Every Creator

  • VXR10 Shotgun Video Microphone: The VXR10 is a compact yet powerful shotgun microphone, ideal for smartphone videographers seeking to capture professional, lifelike audio. Its directional design ensures focused sound capture, making it perfect for vlogs, interviews, and outdoor recordings.
  • WMX-2 Wireless Lavalier System: For creators who need mobility and flexibility, the WMX-2 offers a complete wireless lavalier microphone system. It provides professional audio capture and remarkable freedom of movement, essential for dynamic video projects and on-the-move recordings.
  • PM10 Smartphone Lavalier Microphone: The PM10 is a convenient and affordable solution for high-quality audio recording directly to your smartphone. This lavalier microphone is ideal for interviews, podcasts, or any situation where clear, hands-free audio is required.

Practical Tips for Recording on Your Phone

Before diving into your next project, consider these tips to maximize your audio quality:
  • Switch your phone to Airplane mode to avoid interruptions.
  • Choose the right microphone based on your recording environment—lavalier mics for dialogue, shotgun mics for broader audio capture.
  • Monitor sound levels during recording to ensure consistency. Use apps like Decibel X for real-time feedback.
Achieving professional audio with a smartphone is within reach with the right tools and techniques. Movo's range of wireless microphones caters to every type of content creator, promising ease of use, mobility, and superior sound quality. Elevate your smartphone videos with Movo, and share your story with the world in crystal-clear audio.