Choosing the right external microphone for your camera is crucial to achieve high-quality audio in your video productions. But with so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the best one for your needs. That’s why we have researched and compiled a list of the top 11 best external mics for cameras, along with a detailed buying guide to help you make an informed decision. Whether you’re a professional filmmaker or a vlogger, finding the best external mic for your camera can make a huge difference in the sound quality of your videos.
Editor’s Pick
Last update on 2023-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
External Mic For Camera: A Simplified Overview
External mics for cameras are designed to improve the audio quality of videos captured with a camera. Built-in microphones on cameras can pick up unwanted sounds, such as wind noise, camera handling noise, and echoes. By using an external mic, users can capture clearer, more natural-sounding audio.
There are several types of external mics available for cameras, including shotgun mics, lavaliere mics, and wireless mics. Shotgun mics are directional and perfect for capturing audio from a specific angle. Lavaliere mics are small and can be clipped onto clothing, making them ideal for interviews. Wireless mics allow users to move around freely while recording. Overall, an external mic can greatly enhance the audio quality of videos and add a professional touch to your work.
Best External Mic For Camera Compared
- UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY: External microphone for iPhone, Androids, Cameras, Camcorders, Audio Recorders, Tablets, and Laptops. Use as iPhone microphone, DSLR...
- PROFESSIONAL MOVO MIC: The durable aluminum construction and battery-free design includes a sturdy integrated shock mount to minimize handling noise.
- 1-YEAR WARRANTY: We’ve got your back. Our products are designed to ease your technical woes, not add to them. Our friendly US-Based support is here to help -...
- CREATE: Essential compact shotgun microphone for recording YouTube Vlogs, Tik Tok, interviews, family vacation trips, live music, outdoor events, tutorials.
- INCLUDES: Furry "Deadcat" Windscreen, Soft Carrying Case, 3.5mm TRS Output Cable (For DSLR Cameras, Camcorders, Recorders), 3.5mm TRRS Output Cable (For...
- Delivers clear, crisp, directional audio with incredible ease of use
- Rode designed the videomic go with a tight pickup area that focuses directly in front of the mic
- Reduces other surrounding sounds, ensuring that your subject is isolated from background noise
- The integrated Rycote lyre shock mount isolates the video mic go from bumps and vibrations
- No complicated switches or settings and is powered by your camera's external microphone input, required
- Compatible with Many Devices: Our upgrade wireless lavalier microphone has full compatibility, With the Type C cable, USB cable we give you, you can more easily...
- Plug and Play & Automatic Connection: No Driver, Bluetooth or Application needed. Select the cable adapter that suits your device, then connect the receiver to...
- Smart Noise Reduction & High Quality Sound: With smart technology chip, the omnidirectional condenser mics pick up sound from all angles, and offer stable...
- 65FT Distance Transmission & 6H Working Time: The wireless lavalier microphone system has adopting the international 2.4Ghz Wireless transmission, easy to...
- Dual Wireless Microphones: This wireless lavalier microphone kit includes 1 receiver, 2 microphone transmitters and 3 cable adapters, which makes it possible to...
- ✨【Universal Compatibility】 Moukey Vedio Mircrophone fit most of the DSLR Cameras, Camcorders, Audio Recorders, Smartphones, Tablets, Laptops. Note : All...
- ✨【Platinum Quality Recording】Our camera mircrophone built-in high-class cardioid condenser capsule, achieves supreme audio recording when used with...
- ✨【Less Background Noise】Unidirectional microphone, primarily sensitive to sounds in front of the camera and can reduce in background noise, suitable for...
- ✨【Highly Anti-interference】Aluminum-made body, protecting the sound recording quality from the interference by a high level of radio frequency. And this...
- ✨【Make It More Professional】Features a shock-absorption shock mount, effective at minimizing unwanted vibrational, handling noise. And more professional...
- ✔Universal Compatibility: Comica CVM-VM10II camera microphone comes with a 3.5mm TRS and TRRS cable, which supports most of devices with a 3.5mm mic audio...
- ✔Battery-free design: This external shotgun microphone draws power directly from your phone or camera, so it can be used by connecting the devices without...
- ✔Mini Cardioid Directional Microphone: CVM-VM10II shotgun microphone adopt a cardioid directional pattern can eliminate the background noise effectively and...
- ✔Noise-canceling microphone: Built-in 100% aluminum material, CVM-VM10II on-camera microphone can strengthen the anti-interference function to reduce the...
- ✔Rycote Lyre Shock Mount: CVM-VM10II professional video microphone designed with a shock-resistant structural design, which can primely prevent the noise of...
- 【Lightweight&Compatible】The Mirfak N2 highly directional microphone is superb lightweight for you to take everywhere. It is one of the versatile microphones...
- 【Shock Mount&Cardioid Pattern】The N2 shotgun on-camera mic comes with a shock mount to cut down vibrational noise and a cardioid condenser that minimizes...
- 【High-quality and Durable Design】Features with a compact and all-aluminum body, Mirfak N2 has super anti-interference ability and effectively reducing...
- 【Easy to Use】No battery or additional battery supply needed. You can quick start to recording after easy plug-in. Even for a beginner, you can enjoy the...
- 【Frequency response】35-18KHz +/-3dB; Transducer: Electret Condenser; Sensitivity:-44dB +/- 1dB / 0dB=1V/Pa,1kHz; Dimensions:Φ22*81mm. Mirfak N2 is perfect...
- Please buy this external mic for your AKASO EK7000/ EK7000 Pro/ Brave 4/ V50X/ Brave 4 Pro/ Brave 7 LE. Third party external mics don't work.
- AKASO Micro USB External Microphone for AKASO EK7000/ EK7000 Pro/ Brave 4/ V50X/ Brave 4 Pro/ Brave 7 LE action camera only.
- This micro USB external microphone is not compatible with AKASO Brave 6 Plus/ Brave 7 Brave 8 action camera.
- 【Low-cut Filter and 10dB Sensitivity Adjustment】The CVM-V30PRO Lightweight microphone has low-cut filter function and 10dB Sensitivity Adjustment. You can...
- 【Excellent shock-absorbing】Shock-resistant structural design can effectively reduce vibration noise. Which can primely prevent the noise of the jitter...
- 【Super-Cardioid Polar Pattern】The CVM-V30 PRO shotgun microphone is giving excellent off-axis rejection for desired sounds, which can effectively reduce the...
- 【Product Features】Comica CVM-V30 PRO microphone supports all cameras that come with 3.5mm(TRS) audio input jack. (Not available for Canon Rebel T5i/T6/T7/HF...
- 【What’s in the box】1* CVM-V30 PRO Microphone 1* Windscreen 1*English User's Manual. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
- ♪Super-cardioid condenser gun microphone: Using super-cardioid pointing mode, this gun-style microphone kit can effectively eliminate background noise,...
- ♪Universal compatibility: Use the supplied TRS cable and the supplied TRRS cable. External microphones for iPhone, Android, cameras, camcorders, voice...
- ♪Use in any venue: video mircophone is used to record YouTube, Vlog, Tik Tok, interviews, live music, live video, outdoor activities, tutorials, etc. It is...
- ♪Easy to carry: M80 microphone is a small and lightweight directional microphone with a unique shock mount, which can be used with smartphones or cameras. It...
- ♪Sound quality improvement: M80 microphone adopts a special structure design, which can significantly improve your sound quality compared with the built-in...
- UNIVERSAL COMPATIBILITY: Just switch"Camera" or"Phone" on the microphone body. Universal for iPhone, Androids, Cameras, Camcorders, Audio Recorders etc. (the...
- BATTERY-FREE DESIGN: Powered by camera/smartphone plug-in power which can minimize handling noise and help you solve the problem of insufficient battery power...
- UNIQUE SHOCK MOUNT DESIGN: Features a shock-absorption shock mount, effective at minimizing unwanted vibrational, handling noise.
- SUPER-CARDIOID MICROPHONE: CVM-V30 LITE shotgun microphone is giving excellent off-axis rejection for desired sounds, which can effectively reduce the noise of...
- CONFIDENCE TO BUY: Our products are designed to ease your technical woes, not add to them. If you encounter any issues, please contact us. (Contact the seller...
- 【High Quality Sound】Omnidirectional mini camera mic to pick up and record a wide range of sounds with a frequency response.
- 【Widely Compatible】: The portable camera microphone perfect for live stream youtube or video blog (vlogging) video, recording meeting, lecture, or...
- 【Design for Camera】The 3.5mm TRS microphones are widely used in all kinds of DSLR Camera/Camcorder/Video Camera. Plug and play and very suitable for various...
- 【Adjustable and Portable】The smartphone microphone built-in swivel provides 90˚ positioning and 360˚ rotation.The mini mic design is only 9 g convenient...
- 【BOYA Warranty】24-Month Warranty. if you have any technical or product questions. If the product fails, please notify us and we will provide you with the...
Last update on 2023-11-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Makes Purchasing External Mic For Camera Essential?
There are plenty of reasons why one would want to invest in an external microphone for their camera. Not only can it drastically improve audio quality, but it can also provide more options for recording in different environments. Here are just a few key benefits to consider.
Improved audio quality
The built-in microphone in a camera is often not sufficient enough to capture high-quality audio. This becomes an issue when shooting videos with important dialogue or sound effects. With an external microphone, you can ensure that the audio is clear and crisp, without any unwanted background noise.
External microphones also offer a range of features that improve audio quality, such as directional sound pickup, which allows you to focus on the audio source and reduce interference from other sounds. Additionally, some microphones come with features such as wind reduction, noise reduction, and volume controls, which further enhance audio quality. Having improved audio quality can significantly enhance the viewer’s experience, making your videos more professional and engaging.
Better noise cancellation
When recording video, especially in noisy environments such as on the streets or at a concert, the built-in microphone on a camera may pick up unwanted background noise. This noise can be distracting and diminish the overall quality of the recording.
By using an external microphone, specifically one with better noise cancellation capabilities, the unwanted background noise can be significantly reduced or eliminated. This results in a clearer and more focused sound recording, making it easier for viewers to hear and understand the intended audio. In addition, the external microphone may also pick up more nuanced sounds that the built-in microphone is not capable of capturing. This can add depth and richness to the audio and enhance the overall viewing experience.
Greater directional control
When we use the built-in microphone of a camera, it captures the sound from all directions, i.e., omnidirectional sound. This includes not just the desired sound but also unwanted ambient noise, making our audio unclear and unprofessional. However, an external mic for the camera can offer greater directional control, allowing us to capture sound from a specific direction or even a particular person.
For instance, if we are recording an interview, an external shotgun mic mounted on top of the camera pointing towards the person speaking can capture their voice clearly, while ignoring the noise from surroundings. Likewise, a lavaliere mic clipped on to the speaker’s collar can capture their voice even better, making our videos more professional and enjoyable. In summary, an external mic gives us greater control over the audio, resulting in improved video quality.
Ability to record from greater distances
An external mic for a camera is a must-have for many videographers and vloggers. One of the primary benefits of using an external microphone is that it allows you to record audio from greater distances. The built-in microphones on cameras are typically not powerful enough to pick up sound from a distance, resulting in poor audio quality.
By using an external microphone, you can ensure that your audio is clear and crisp, even when you are recording from farther away. This is particularly important for outdoor or environmental recordings, such as concerts, sporting events, or wildlife footage. With an external mic for your camera, you can capture accurate audio without having to worry about being too close to the subject, or having to strain to hear the sound. It gives you the freedom to record in any situation, without sacrificing the quality of your audio.
Buying Guides
Finding the ideal external microphone for your camera is crucial to recording high-quality audio. While there are many models to choose from, it’s essential to consider a few key factors that can help you make the right decision.
Type of microphone (condenser or dynamic)
The type of microphone, whether condenser or dynamic, is an important consideration when purchasing an external mic for a camera. Condenser microphones are more sensitive and produce a higher quality sound compared to dynamic microphones. They are ideal for capturing sounds with a wide frequency range, making them great for recording music or podcasting. Condenser mics also require a power source, either through batteries or phantom power, which can be obtained through the camera or an external source.
Dynamic microphones are less sensitive but are great for capturing loud sounds like sirens or gunshots. They don’t need a power source and are more durable compared to condenser microphones. Dynamic mics are ideal for recording interviews or capturing audio in noisy environments. Choosing the right type of microphone can greatly affect the quality of your audio recordings and ensure that you capture the intended sound.
Polar pattern (cardioid, omnidirectional, bi-directional)
We should consider the polar pattern of an external mic before buying it for camera because it dictates the directionality and sensitivity of the microphone. Different polar patterns, such as cardioid, omnidirectional, and bi-directional, are suited for different recording environments and situations. For example, a cardioid polar pattern is ideal for recording a single subject in a noisy environment as it can reject sound coming from the sides and behind the microphone. On the other hand, an omnidirectional polar pattern is better suited for capturing ambient sounds or recording a group conversation.
Choosing the right polar pattern for the external mic can make a significant impact on the quality of our recordings. It can ensure that the microphone captures the intended audio while minimizing unwanted noise. Understanding the polar pattern and its characteristics is, therefore, essential in selecting the appropriate external microphone for our camera.
Compatibility with camera (connector type and brand)
When considering an external microphone for your camera, it is important to consider compatibility with the camera’s connector type and brand. Different cameras have different microphone input types, such as 3.5mm, XLR, or USB, and not all microphones are compatible with all types of inputs. This means that purchasing a microphone that is not compatible with your camera’s input type could render it useless.
Additionally, certain camera brands have specific proprietary connections that may only be compatible with their own accessories. For example, Sony cameras may only be compatible with Sony-branded microphones or accessories. Therefore, it is essential to research the compatibility of the microphone with your camera before making a purchase to ensure that you are investing in a product that will work with your camera and provide optimal sound quality.
Directional capabilities (shotgun, lavaliere, handheld)
Directional capabilities of microphones are crucial when recording audio for camera. These capabilities refer to how well the microphone can capture sound from a specific direction or location. For instance, a shotgun microphone has a narrow field of range, which means it can pick up sound from a specific direction, while rejecting sound from other directions. On the other hand, a lavaliere microphone is perfect for recording dialogue while minimizing background noise.
Before buying an external microphone for a camera, it is essential to understand the different directional capabilities of microphones to find the best one that suits your recording needs. The type of microphone you choose should depend on the situation you’re recording in. For example, if you’re recording a conversation, a lavaliere microphone would be the best choice since it’s close to the mouth, and it will capture the speaker’s voice without picking up background noise. However, if you’re recording a concert, a shotgun microphone would be a better option since it can pick up the sound of individual instruments from a distance.
Windscreen and shockmount provisions
Windscreen and shockmount provisions are important considerations when buying an external microphone for a camera. A windscreen is a cover that fits over the microphone and reduces wind noise, making it ideal for outdoor shoots. It is essential to have a windscreen when filming in windy conditions, as wind noise can ruin the quality of the audio. Additionally, a shock mount is a device that isolates the microphone from impacts and vibrations, reducing handling noise. This makes it ideal for moving shots where the camera may need to be moved and adjusted while filming.
Both windscreen and shockmount provisions help to ensure the quality of the audio in a video. Without them, you run the risk of having poor audio quality due to wind noise or vibrations. Therefore, it is essential to consider these provisions when purchasing an external microphone for your camera to ensure professional-quality audio in your videos.
FAQs
Can any external mic be used with any camera?
In general, any external microphone can be used with any camera that has a microphone input jack. However, there are some factors to consider such as the compatibility of the connector and the power requirements of the microphone. Some cameras may have a 3.5mm jack while others may have XLR inputs. Additionally, some microphones may require phantom power which may not be available on all cameras. It’s important to check the specifications of both the camera and microphone to ensure they are compatible before purchasing.
Do all cameras have a port for external mic connectivity?
No, not all cameras have a port for external mic connectivity. Many basic or entry-level cameras, such as point-and-shoot or smartphone cameras, do not have this feature. However, most higher-end cameras, including DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, do have a port for external mic connectivity. This allows for better sound quality and the ability to use a wider range of microphones. It is also a crucial feature for professionals and those who want to produce high-quality videos.
What is the difference between a shotgun mic and a lavalier mic?
A shotgun mic is a directional microphone that picks up sound from one specific direction. It is often used for recording dialogue in film or television productions, as it can isolate the sound of the speaker and reduce the amount of ambient noise. Shotgun mics are typically mounted on top of a camera or on a boom pole and pointed directly at the source of the sound.
On the other hand, a lavalier mic is a small, clip-on microphone that is attached to a person’s clothing or body. It is also known as a lapel mic. It is typically used for recording interviews, speeches, and presentations. Lavalier mics are omnidirectional, meaning they pick up sound from all directions, so they are better suited to recording groups of people or capturing ambient sound.
Can an external mic improve the audio quality of a camera’s built-in microphone?
Yes, an external mic can improve the audio quality of a camera’s built-in microphone. Built-in microphones in cameras tend to have low-quality sound and may pick up unwanted background noise. By using an external mic, the audio quality can improve significantly, and it can also be directional, meaning it can focus on the sound source and reduce background noise. This can result in clearer and more professional-sounding audio.
Conclusion
Choosing the right external mic for your camera can make a significant difference in the quality of your audio recordings. With so many options available, it can be challenging to select the best one. However, by considering factors like your budget, intended use, and mic type, you can narrow down your options and choose the best external mic for your camera. We hope this list of the top 11 best external mics for cameras, along with our buying guide, has helped you in finding the perfect external mic to enhance your video and audio content.
