As a video producer, one of the most essential tools you can have is a good microphone. While camcorders are getting better and cheaper every year, microphones remain an expensive but important part of your kit that will make or break your videos. Choosing the right type of mic for your videos requires knowledge about what factors matter when it comes to picking out quality mics from bargain bin specials. Today, we’re going to take a look at some different types of microphones including lavalier, shotgun, and desktop options so you can find the perfect fit for your needs. In this article, we will answer the most common questions and clear up any confusion or misconceptions about what makes a good microphone for YouTube vlogging.
- Built-in microphones
The built-in microphones on new phones are good enough to get the job done, but they’re not going to be as dependable as a microphone you purchase specifically for that purpose. Relying on these mics isn’t ideal, but they can absolutely work if it is all you have.
- Directional microphone
If you are like most people, chances are that a directional microphone is new to you. Quite frankly, it’s one of those products that almost always gets overlooked but can make a huge difference in the quality of your videos and audio recordings with smartphones and cameras. When making videos or recording interviews on your smartphone, for instance, there will inevitably be some mechanical sounds such as shutter clicks recorded alongside the actual dialogue. The sound of someone typing on their keyboard can also ruin an otherwise perfect video when they’re not supposed to be heard at all. Directional mini-microphones are probably the best bet for any content creators starting out. They record superior sound to built-in microphones and are usually very affordable. They are basically a miniature shotgun microphone, which mounts on top of handheld cameras or cell phones.
- Stereo Microphone
Stereo microphones do what the name implies—they record in stereo. This means you’ll have two different channels of audio recorded at the same time, usually facing at slightly different angles. The sound recorded creates a similar experience to how we hear sound in person. The Zoom H4n Pro is a popular choice amongst video producers. It has four built-in microphones which are set to record in the XY pattern. This allows you to have two voices on one side and two on the other so that they can be separated when edited later (with some work).
