Choosing a microphone for short-form video

There is no single “best” microphone. The right one depends on where the mic can physically be while you film. Distance from your mouth matters more than price: a modest mic close to you will beat an expensive one far away.

Filming on a phone, moving around: wireless lavalier

Clip-on wireless kits plug straight into your phone and keep the mic at a constant distance no matter where you walk. Kits with two transmitters let you record interviews and duets. Clip the mic in the center of your chest, about a hand’s width below your chin, and keep it away from rustling fabric and necklaces.

Recording at a desk: USB dynamic mic

For voiceovers, podcasts and screen recordings, a desk mic on an arm gives the richest voice. Pick a dynamic microphone rather than a condenser if your room is untreated: dynamics hear mostly what’s right in front of them, so they record far less echo and keyboard noise. Models with both USB and XLR outputs grow with you if you add an audio interface later.

Get your levels right

• Aim for your normal speaking voice to peak around −12 dB, leaving room for laughs and emphasis.
• Anything that hits 0 dB clips — that distortion can’t be repaired in editing.
• Record a few seconds of silence at the start of each session; it helps noise-reduction tools learn your room.

Treat the room before upgrading the mic

Hard, bare walls bounce sound back into the mic. Rugs, curtains, a bookshelf, or simply recording in a closet full of clothes reduce echo more than a microphone upgrade will. Always monitor with closed-back headphones while recording, so you hear problems while you can still re-take.