If you are serious about vlogging, it is essential to invest in a good microphone. People might forgive choppy footage, but there is no excuse for uploading a video with poor sound quality.
Of course, your camera or mobile phone has a built-in-mic for capturing sound, but it is usually of poor quality and is not particularly good at handling ambient noise. Using a good quality external microphone is the best way to eliminate annoying background noise.
When it comes to microphones for vlogging, there are many different options worth considering. If you do a lot of interviews or participate in discussions, a wireless mic will be a good choice for you. They can clip to your clothes and transmit audio signals to the receiver on your phone or camera.
Using a shotgun microphone is an effective way to suppress background noise. You can mount it directly on your camera. Since these are directional mics, they record only those sounds that come from the objects they are pointed at.
Here is a quick review of some popular microphones for vlogging
1. Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti is undoubtedly the best microphone for vlogging. It is not exactly cheap but it has features that justify its price tag. Blue Yeti provides excellent sound quality and that explains why it is the choice of a number of vloggers. It is easy to use this microphone. Just plug it in and you are ready to start recording. There is a volume control and cough / mute button on the front and pattern selector and gain dial on the back. Blue Yeti is perfect for group as well as solo recording.
You can buy it for 19,499 from Amazon.
The Rode Wireless Go II is even better and offers a greater range and the ability to record from more than one person.
3. Rode Rodelink Filmmaker Kit
This a high quality wireless microphone system with a price tag that matches its impressive features. It has three parts – the receiver, the transmitter and a lavalier microphone. Connect the receiver to your phone and clip the transmitter to a belt or put it in your pocket. You can buy it from Amazon for 34,999 INR.
4. Saramonic Blink 500 B2 2-person kit
This is a budget friendly microphone ideal for interviewing people. It operates with the licence free 2.4 GHz frequency. The battery lasts 4 hours on a single charge. Since the antennas are internal, this is a compact unit. You can connect the receiver directly to the camera. You also have the option of connecting it to a smartphone. The transmitters have a built-in microphone. However, you can plug in a standard lav mic if you choose. The best thing about this kit is its dual channel receivers.
5. Boya BY-M1
The Boya BY-M1 is a wired lavalier microphone. It runs on an LR44 button cell. If you are using a passive source, the mic needs to be switched on.
If you are connecting to a device with plug-in power, the mic needs to be switched off. Though it does not have a wide range, it is still good for voice recording. The unit is a little bulky and needs to be handled with care as the build quality is not particularly impressive. Even so, considering its low price, this is an outstanding mic that offers excellent sound quality. You can buy it from Amazon for 799 INR