JG McQuarrie
Oct 24th, 2022
The iPhone is a great portable recording device. There’s a lot of technology packed into a very small package, and the flexibility and quality of the iPhone make it ideal for anyone who wants to record on the go.
However, recording quality audio is always a challenge. There can be many different factors that can affect the quality of recorded sound.
These could be external environmental factors such as wind noise, traffic, or passing people. Or they could be internal, for example, if you are recording in a room filled with echo.
The easiest way to deal with these is to connect an external microphone to your iPhone. And wireless audio is one of the best solutions. While there are many different options when looking for a microphone for iPhone recording, the lavalier microphone offers a simple, portable approach to capturing great audio.
The lavalier mic allows discrete placement and hands-free recording and is ideal for recording speech, dialogue or any kind of voice recording.
Most of the lavalier mics on the market are omnidirectional. That means they capture sound from all directions, rather than from one specific direction.
Because of this, it is important to keep in mind the distance the mic is from the source of what you want to record.
Generally speaking, the best placement should be to have the mic on the chest area, around one foot (30 cm) away from the source of your sound (i.e. the person who is actually speaking). This will allow you to capture clear, natural sound regardless of where you point the iPhone camera.
And of course, using a wireless microphone means that there’s no cable clutter, so nothing to get in the way of you shooting the best footage you can while capturing your sound.
But which are the best lavalier mics on the market? Let’s take a look at some of the contenders.
For an entry-level device, the Fifine wireless microphone is a great place to start. This is a traditional lavalier microphone, with a receiver that attaches to your iPhone, and a mic to capture audio that attaches to your clothes.
The device operates on UHF frequencies and has a good range. The mic is very light and easy to wear, while the receiver is a bit on the large side.
This is because it houses two AA batteries, as well as an internal USB C-charged battery pack.
While this means that the receiver is larger than some others on the list, it has the flexibility of being able to swap out batteries whenever you need to, so you need never run out of power while recording.
The range of the device is around 50 feet (15 meters), which is acceptable but not spectacular. The sound quality is a noticeable step up from the iPhone’s internal mic. It might not quite have the same quality as some of the more expensive items here, but given the cost, the quality is still good.
The Fifine is a good introductory lavalier microphone and will let anyone who wants to start using an external mic purchase one without worrying about over-investing financially. Cheap, cheerful, and a great learning tool — that’s what makes the Fifine a great choice.
Staying at the budget end of the spectrum we have the Boya BY-WMG2. A reliable, dependable lavalier microphone, the Boya is another good entry point for those looking to get started with alternatives to the iPhone’s built-in mic.
The lapel microphone is small and lightweight, and the wireless system is a little less bulky than the Fifine. The sound quality is good, and the operational range is similar to the Fifine.
The device is easy to use and simple for beginners to pick up. One notable bonus is that the transmitter and receiver are already paired, so there’s no fiddling around — you can record as soon as you open the box with no setup.
The device has a small LED which lets you see the audio waveform as you are recording. This helps you to be sure your audio files are being correctly recorded.
Although not an essential feature, it’s a nice touch and a rarity in a budget device so very much something to be commended.
If you are eager to get started on your wireless microphone journey and don’t want to splash huge amounts of cash, then the Boya makes for a great purchase.
The name Rode will come up again and again when looking at microphones and there’s a reason for this — they produce great quality equipment. The Wireless Go II is no exception to this.
The device itself is small, light, and easy to use. When it’s clipped to clothing the wireless transmitter barely even seems to be there, and the receiver is equally compact and small.
The Wireless Go II can be used in two different configurations. It has a built-in mic, so you can simply press a button and start recording as soon as your subject is good to go. Or you can use it in a more conventional set-up, with a transmitter and a receiver connected to your iPhone.
However, whichever configuration you use, you can be sure of clear, crisp dialogue being captured, and the sound quality is what you would expect from a company of Rode’s reputation. And it has one of the most impressive ranges of any mic, at over 650 feet.
The stereo mode allows you to capture two audio streams simultaneously. This, again, greatly adds to the flexibility of the device.
Each device can run for seven hours, and the audio recording is captured as a WAV file for great audio quality. Combined, this means that you can record up to 14 hours if you use the built-in mic in the transmitter and receiver.
However, even seven hours should be more than enough.
The Rode Wireless Go II is a flexible and adaptive lavalier microphone solution, and good value for your money considering the sound quality is near-professional.
The Sennheiser name is synonymous with quality in the headphones market, but with the XSW they are now making their name in the microphone market as well.
The XSW-D comes with a hefty price tag but you are getting plenty for your money. Everything is plug-and-play, and you can begin recording with no fuss or trouble. And of all the lavalier lapel mics, this is one of the lightest but most durable.
The sound quality is crystal-clear, and Sennheiser is in a league of its own in terms of capturing quality audio. The device has 5 different channels so you can select whichever one you need to cut down on any potential background interference.
Or if you choose you can have five different mics connected to a single receiver (these can be connected but need to be switched between in use.)
Both the receiver and transmitter are extremely compact, especially compared to the budget devices on offer. You get five hours of battery life, and the device has an impressive range too.
Audio latency is almost nothing, even without using the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack. There is also an XLR socket available if you wish to connect a wired device, so both connectors are available.
Functionality is accessed via a series of press durations, and an LED indicator lets you know your selection has been made.
Overall, the Sennheiser may not be cheap but you get what you pay for. If you want a simple, hassle-free recording microphone with the very best audio recording quality, the XSW-D is the one to go for.
The Comic CVM-WS50 is unusual in that it is a wireless lavalier microphone for iPhone that is actually designed to be used with smartphones, rather than being one that can also be used with smartphones.
The device has an excellent range on it of up to 197 feet (60 meters), which means you can stray far and wide from the receiver and still be sure you can record good audio as you need it.
There are six selectable channels so you can switch to avoid interference. The device has real-time sound monitoring, with zero latency.
The CVM-WS50 can be bought as either a single or double set. Both come with a small LCD screen on the rear to allow access to the devices’ functionality.
This can be further controlled with a series of buttons and slider controls, making accessing the different functions quick for when you need to rapidly adjust your recording style.
Overall the Comics CVM-WS50 is a little too expensive to call a budget device, but it still has plenty of great features, and sound quality is never compromised. Definitely worth a look.
Straddling the line between fully-professional and budget-level price, the Sarmasonic Blink500 B2 is an excellent lavalier microphone for iPhone recording that would do any audio set-up proud.
This wireless system has an excellent range of 164 feet (50 meters) so roaming around won’t cause any problems. The connection remains solid even when there are obstacles and recording is dependable.
The device is incredibly light, so much so that it’s easy to forget that it is even there. The audio quality doesn’t suffer from being recorded by such a light device though, and the sound is clear and clean.
The transmitters also have a built-in mic, like the Rode, so you can press a button and begin recording immediately, without even needing to connect to your smartphone.
The built-in mic has a good sound quality, though as you would expect not quite as good as the dedicated lav microphone.
The windproofing is also very good quality, and it is easy to record great audio quality even in strong winds so your audio recording remains noise free.
The Blink500 B2 represents a great investment. It’s not cheap but the quality speaks for itself and this is a great wireless microphone kit.
Older lavalier mics will normally use a frequency somewhere in the megahertz (MHz) range. Newer models will use 2.4Ghz, which is the same frequency as computer wireless. 2.4GHz will generally offer better quality sound and a more reliable signal.
However, that doesn’t mean that older models should be written off — they can still produce excellent-quality sounds.
All mics will come with 3.5mm connectors. However, only some will also ship with a lightning connector to attach the receiver to your iPhone.
This is frustrating, as the cost to manufacturers is very small. However, if you buy a lavalier microphone, bear in mind you may need also to purchase additional 3.5mm-to-lightning connectors to connect the receiver to your iPhone.
In addition, it is vital to ensure that your lavalier mic supports the TRRS connector standard. A normal TRS connection will not be recognized by your iPhone, it requires a different TRRS standard, even if you have a 3.5mm-to-lightning adapter.
You can tell if your choice of lavalier mic supports the TRRS standard – it will probably say “iPhone compatible” or something similar. However, if you have any doubts, please check with the manufacturer on their website.
The best place to put a lav mic when attaching it is at the edge of a piece of clothing. This can be a tie, collar, or seam.
The important thing is that you want the mic to touch against as little as possible so that the clothing doesn’t create any adverse noise, and so that the mic doesn’t touch the subject’s skin.
You want to clip the mic approximately one foot away from the speaker. Fortunately, even if you do pick up some rustle from clothing when recording, the CrumplePop Rustle Remover AI can help clean up any audio problems that might occur.
There is a wide range of lavalier mics available on the market. And when it comes to choosing a wireless microphone for recording, buyers really are spoiled for choice. Microphones range from cheap, practical entry-level devices, to professional-quality recording devices.
However, what they all have in common is a big improvement over your iPhone’s built-in microphone – you really can hear the difference. If you want to get serious about recording good-quality sound, then it’s time to upgrade to something more professional, and a wireless microphone is just what you need.
Now all you need to do is find the perfect subject to record, then just plug in and go!
