Best 5 Lavalier Microphones for Video & Film (2022 Edition)
Whether you’re shooting a news interview, reality show, or scripted TV/film project, lavalier microphones are necessary and valuable in all settings. We’ll show you the 5 best lavalier microphones to get in 2022 that’ll radically improve your project’s sound quality.
What is a Lavalier Microphone?
Lavalier microphones are instantly recognizable once you know what they are. Lavalier mics (or lav mics) are small, clip-on microphones that attach to a person’s clothing to capture clear spoken-word or vocal performances. You may see these microphones in news broadcasts and reality TV shows, or in theatre performances and Broadway productions.
Lav mics are also commonly used in scripted television programs and all films, from indie student films to A-list, big-budget productions. Lavs are usually harder to spot in these projects, as their appearance would take viewers out of their suspended disbelief. Oftentimes they are sewn into buttons and different parts of an actor’s costume.
Where should I place a lavalier microphone?
Optimal placement of a lavalier mic would be facing the speaker’s mouth, but attached or taped near their chest or diaphragm. That way, the mic isn’t directly in the speaker’s mouth capturing unwanted breath and mouth noises (nasty!), but still capturing speech clearly and effectively.
Lavalier mics are used as a supplement to boom ops and shotgun mics, in case the shotgun mic placement is off and doesn’t record clear dialogue. To learn more about shotgun mics and the best shotgun mics to buy in 2022, read our article here!
Lav mics are necessary for any independent filmmaker or video creator to have. It’s a personal safety net, and sometimes lavaliers work better in a take than shotgun mics! If you’re in need of music for your film or video projects, Soundscape has you covered. We offer over 20,000 royalty-free curated tracks in our library ranging from classical to hip-hop to business and everything in between! Sign up here for a free account today. We are offering 25% off on all Soundscape subscriptions and purchases by clicking here!
We’ve assembled a list of the best 5 lavalier mics on the market that’ll prove useful to everyone, from the film student to the brand-new vlogger to the veteran filmmaker. Here we go, y’all!
The 5 Best Lavalier Microphones
1. Sennheiser ME 2-ii
An omnidirectional mic, the Sennheiser ME 2-ii is perfect for capturing speech, dialogue, and vocals. Also, the ME 2-ii comes with a built-in windscreen. Along with a 3.5mm threaded EW connection, this Sennheiser lavalier microphone is ready for any shoot.
The ME 2-ii boasts an impressive frequency response from 50Hz to 18kHz. Almost equivalent to the human hearing range (20Hz to 20kHz), this mic hones in on appropriate vocal frequencies to clarify speech and minimize both shrill, high frequencies and muddy, low frequencies.
Click here to buy the Sennheiser ME 2-ii, priced at $129.95!
2. Sony ECM-77B
Sony is one of the world’s leading brands in electronics, entertainment, and technology. They really do it all, from TVs to speakers to, you guessed it, microphones. Lavaliers are no exception here as Sony put forward a fantastic product with the ECM-77B.
The ECM-77B is powered by AA batteries or 48V phantom power. Sony’s ECM-77B is an omnidirectional lavalier mic commonly used in broadcast and recording settings. The ECM-77B is able to reproduce and precisely capture audio signals from a multitude of sources thanks to its wide frequency range spanning 40Hz to 20kHz. The condenser element to this microphone is small and easily concealable. Because of this, any actor or interviewer is not restricted while filming.
Check out the Sony ECM-77B and all it has to offer. You can buy yourself this mic on sale at $295!
3. Movo WMIC50
Movo is a lesser-known brand. They manufacture high-quality audio, video, and photo devices and technology. If you’re not acquainted with Movo products, it may be a good time to start with their WMIC50 lavalier mic.
Firstly, Movo’s WMIC50 offers wireless recording thanks to its 2.4GHz wireless transmitter and receiver. The WMIC50 antennas have a 164 foot wireless range, making it perfect for film sets, video shoots, and interviews. Moreover, Movo includes headphones with 3.5mm TRS outputs to listen back to recorded audio.
Read here to learn more about the Movo WMIC50 and purchase it for $79.95.
4. Rode SmartLav+
If you’ve read our shotgun microphone or podcast microphone articles here at Soundscape, you’re no stranger to Rode. Rode, if you aren’t familiar is an Australian audio tech company. People recognize Rode for their audio software, audio interfaces, and microphones. They did not come to play with the SmartLav+, Rode’s affordable and astounding lav mic.
Additionally, the SmartLav+ utilizes an omnidirectional polar pickup pattern to capture all kinds of sound sources. Along with that, SmartLav+ has an impressive pickup pattern spanning from 20Hz to 20kHZ. with a slight boost at higher frequencies. Rode’s SmartLav+ is lightweight and powerful. SmartLav+ guarantees amazing results and high-quality recorded audio.
Click here to read more on the Rode SmartLav+ and its specs. The SmartLav+ goes for around $55.
5. Shure MVL
Shure is perhaps one of the most recognizable microphone brands out there. Many of you will know the classic omnidirectional mic, Shure SM58. Once again, Shure has struck gold with their lavalier mic, the MVL.
The Shure MVL is an omnidirectional condenser mic. It is perfect for film, video, and interviews. Furthermore, Shure’s MVL includes a 3.5mm TRS output to connect to headphones jacks, a windscreen, and clothing clip. With an outstanding signal-to-noise ratio, the Shure MVL is perfect for iOS and Android filmmakers and video creators.
Click the link here to read more and purchase the Shure MVL for $59.
