How do you choose a portable microphone with high-quality audio?

1 Types of portable microphones

There are various types of portable microphones that cater to different purposes and scenarios. The most popular ones include lavalier microphones, shotgun microphones, and wireless microphones. Lavalier microphones are small clip-on mics that attach to the subject's clothing, usually near the collar or lapel. They are ideal for interviews, speeches, and documentaries since they capture the voice clearly and reduce background noise. However, they can pick up rustling sounds from clothing or hair and may not be suitable for windy or noisy environments. Shotgun mics are directional mics that mount on top of the camera or a boom pole and point at the sound source. They reject sounds from the sides and the rear, making them great for capturing ambient sounds, narration, and dialogue from a distance. Still, they can be sensitive to handling noise, wind noise, and feedback, and they may not work well with some cameras or audio recorders. Wireless mics use radio or Bluetooth signals to transmit the audio to a receiver which can be attached to the camera or a separate device. This allows for more flexibility and mobility since it eliminates the need for cables and allows the subject to move freely. Nevertheless, they can be more expensive, require batteries, and suffer from interference, dropouts, or latency.

2 Features to look for

When selecting a portable microphone, you should consider several features that can affect the quality and usability of the audio. Frequency response is the range of frequencies that the microphone can capture and reproduce - a wider frequency response will produce a more natural sound, while a narrower frequency response will be more focused and filtered. Additionally, sensitivity measures how well the microphone converts sound pressure into electrical signals - a higher sensitivity means a louder output, while a lower sensitivity means a quieter output. Polar pattern is also important, as it determines the shape of the area that the microphone picks up sound from - for example, an omnidirectional polar pattern captures sound from all directions, while a directional polar pattern isolates the sound of the subject. Depending on your needs, you may want to choose a microphone with a flat frequency response, high sensitivity, or specific polar pattern.