Best Camera Microphone 2024: Exploring Types and Specifications

What makes high-quality videos? The answer is quite obvious: the seamless collaboration between captivating visuals and premium audio. Sometimes, the charm of audio can be so overwhelming that it leads to the emergence of ASMR content.

Therefore, investing in the best camera microphone is essential, whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or a budding vlogger. In this article, we'll explore the different types of camera microphones and their essential specifications to help you choose the best microphone for your camera.

Types of Camera Microphones

1. Directional microphones

The first type of camera microphone we'll cover is the directional microphone. They are extremely directional, making them ideal for capturing sound from a specific source while rejecting background noise. They are often used at press conferences and sporting events and are typically attached to a long pole or atop a camera. However, they may not be the best choice for people who want to capture ambient sounds and require precise targeting for optimal performance.

2. Lavalier microphones

Lavalier microphones, also known as tie-clip microphones, are the second one we'll mention. These small camera microphones can be attached to clothing, offering hands-free operation and natural sound reproduction. Their portability makes them ideal for people on the move, such as news anchors walking up and down and content creators strolling around town. The only caveat is that they need to be positioned correctly, otherwise you risk picking up unwanted noise from clothing rubbing.

3. Wireless Microphones

If you're not a fan of tangled cables, you can opt for a wireless camera microphone. They include transmitters attached to the microphone and a receiver connected to the camera. What you need to consider is their operating range and the typical duration on a single battery charge. Generally, wireless microphones can operate within a range of 50 to 200 meters, and most of them can operate for about 5 hours of continuous use.

Understanding these different types of camera microphones is the first step in choosing the best microphone for your needs. Next, we'll explore the essential specifications to help you identify the right camera microphones.

Specifications to Consider When Choosing the Best Camera Microphone

1. Microphone sensitivity

Sensitivity measures how effectively a camera microphone converts sound pressure into electrical signals, usually measured in mV/Pa (e.g., 50mV/Pa) or dBV/Pa (e.g., -40dBV/Pa). A higher sensitivity means the microphone is more responsive to sound, capable of capturing both quiet and loud sounds. But does this mean the best camera microphone has the highest sensitivity? Not really. When the sound source is far away from the camera microphone, a more sensitive microphone can accurately and clearly pick up the sound. Meanwhile, a camera microphone with a lower sensitivity can help reduce environmental noise when the sound source is close to the microphone.

For example, low-sensitivity camera microphones are better for capturing your voice in noisy environments (like live concert halls) and high-pressure sound sources (like some musical instruments). High-sensitivity camera microphones are ideal for capturing natural sounds and high-frequency sound sources (like voiceover work).

2. Microphone frequency response

Microphone frequency response measures how well a microphone responds to a range of frequencies, representing its ability to capture sounds within a specific frequency spectrum. While many camera microphones operate in the 20-20,000 Hz range, some may be limited to narrower segments within the audible spectrum.

For example, a camera microphone with a frequency response ranging from 40 Hz to 15 kHz can effectively reproduce sounds in this range. But that's not the whole story, as microphone sensitivity can vary at different frequencies. Therefore, if you're looking for the best camera microphones for a specific purpose, you can check out the frequency response chart for a complete overview.

3. Microphone Directionality

Microphone directivity refers to a microphone's ability to detect sound coming from different directions, generally categorizing into three main types:

– Omnidirectional camera microphone: They pick up sounds evenly from all directions, ideal for capturing ambient sounds, such as the natural sounds of a waking wilderness. However, for targeted sound capture, they may not be the optimal choice.

– Unidirectional camera microphone: These microphones primarily capture sound in one direction, including cardioid and supercardioid mics. Cardioid microphones prioritize front-facing sound, with some side-facing sound pickup, while supercardioid mics are more directional, minimizing most side and rear-facing sound.

– Bi-directional camera microphone: Just as the name suggests, bi-directional microphones pick up sound from two opposite directions. They are often used to record conversations between two people facing each other.

4. Impedance and signal-to-noise ratio

Another important specification is microphone impedance, which measures the microphone's opposition to an alternating current (the audio signal). Low-impedance microphones (typically below 600 ohms) are more common due to their ability to resist signal loss over long cable runs and their compatibility with a wide range of audio equipment. High-impedance microphones (typically above 10,000 ohms) are less common in professional applications due to their susceptibility to interference and signal loss over long cable runs.

Another specification for you is the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which is usually expressed in decibels (dB). This time, unlike sensitivity, the best camera microphone comes with a higher SNR, as it ensures that the recorded audio is of high quality with minimal unwanted noise. In most cases, you can opt for camera microphones with an SNR of 60 dB or higher.

5. Additional features:

Want to take your best camera microphone to the next level? You may need other features, such as:

– Windscreen or windshield: A foam or fur cover that attaches to the microphone diaphragm to reduce the impact of wind noise when recording outdoors.

– High-pass filter (low-cut filter): A switch or dial that attenuates frequencies below a certain cutoff point, typically used to reduce vibration, handling noise, or low-frequency interference.

– Variable Gain Control: Allows users to adjust the microphone's sensitivity to incoming sound, providing precise control over input levels.

Classifieds for the best camera microphones from SmallRig

Here at SmallRig, we offer over 900 products, including the best camera microphones. Here's a quick look at some of our best camera microphones!

Conclusion

Overall, the importance of camera microphones cannot be overstated, which requires the best camera microphone for better audio recording. We have explored the different types of camera microphones and their specifications, which require your consideration. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the perfect mic for your camera.

Additionally, SmallRig offers various camera equipment for capturing captivating visual images and recording, including camera cages, tripods, and V-mount batteries. Furthermore, we can customize the devices according to your needs with our “User Co-Design” mode and our free DreamRig customization project. Trust our 2 million customers, we can be your ideal place to realize all the possibilities!