Imagine you've just wrapped up an interview and your subject is gone, only to discover that the audio you captured is lousy. It's a terrible feeling. Whether your subject is close to you, far away or in constant motion, choosing the appropriate equipment will mean the difference between capturing clear audio and unintelligible noise.
Explore each scenario to better understand which microphone works best for each environment, speaker and type of audio you want to collect.
Choose the Right Mic
Use labels along the top to progress through scenarios. Click the learn more button for more in-depth information.
Choose the Right Mic
If the audio
source is...
- Far away
- At an indoor ceremony
Shotgun mic
Shotgun microphones, sometimes called boom microphones, are directional and provide good quality audio. They can pick up sound from fairly great distances and control what audio you record. A long XLR cable plugged into the PA system allows the audio collected from the microphones to be sent directly to your camera for recording.
How to position
- Aim as close to the source as possible
- Mount it on studio booms
When to use
- You're alone/don't have help
- During mobile interviews
Far away
Choose the Right Mic
If the audio
source is...
- An interview
- A single voice
- A subject who has time for a clip-on mic
Lavalier
A lavalier mic is the best choice for an interview. It's designed primarily for voice pickup because of its high sound quality.
How to position
- Place 6-8 inches below the speaker's chin (line it with the name tag)
When to use
- When the subject has time for you to clip it on
- When conducting talking head segments
- When it's a single-source interview
Stationary
Choose the Right Mic
If the audio
source is...
- Moving
- Using a transmitter and antenna
- Tolerant of some interference
Wireless
A wireless clip-on or dynamic handheld is the best choice when the sound source needs complete mobility and where cords might be a trip hazard. These microphones give the performer or talent some control over audio pickup. Used in electronic news gathering and by singers on stage, the handheld is rugged and durable. Be aware that wireless microphones can be susceptible to interference, so it's good to have a backup mic, just in case.
How to position
- Hold the microphone close to your chest
- Adjust to approximately a 45-degree angle
- Speak across the mic, not into it
- Clip wireless lavalier to lapel (line it up with a name tag)
When to use
- The subject is moving around
- You are on the go for an extended period of time
Moving
Choose the Right Mic
If the audio
source is...
- Scattered
- Multiple subjects
- For B-roll audio
- For soundbites
Multiple mics
When your audio sources are scattered, you need more than one mic to get the job done. The lavalier mic is primarily used to capture dialogue, so it should be used for the main focus of the story. The shotgun mic is used to get good soundbites with clear audio because it can collect all of the natural audio in a more controlled way compared to a microphone built into the camera. On the other hand, the shotgun mic records all the audio in all directions, including behind the camera.
How to position
- Use the lavalier to capture the main focus of the story
- Use the shotgun to collect sound in all directions
When to use
- You're conducting interviews
- While collecting natural audio
- The audio is from multiple sources
- Your sources are scattered
Scattered