How To Set Up Lavalier Microphone

How To Use a Lavalier Mic

Lavalier microphones – too known every bit lapel mics or clip-on mics – are minor wired microphones that are widely used in filmmaking and broadcasting. They are ideal for recording dialogue as they are unimposing and unobtrusive and tin can exist positioned shut to the oral cavity while remaining out of sight. This ensures you lot can get clean, clear audio in a diverseness of recording situations, whether that'southward vlogging, reporting to camera, or recording an interview.

There are 2 main things to consider when using a lavalier mic: how to position it and how to connect it to your recording device. Let's take a closer look at what yous need to know about each.

RØDE Lavalier Ii

How to Position a Lavalier Mic

When positioning a lavalier mic, it'southward of import to think most its proximity to your audio source (usually yous or your field of study'southward mouth) in order to get the best sound possible. Well-nigh lav mics characteristic an omnidirectional capsule, pregnant they pick up audio from all directions and are therefore quite forgiving when recording. However, as a general rule, it'south recommended that y'all position the mic on the chest, almost a mitt-span distance (20-30cm) from the mouth. This will give you a natural, uncoloured audio.

Attaching Your Lav to Its Clip

All lavs come with a clip that allows you to mount the mic onto a slice of habiliment. For first-time users, these clips tin can be a little confusing, but they are very easy to utilise. Simply sideslip the windshield off the mic, pinch the screw clasp, insert your mic into the loop and release the clasp to secure the mic in identify. Now you tin slip the windshield back on.

Mounting Your Lav

Positioning a lavalier mic is easiest when there is an border of article of clothing to secure it to, such equally the lapel of a jacket, seam of a push button-upward shirt, or the border of a necktie. Just be sure to go along the mic clear from whatever other slice of clothing that may rub against it, equally this will exist audible in your recording.

If you are wearing clothes that don't offering a strong seam for mounting, such every bit a singlet or t-shirt, things can get a little tricker. You tin mount the mic on a neckline – just exist aware that if the mic is right nether the neck the sound tin can be coloured and audio strange. Yous can avoid this with a looser neckline, or past mounting the mic over to the side, rather than directly below the chin.

If yous are wearing a singlet, the shoulder straps are another great identify to mount a lavalier mic. This is frequently the best solution if you are wearing exercise article of clothing. Or if you want to get creative, mounting the mic underneath a headband as well works well. Provided the mic is twenty-30cm from your oral cavity, and does non have clothing rubbing against information technology, you will get a not bad result.

Wireless GO II Lav Camera

RØDE Wireless Get Two paired with the Lavalier Get in action

Keeping It Concealed

To keep your video looking make clean and professional, you may want to consider concealing the cablevision. You can simply constrict it out of sight nether your jacket or run information technology inside your shirt. Pro sound engineers will utilise drapers' record to secure the cable against the inside of wear; you could improvise with gaffer tape or even regular sticky tape if you desire to go along things out of sight. Using what'south known as the "broadcast loop" volition give you a neat, professional contour. Click hither for an in-depth await at how to mount a lavalier mic on yourself or on talent.

MicDrop

The RØDE MicDrop is a simple cable weight that makes mic'ing upwardly talent with a lavalier microphone quick and easy. It helps to pull the microphone cable downwards through article of clothing, allowing y'all to easily plug information technology into a bodypack transmitter or recording device, saving time and minimising disruption while recording. MicDrop is compatible with all RØDE lavalier microphones - check information technology out here.

Connecting a Lavalier Microphone to a Recording Device

One time y'all have your lavalier mounted and positioned nicely, the next step is connecting it to your recording device. There are two things to consider here: what kind of device y'all are plugging information technology into and whether you demand to connect wirelessly or non. This will determine what kind of equipment you need.

Computers and Mobile Devices

If yous are connecting your mic to a smartphone, tablet or computer, the AI-Micro is the perfect all-in-one solution.

The AI-Micro is an ultra-compact dual-channel audio interface that allows you to connect two lavaliers to a mobile device or calculator. Information technology features motorcar-sensing inputs that accommodate both TRS and TRRS lavaliers (no need for adaptors) and also has a high-quality 3.5mm headphone output and so you can monitor your audio in crystal-clear definition

The AI-Micro is a groovy option for vlogging, interviews, mobile podcasting, or recording any video content where you lot are seated in front of the camera. If the cable on the lavalier mic isn't quite long enough to accomplish your device, or you demand some extra leeway to motion around, you can use a RØDE SC1 extension cablevision.

Cameras

If you are recording into a DLSR, mirrorless or compact camera, or an audio device like a portable recorder, you lot will need a lavalier mic with a TRS jack, such equally the RØDE Lavalier II.

Going Wireless

If you need space to motility effectually when recording with a lavalier mic, such equally if you're filming a tutorial or presentation, or you simply do non to be tethered to your recording device, using a wireless system is the mode to go. In that location are a number of options in the RØDE range, but for a meaty, affordable and easy-to-use solution, the Wireless GO Ii is perfect.

Wireless systems are comprised of 2 main components: a transmitter pack, which is attached to the discipline and captures and transmits the audio, and a receiver pack, which plugs into the recording device and receives the audio from the transmitter wirelessly.

The Wireless Get II is a unique microphone in that it features a sheathing built into the transmitter pack, meaning you don't need to employ a wired lavalier mic – just prune the transmitter onto your chest as you lot would a normal lavalier. Of course, if yous prefer using a standard lavalier mic, in that location is an input for this too. This is a TRS input, then yous need a lavalier with a TRS jack. The Lavalier GO is the perfect option.

One time you accept your lavalier set up, simply plug the receiver into your camera using the supplied patch cablevision and you're set up to go.

Wireless GO II

RØDE Wireless GO II

Using TRRS to TRS Adaptors

When information technology comes to using mics with a three.5mm jack, such every bit lavalier microphones, you need to pay shut attention to what kind of output your microphone has and what kind of input your recording device has – specifically, whether they are TRS or TRRS.

TRS/TRRS incompatibility is a very common reason for microphones not working with certain devices. These jacks expect very like, simply with RØDE products nosotros've made it like shooting fish in a barrel to identify what blazon of connector your microphone has by colour-coding them: all TRRS connectors are grey, so they can exist plugged direct into computers and mobile devices; all TRS connectors are black, and so these tin exist plugged straight into regular sound and camera equipment.

For example, if you desire to plug a mic with a TRRS output like the smartLav+ into a device with a TRS input, like a DSLR photographic camera, you can use an SC3 adaptor.

If you already own a microphone, merely it'southward incompatible with your recording device, don't worry – in that location are a range of RØDE adaptors that allow you to use a TRS microphone with a TRRS device and vice versa. As mentioned above, when looking to record with a smartphone or reckoner, the AI-Micro is a slap-up solution that takes the guesswork out of TRS/TRRS compatibility and offers a super-loftier recording solution.

RØDE Lavalier Get with a SC4.

This may seem disruptive but but remember – grayness connectors are TRRS for plugging into computers or mobile devices; black connectors are TRS for plugging into sound devices and cameras.

If you lot accept whatever questions virtually a specific device y'all are using or the best sound solution for y'all, get in touch on with our support team and we'll be happy to assist.