Buying guide for best microphones for YouTube
When you want to take your YouTube videos to the next level, a lavalier microphone kit can help. Unlike the microphone that’s built into your computer, the best microphones for YouTube will capture the audio you want, providing a rich, full sound, while canceling out ambient noise to give you a crisp, clear recording. And they’re incredibly convenient for interviews — just clip these tiny mics on and you have the freedom to record beyond your desk.
At the BestReviews Testing Lab, we tested several well-known lavalier microphone kits from brands such as DJI, Rode and Hollyland to see how they compared to one another. We recorded audio on each mic in a variety of settings. We also looked into how easy the user manual was to understand and how easy each mic was to set up and record with.
After hours of testing and research, we chose the DJI Wireless Mic as our top pick. It offers a high-quality build and the best audio of all the models we tested, plus an impressive range of 820 feet.
Which microphone is best for YouTube?
Best fully wireless mic kit
Product specifications: Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 48 kHz | Connector: TRS cables, USB-C | Dimensions: 1.2” W x 0.78” D x 1.86” H (transmitter) and 1.27” W x 0.68” D x 1.87” H (receiver) | Weight: 1 oz (transmitter) and 0.88 oz (receiver) | Material: High-quality plastic | Accessories: TRS cable, Type-C adapter, lightning adapter, windscreen, clip magnet, hot shoe adapter, splitter charging cable and storage bag
YouTubers in search of a top-of-the-line wireless lav mic kit that’s easy to use will love the DJI Mic. In our tests, we found the omnidirectional microphone to be highly sensitive to nearby sounds, even picking up quieter voices with ease (no matter if we were indoors or out). It also did a great job distinguishing and minimizing distracting background noise. And with an impressive 820-foot wireless range, it was easy to move around and stay connected.
Besides its stellar audio quality, its ease of use is a major plus. Thanks to automatic pairing, it was ready to go as soon as we turned it on. Using the intuitive OLED screen on the receiver, we could easily read and adjust its settings. It also has a magnetic clip, so you don’t have to fuss with where to place it on your clothes.
Not only does it offer 8GB of storage, translating to 14 hours of internal recording, but during testing, we found that its advertised battery life of five and a half hours for the transmitter was spot on (it took about an hour for us to completely charge the transmitter and receiver). Overall, it’s a very user-friendly setup that enables you to get recording faster. Our only quibble is that the OLED touchscreen is rather small, and it was sometimes difficult to navigate it. But that’s hardly a deal-breaker. We gave it a score of 5 out of 5 for its terrific audio quality, impressive design and overall ease of use.
Best quality for the price
Product specifications: Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz | Connector: USB-C | Dimensions: 0.8” W x 0.4” D x 1.9” L | Weight: 0.4 oz | Material: Metal | Accessories: Charging case, storage case, 2 furry windshields, USB cable, 3.5 mm TRS patch cable and 3.5 mm TRS to TRRS patch cable
The Hollyland Lark M1 is great for YouTubers who don’t want to spend too much money on their gear. An extremely lightweight wireless mic, it has an impressive 656-foot range and boasts a 20-hour battery life. This is as impressive as mics that cost twice as much. There is no touchscreen or app; instead, settings are turned on and adjusted via buttons indicated with LED lights.
Considering the low price, the Hollyland Lark M1 provided really great audio quality when we tested it. We encountered barely any issues or challenges no matter the recording environment. The voice quality was fantastic, and we love that the devices pair as soon as they're removed from their charging case.
One downside is the Lark M1 has an active noise cancellation feature that can be too aggressive depending on the noise level of where you are recording. At times, this interfered with the quality of our recording, but this feature can be turned off; during testing, the mic canceled noise well without it turned on. A touchscreen would also make settings easier to navigate. But overall, we thought the Hollyland Lark M1 was great. We gave it a 4 out of 5 for its terrific audio quality, ease of use and solid noise control at an affordable price.
Best for extra features
Product specifications: Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 20 kHz | Connector: USB-C, TRS and TRRS | Dimensions: 1.73” W x 0.72” D x 1.79” H | Weight: 1.1 ounce | Material: High-quality plastic | Accessories: 2 fur windshields, 2 USB-C cables, 1 SC5 3.5-millimeter TRS cable and 1 carry pouch
Popular with professional and amateur content creators alike, the Rode Wireless Go II is a dual-channel wireless microphone system that proved to have fantastic audio quality when we tested it. Whether we were indoors or out, it perfectly captured the fullness of our voice and had a warm, pleasing output. It boasts a 656-foot range (the original Wireless Go only offers 230 feet) and has an incredible 40 hours of internal storage — that’s enough to last you for days without needing to transfer any files.
The Rode mic technically can start recording right of the box, but you will want to set up the app, which is mandatory to access critical features, if you want to make recording adjustments. The app can be downloaded on your smartphone or your PC. In addition to the app, it has an LCD interface, with icons and text, that makes it easy to change certain settings and to know the precise state of your connections and recording performance.
Overall, this mic is better for YouTube professionals who want a variety of options and are well-versed in audio technology and mic usage — and aren’t afraid to spend quite a bit more. We, unfortunately, did not find the app to be user-friendly, and the manual was even less so; the manual has no written instructions, instead it is image-only and can be difficult to decipher — especially if you are new to the world of mics. We gave it a score of 4.5 out of 5 for its fantastic sound quality, intuitive interface and multiple audio transfer options.
Best for indoor recording
Product specifications: Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 2.4 GHz | Connector: USB-C | Dimensions: 2.4” L x 1.7” W x 0.64” H | Weight: 1.2 oz | Material: Metal | Accessories: Charging cables, carrying pouch, smartphone cable, camera cable and microphone
If you are only going to use a mic for YouTube in a controlled, indoor environment, the Saramonic Blink500 T2 dual-channel wireless mic is a solid choice. The designers had interviewing, podcasting and content creation in mind for the Blink500 T2 when they created it. It’s a plug-and-play model that connects with smartphones, laptops and cameras (however, it doesn’t connect with iPhones or iPads, so you will need an adapter).
While recording with it indoors is great, taking it outdoors is a different matter. When we tested the mic, which has a 328-foot range (much shorter than others we tested), we found it could easily cancel out the noise of ceiling fans and other appliances inside but picked up too much ambient noise when we took it outside. We tried lowering the gain, adjusting the volume and moving the mic closer to the source. Though this helped, there are mics that are cheaper (such as the Hollyland Lark M1) that don’t suffer from this issue.
This isn’t the only issue the Blink500 T2 is plagued with either. The carrying case is too small for its components. There is no touchscreen to customize options, and the button LED display is confusing. While this mic is good for simple indoor recording, the cost leaves much to be desired; we gave it a 3 out of 5.
Product specifications: Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional | Frequency Response: 2.4 GHz | Connector: USB, 3.5 mm jack | Dimensions: 1.2” W x 0.65” D x 2.5” L | Weight: 1.13 oz | Material: ABS plastic | Accessories: 2 fur windshields, 2 lav mics with foam windscreens and clips, carrying case, TRRS cable, TRS cable and 3 USB-C charging cables
Considering the low price, the BOYA mic is impressive. This mic kit comes with both wireless clip-on mics and two traditional lav mics with wires that clip to your clothes. Both have a range of 328 feet. There are two transmitters and one receiver that come pre-paired for ease of setup. The OLED display is simple to use and easy to understand, so making adjustments on the fly is not an issue.
When testing the BOYA mic, we found the audio quality was the best when directly facing the camera. The seven-hour battery life held up well across our tests, and we found the entire kit very user-friendly. This mic balances the ease of use for a new content creator with the quality of a pricier microphone. It is designed to connect well with smartphones, iPhones, cameras, video cameras and DSLR cameras.
However, there was a quality difference between the wireless and wired lav mic. The wireless mic struggled in noisy, outdoor environments when we were farther from the receiver. The wireless would work better indoors, and the wired outdoors. We gave it a 4 out of 5 for its clear OLED display, quick setup and ease of use.
Why are lav mics great for YouTubers?
Lav mics are great tools for YouTubers because it gives you the versatility to record where you want and not be tied to your desk. If you are a YouTuber who prefers to stay at your desk, lav mics offer a far superior solution to your computer microphone in terms of audio quality, and they don’t get in the way like more traditional mics on stands can. The best lav mic for YouTube is one that you can take on the go, provides excellent audio quality and has a quick setup for impromptu streaming sessions.
Other types of microphones that are good for Youtube
- Internal computer microphone: You don’t have to spend extra money or worry about a complicated setup, but audio quality can suffer as a result.
- Mics on stands: You get excellent audio quality and diverse features with a mic on a stand, but they tend to cost more, take up more space and don’t work well for recording on the go.
- Headphone mic set: This makes for a more private recording experience that you may prefer if you share a house with many people, but you can’t stray from your computer.
How to choose the best microphone for YouTube
The mics needed by content creators for YouTube vary from other recording needs. You don’t need to sit in a sound booth and record on an expensive mic, and you don’t need a large setup with a mic on a stand. In this digital age, versatility and transportability are key for YouTubers.
Polar patterns
Polar patterns refer to the way a mic picks up sound — specifically, what direction the mic needs to face to adequately record your voice.
Omnidirectional: Most lav mics are omnidirectional. They pick up sounds from any direction, allowing you to move your head about naturally as you speak without affecting your recording quality. This is the best for YouTube recording.
Bidirectional: Also called a figure-of-eight polar pattern, this picks up sounds from the front and from the back. This is best for two people sharing one mic.
Cardioid: This picks up sounds best in one direction, so you need to face the front of the mic to record. This is best for solo voice recording where you want to minimize sound from other directions.
Proximity effect
A proximity effect is when your mic is moved closer to the sound of your voice and amplifies the bass. For example, if you stand too close to a cardioid mic, you may trigger the proximity effect and get a warped audio recording. The good news is that omnidirectional lav mics have no proximity effect because they pick up sound from all directions equally.
What type of YouTube channel do you have?
If you plan to do a lot of recording outdoors, such as with a travel vlog or showcasing your city, then a lav mic is ideal. They are easily transportable, allow you to move around and are lightweight. However, if you are doing more of a talk-show-style YouTube channel, you may prefer a more traditional mic on a stand. If you’re streaming video games, you may prefer a headphone set to regulate how you hear the volume of the game. In any case, a lav mic is always good to have as a backup due to how quick the setup is and the freedom it gives you.
Audio quality
Recording range: While some mics boast over a 600-foot range, the distance can contribute to a lower audio quality. In our testing, we found being closer always resulted in better quality.
Wired vs. wireless: If you want to ensure the best audio quality, while both wired and wireless options work well, wired mics can sometimes be a safer bet. For instance, when we compared the wired and wireless versions of the BOYA BY-XM6-S2, we found the wired lav mic had superior audio quality. However, the DJI Mic and Rode Wireless Go II are two examples of premium wireless mics that provide terrific audio quality and give you plenty of freedom to roam.
Frequency response: The common frequency response range for lav mics is 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz. However, a wider hertz range doesn’t always equate to better audio quality as there are many internal mic factors to consider.
Environment: Outdoor environments were notorious in our testing for causing audio issues. Not all lav mics work well in canceling out the background noise. However, the Hollyland Lark M1, the Rode Wireless Go II and the DJI Mic all did very well in our tests.
Price
It’s unlikely you will find any lav mic that costs under $100. The most affordable option we tested was the Hollyland Lark M1 at just over $100. For the price, it had great audio quality and a simple, straightforward design with no complications and no frills.
The most expensive mic we tested was the Rode Wireless Go II at nearly $400. This comes with a great deal of bonuses over the Hollyland Lark M1, including internal recording, an OLED screen and a companion app. The audio quality was great but nothing special beyond what the Hollyland produces. At the end of the day, it comes down to how many extra features you want with your mic.
How we tested
To test our microphones, we used them as an average content creator would in both indoor and outdoor environments. We made a two-minute recording with each microphone near a powered-on computer to check its sensitivity and whether it can minimize ambient noise, such as the hum of a refrigerator or fan. We also took them outside near an active pool situated about 100 yards from a state freeway and made two-minute recordings to test whether it canceled out unwanted noise, such as wind and traffic.
We spoke into the mics from various positions using three test phrases to judge its ability to accurately reproduce voices as well as its overall sensitivity and clarity. We used it interview-style and clipped it onto a shirt to test its polar pickup pattern. We also conducted the two-minute recording test at range to see if it could still record well when the transmitter and receiver were farther apart. Additionally, we tested the unique features of each microphone to determine how well they performed.
FAQ
Q. Can you just use your phone’s microphone for YouTube videos?
A. Your phone mic is not built for a high level of audio quality the way a lav mic is. You also will need to remain close to your phone, but with a lav mic you can set your phone down and move around in front of the camera.
Q. What equipment do you need to be a YouTuber?
A. If you’re ready to be a YouTube star, there are a few other things you’ll need in addition to a wireless microphone system like the ones listed above. While you don’t necessarily need anything too fancy, you’ll want a camera that can record video with a resolution of at least 1080p. If you’re planning to be on the move while you record, a dedicated action camera, such as a GoPro, is well worth the investment.
A tripod to keep your camera steady is also worth purchasing as is a ring light to ensure you and your subjects are properly lit and look their best. Lastly, video-editing software, such as Apple Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Elements, is a must to put the finishing touches on your project; though some software can run hundreds of dollars, you can also find software for free online that provides all the basics to get started.
Q. What are common issues people face with microphones?
A. A microphone that is too quiet is one of the biggest issues people have. To fix this, ensure your recording device (such as your computer or phone) has your lav mic selected and not its own internal mic; adjust the position and gain levels of your mic as needed. Another common issue is when the mic picks up too much background noise and drowns out the sounds you’re aiming to capture. You can usually solve this by manipulating the noise cancellation feature on your mic until it reduces the background noise to your liking; adjusting the gain levels may also help.
