Discover the Best Lavalier Microphones
1. Sennheiser EW 112P G4
Camera-Mount Wireless Omni Lavalier Microphone System (A1: 470 to 516 MHz)
Finally, something that just works
Reviewed by Br. Lawrence on B&H Photo Video
I've been looking for a wireless or client-worn solution for some time now. I tried the Zoom F1 as soon as it came out, since I've been very happy with the Zoom products I already have (the H6 and F8n), but the self-noise and generally tinny sound made it unusable for me. I then tried the Rode Wireless Go, as soon as I saw some of the ecstatic reviews, but I use an external lav mic which caused interference, a wide-latitude whine which couldn't be targeted with filters. I suppose I could have bought another lav, but, hey, I already have a couple of good ones (Tram TR50's), right? Then I saw the price drop on this, with another bonus incentive, and grabbed it. It was what I was looking for all along. The sound on this is rich and crystal clear, with a low noise floor, and seems to have really good transmission capabilities. I walked around in the office space here, and went behind a concrete wall, and there was no problem. And it works flawlessly with the lavs I already have (as I say, two Tram Tr50's which fortunately have a battery option, since the 112p system has no phantom power). I did a test on the battery life, transmitting dialogue and recording - I set a movie on a loop - and the units ran and ran on two rechargeable AA batteries. They finally conked out somewhere between 9 and 11 hours. I don't have anything to say about the ME2-II microphone, as I haven't used it and don't intend to. I've seen enough online reviews to know that it won't give us the sound we need. So far, I have no criticisms at all about this unit. It works as well as wiring the mics directly into the F8n. You can tell that these are professional units, built to be reliable. ... More
Dependable & A Bargain
Reviewed by Terry on B&H Photo Video
Let me start by saying at the time of writing this review BNH was offering $120 gift card with the purchase of this unit. Before I purchase this unit I was looking into other units such as tentacle sync and tascam. However after discussing it with a few friends who owned both I decided this was the best value for my money especially with the gift card that was being offered. However, I was unsure which frequency to purchase. SenHeiser did not have their frequency information available on their website at this time and so I ended up calling BNH and talking to representative. They advise me on purchasing this unit because it was the most recent block of frequencies that had been released by the company and that I would have my best bet of getting as many channels as possible with this unit. This is absolutely correct as the first time I used it was at a huge conference and I had no issues with 12 channels available. The microphone while bigger than the earlier microphones was still very good and picked up even by standards that were talking with my client. A failed H for zoom recording made this a huge win for me as I was still able to pick up usable audio from interviews. I can't recommend this unit enough and it's the perfect time to buy especially if the gift card is still being offered. ... More
2. Shure WL93
Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone
Great purchase
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I bought this little lavalier mic as a replacement for a much older model and body pack at our theatre, and it works beautifully. It's very durable for its size, and gets very little interference from movement/clothing when used as a lapel clip. If you are using a Shure body pack and don't have this upgrade, it's well worth the purchase.
Great for theatre!
Reviewed by Rich W on B&H Photo Video
Selected this based on an article in one of my theatre journals. In past productions, I have put headset microphones on my student performers. Bad scene-most couldn't keep their hands off the boom, and in some cases, they sounded like race horses huffing after a quarter mile. This mike will tape right at the hair line-no adjustments, no breathing noises, and solid audio from the performers.
3. Rode RODELink Filmmaker Kit
Digital Camera-Mount Wireless Omni Lavalier Microphone System (2.4 GHz)
I was skeptical before. Now I'm a believer.
Reviewed by Eric on B&H Photo Video
I'll admit, I was skeptical when these were launched. It was almost too good to be true. The perfect product at a great price point, digital signal, the whole nine yards. They're bulkier than other lavaliers, but not by much. And the kit conveniently comes with an adapter on the receiver to connect to the hot shoe of your camera for single person shooting. Interestingly, when I went to test out this product at a local store, they tried to discourage me. They said that it was mainly designed for DSLR shooters, since the kit does NOT include an XLR cable to connect the receiver to the camera. It must be purchased separately. And it does come included with a mini to mini jack. So sure, that claim is believable. From my perspective however, and experiences on various shoots at this point, it is ideal for both. This gives this wireless kit unique versatility in small crews moving quickly. Also, in the tests we did at the facility we found that not all XLR adapters worked properly with the unit, some would not work pushed all the way in to the receiver, and had to be slightly out of the socket in order to function. I found one however that worked perfectly fine, and locked into place. Since then, it's been the cleanest sounding lavalier I've used for the price point. The body is made out of plastic, which bothers some people. Unless you're strapping it to the general before a battle however, I really think it's a non issue. You aren't exactly smashing them on the ground, and the plastic is strong and well constructed. Some people are also bothered by the size. Yes, they are bigger than your average wireless system, but I have never had a situation where I thought that the size interfered with performance or logistics of getting a shot. At the end of the day, the most important quality of a lavalier mic is the quality. This kit has fantastic range, a crystal clear signal, and is fantastic. It's easy to use, and immediately syncs upon being turned on. The T and R each take two double a batteries that last about 4-5 hours. If you're on the fence about this, don't be. It's a worthwhile investment. For a long time I was a naysayer of Rode. I never cared for their videomic pro. Then I tried the NTG3, which I loved. This rode wireless lavalier kit has the added advantage of matching really well with other rode products that you happen to own. ... More
I chose this over the more expensive models used
Reviewed by Peterinhi on B&H Photo Video
I'm a professional videographer (I get paid for doing videos full-time) and was looking for another wireless lavalier but didn't choose to spend more than necessary. I used other products in the $ to $ range (not naming names, but the cheap ones start with an A and the two expensive ones both start with S) but the cheaper wireless systems didn't provide the range and sound I needed and the expensive systems were simply, expensive.I researched the Rodelink Filmmaker Kit extensively by watching review videos and reading numerous reviews. What I like about it is that it is comparable to or possibly exceeds the features of the expensive S-brand models. It has the same clarity and range, however, being digital like cellular phones, when the signal starts degrading, the sound stops abruptly and doesn't crackle and fade like the high end analog systems. Just think of what happens on a cell phone call when you go into an elevator.Moreover, the Rodelink pairing is quick. Just a few seconds. There's no fiddling with channel frequencies, just a few buttons to press to get the receiver and transmitter to connect. And once connected and paired, the next time they're turned on, they work instantly.I also like that you can see the battery level of the transmitter on the receiver. And of course you can see the receiver's power level as well. I've been on jobs where we would have to check the transmitter's battery power midway through the event. I've even had the transmitter die without me noticing (I was on a one-man multi-cam gig) because those expensive models don't show the transmitter's power.Yet the feature I like the most is the mute switch. While the transmitter can mute itself like those expensive models, the Rodelink receiver can override the transmitter's mute and make it live again. I had jobs where the speaker/host accidentally muted their transmitter (they didn't know it happened) and I was left with dead silence on that feed and couldn't interrupt the event to check the mute switch. However, I always have multiple backups going but they weren't as good as the muted transmitter.With all the great features I like about the Rodelink, I would say that it is kinda big. Because Rode placed built-in antennas into the Rodelink, there are no protruding antennas sticking out. I like this in that I've had broken antennas on those expensive S-models. Yet those built-in antennas would need a material to transmit through. Hence the plasticky nature of Rodelink. It is not as thin and tiny as the other models but about the same weight. Hopefully Rode can solve this size challenge in the future and make a more compact model.All in all, I'm totally satisfied with the Rodelink Filmmaker Kit. I'm planning on purchasing another Filmmaker in addition to purchasing the yet-to-be-release Newsshooter Kit. Forget those other S models out there as the Rodelink is more than a match at a price point that won't break the bank.FYI, I purchased the Rodelink outright from B&H as I'm not a compensated endorser, just a regular hardworking video guy. I already have the VideoMic Pro and also plan to purchase the Stereo VideoMic Pro. But if Rode were to give me one, I'd be super happy and appreciate! Thanks Rode and B&H! ... More
4. Rode Lavalier GO
Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone for Wireless GO Systems
Almost returned it, but then...
Reviewed by Todd on B&H Photo Video
For a while now I've been using budget lavalier microphones with the Rode Wireless Go. They worked fine, but when the Lavalier Go was announced, I ordered one to get the best possible experience. Upon receipt, I tested the two mics and was surprised by what I heard. The budget lav mic was bright, loud and with deep bass, while the Rode mic sounded dim and flat -- all mid-range without any lows or highs. I tested it over and over, thinking something was wrong, and got the same results each time. I almost returned the Rode Lavalier Go, but then I started processing it in Premiere. The way in which the Rode mic records is similar to a RAW photo where the image is intentionally flat and low contrast. Once I applied compression and EQ to the Rode mic track, it sounded much better and cleaner across all frequencies, while my budget mic track sounded harsh and overcooked. Realizing how much better this was overall, I decided to keep the Rode mic. If you're buying this mic and comparing it to others, it will sound softer and thicker in the mid-range than other mics, but if you know the basics of processing audio you can pull some really nice sound out of it. ... More
Sound is good, clip is wonky, cord is short
Reviewed by Andrew on B&H Photo Video
I got this lav mic to make short videos on my iPad mini 6. The good: * Sound quality is better than the iPad's built-in mic, for sure. I'm happy with the sound overall from this lav mic. The bad: * Requires not one but two adapters to connect to the iPad. That's Apple's fault, not Rode's fault though. I needed an Apple USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, and then also a TRS to TRRS adapter. * The clip is hard to attach or even figure out how the lav mic is supposed to work in it, and it doesn't come with instructions. But at least the clip is easily replaced. * The cord is 4ft long, which is certainly long enough for a wireless setup, but makes it so I have to be very close to my iPad in order to use it. I wish I had seen how long the cord was in the description, but that's my fault. I'll probably end up getting the Rode Wireless Go anyway though, so only a temporary problem. Even with these faults, I'm still giving it 5 stars because it's an affordable, great-sounding lav mic. Anyone who wants better audio on their videos should consider it. ... More
5. Rode RODELink Lav
Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone for RODELink Systems
Great Sounding Mic!
Reviewed by Steve on B&H Photo Video
I purchased this along with the Rode VXLR+. The thread-lock on the 3.5mm connector of the lav fits perfectly with connector on the adapter/converter. This allows me to belt-clip (included with the VXLR+) the adapter/converter to the talent and run an XLR mic cable back to the mixer with phantom power when needed in place of connecting the lav to a bodypack for wireless use. It also fully inserts into the transmitters of the Rode Wireless Go II system. My other non-Rode wireless system came with lav mics but they sound terrible next this mic and/or the Rode Lavalier Go mics I purchased. ... More
Love the service
Reviewed by Mandi on B&H Photo Video
First of all the service at BH is fantastic, When you talk to a specialist in the store they take the time to take a minute to ask you if you're healthy feels like family. When we go down to business they know what they are talking about and if they don't have the answer they search it and they come back to you. I live in Montreal I don't hesitate to pay in US to have that family service. for the product I got, Rode link is perfect, Thank you Eric ... More