Whether you are working with a smartphone camera, a DSLR or a camcorder, having external microphone options can make a big difference in capturing quality sound. While many cameras have built-in microphones, the built-in mic does not allow for freedom in terms of placement. Moreover, it is not specialized in the way that other microphones can be.

Common camera microphones fall into several categories, including lavalier, shotgun, and omnidirectional mics. Lavalier microphones clip onto clothing, making them excellent for film shoots, interviews or vlogging. Shotgun microphones pick up audio only from one direction, meaning they can capture more than one speaker but still reduce background noise. And omnidirectional mics pick up audio from all directions, making them ideal for capturing environmental sounds.

Technical specifications should also influence your choice of camera microphone. It’s wise to look at factors like frequency response, sensitivity, and signal-to-noise ratio. Plus, compatibility with your camera or your external audio recorder is crucial.

You can really enhance your videos by having quality audio. You can also improve the way you integrate audio into your editing process when you work with good video editing software. Given the quality of phone cameras, even films shot on a smartphone can look professional when they have high-quality sound. So, adding a microphone for smartphone to your home recording equipment collection can definitely improve your videos.

Keep in mind that camera mics are not the only option. Camera mics will not necessarily meet your needs if you are choosing the best podcasting mic. But a podcasting mic can work for vlogging or videocasting if you don’t mind the mic appearing on screen.

The placement of your microphone is one of the most important parts of getting the best use out of it. You generally want it as close to your subject as possible. The way you connect the mic to your equipment also matters. Working through an audio interface or audio mixer can make it simple to set audio levels when recording.