Best Microphones for iPhone (iOS)
I keep reading and hearing people online saying iPhones or other smartphones have bad inbuilt microphones. Maybe they’re giving you extra reason to buy an external microphone, I don’t know. In the last 2 to 3 years, I’ve been amazed at the quality of sound recorded by the inbuilt mics of top range smartphones.
Certainly, if you compare them to the mics of action cams or something like the DJI Osmo Pocket, your iPhone will win by a distance. And many new smartphones have inbuilt stereo microphones. Even Apple have caught up with that and now include them in their new devices.
Why might you need an external microphone?
Inbuilt iPhone microphones are great but they’re not really designed for certain recording situations. If you are recording voice, you’ll need an external mic to get great sound in most situations. Why?
- They are not directional mics: this means they capture all sound, including background noises and reflections from the walls. Reflections make the voice sound echoey.
- It’s hard to get the mic close to the speaker: if you are filming, you probably don’t want someone holding an iPhone to your subject’s face.
- You can get better mics: even though inbuilt iPhone mics are now very good, they are not the best. A good external mic is going to improve the quality.
External microphones for your iPhone are useful – and some might say essential – for creative projects like filmmaking. If you’re shooting a fiction film or a documentary, it will be almost impossible to get good voice audio without one.
There’s also other uses such as vlogging, podcasting, singing, recording live music and recording interviews.
Which model iPhone do you have?
Old iPhones (iPhone 6 or earlier models) come with an audio jack input. This means you can easily use microphones which use a mini jack plug.
Example: RØDE Microphones VideoMic
Later iPhones such as the iPhone 7, 8, X and XS have a Lightning connector instead of the audio jack. So either you will need a compatible microphone or an adapter.
Example: Shure MV88
One thing to bear in mind: using mics with Lightning inbuilt can mean you need to remove any case you are using from your iPhone to attach the mic.
Meanwhile, using a lighting to audio jack adapter means the mic can’t be fixed to the iPhone. Instead, the mic will hang loose so you need to find a way of mounting it. Perhaps using some kind of cage or grip will solve that issue.
Lighting to Audio Jack Adapters
For an example adapter, the IK Multimedia iRig allows you to connect any professional microphone to your ios device.
But a lightweight and cheap alternative is this simple adapter converts your iPhone from Lighting to audio jack.
Rode SC6-L Dual TRRS Input
This Lighting port converter from Rode gives you 2 X 3.5mm jack inputs and a 3.5mm headphone jack input. This is very useful for doing interviews. For example, if you would like to record the interviewer and the subject.
Check Price of SC6-L on Amazon
Different microphones for different situations
Microphones come in a variety of designs and appearances. So the mic you choose depends a lot on what you want it for. It might also be worth thinking about carrying a range of microphones for different situations.
- X-Y type: designed with two cardioid mics angled at 90 degrees. They provide a wide pickup pattern and a stereo image. Not the best for getting voice audio but good in live music situations.
- Lavalier mics: otherwise known as Lapel or clip on mics. Hook them to your shirt or other clothing to get close to the speaker’s mouth. Perfect for interviews and filmmaking (if you hide the mic).
- Directional mics: otherwise known as shotgun mics. A very narrow pickup pattern designed to reduce background noise and focus the audio on whatever you aim at (usually person’s mouth).
Best Budget Clip-On: BOYA BY-M1
I just used this one for getting some pickup shots for a short film I’m making. The audio quality is pretty decent considering the price. You also get a nice long cable.
This mic comes with an audio jack so for later model iPhones you would need an adapter.
BOYA BY-M1 is an Omni-directional lavalier microphone, designed for Smartphones, DSLR, Camcorders and Audio recorders. At this price I was able to purchase 3 of these mics. I’ve used them for filming and we’ve also used them for interviews (using 2 phones and 2 mics simultaneously).
Check BOYA Clip Mic Price on Amazon
Best Budget Shotgun: Rode VideoMic Me
This is a mini shotgun microphone that clips directly onto your iPhone. There’s 2 versions, one with 3.5mm jack and one with the Lightning connector.
Whereas your in built microphone picks up sound from everywhere, this microphone funnels the sound from where you point the mic. Therefore this is useful when you are quite close to the speaking subject, but want clearer sound. However, if the iPhone is going to be set up further away, this microphone won’t work as well.
Professional shotgun microphones are pretty long. A Sennheiser 416, for example, is about 10 inches (25 cm) long and that length relates to the focusing power of the mic. The VideoMic Me is only 3 inches (8cm) long.
However, the advantages are that it’s small, lightweight, easy to clip on to your phone and travel around. And there’s a definite improvement in audio quality.
I have one of these and I find it useful to have on me in case I need to film solo. The mic is so small you can easily pop it in a pocket. Includes handy furry windshield too.
Check Rode VideoMic Me on Amazon
Lighting connection version on B&H Photo
Shure MV88 & MV88+ Video Kit
First there’s the Shure MV88 for iPhone with Lightning ports. The microphone plugs directly into the phone, but unlike the Rode VideoMic you can adjust the direction of the microphone. It also has both stereo and directional pickup.
There’s 5 preset modes: Speech, Singing, Flat, Acoustic Instrument and Loud which automatically adjust EQ, compression and limiting to suit your project. I would say the MV88 is best used for close mic situations or just for getting a room ambience.
The MV88 produces excellent audio quality and is designed to be used with 2 free Apps: MOTIV Audio & MOTIV Video. It also comes with a windshield included.
With the audio app you can record uncompressed WAV audio and edit recordings using trim or split options. This app also allows you to adjust the stereo width of the mic, and other options.
The video app is a basic camera app (like FiLMiC Pro), allowing you manual controls. However, beware the tendency to crash and/or drain the iPhone’s battery. Which, as you can’t charge the phone while the mic is connected, is something to bear in mind.
Check Price of Shure MV88 on Amazon
Shure MV88+ Video Kit
The MV88+ version of this microphone comes with extra items to prove greater versatility. This includes inbuilt headphone output, Manfrotto pixi mini tripod, Lightning cable, USB-C cable, smartphone clamp, shoe-mount mic clip, & neoprene roll-up Bag.
Check Price of Shure MV88+ on Amazon
Budget Option: Comica Smartphone Video Kit
Wireless Microphones for iPhone
More and more people are using their iPhone for filming: vlogging, recording music, documentary, fiction and of course professional mobile journalism. In the last few years, various devices have come onto the market to provide an affordable wireless mic option.
Instamic
The Instamic is a small wireless microphone which you attach to the person you want to record, like using a clip on microphone. You can record directly into the device and transfer files later. Or you can record to your iPhone using Bluetooth.
This is certainly a clever little device, very lightweight and mobile. Perfect for using with your smartphone and keeping your equipment bulk to a minimum. Considering how much a good wireless mic system usually costs, the audio quality is great.
Read more: Instamic Wireless Smartphone Microphone
RØDE Wireless Go
This system from Rode comes is to be used with a clip-on microphone. However it also has an inbuilt omnidirectional condenser mic. So you can use the system alone or connect it to a lavalier mic, as you would a traditional transmitter-receiver clip mic setup.
Again, for a wireless system it’s a low cost option. The inbuilt mic doesn’t quite match the audio quality of a pro clip on mic. But it still does a better job than your inbuilt iPhone mic and lets you record at a distance from the iPhone.
Check Price of RØDE Wireless Go on Amazon
Read more: RØDE Wireless Go
The image below shows the GO receiver connected to an iPhone X using a Lighting to 3.5mm jack adapter. The transmitter is clipped to the shirt.
Use almost any mic
Using the right adapter, most microphones can be connected to your iPhone one way or another. That includes XLR mics, lav mics, interview mics and so on.
If the microphone has a TRS 3.5mm plug then you will probably need a TRS to TRRS adapter.
There’s a whole range of low to professional grade microphones available. So you can really open up your option with the correct adapters.
Read next: The Official Mobile Motion FF KIT LIST.
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