Small enough to go unnoticed, lavalier microphones can be easily clipped to clothing when you need to mike someone up. Lavalier microphones are also used hands-free and often come in the form of a complete system including a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver.
Connecting a Wireless Clip-On Microphone to a Transmitter
Wireless microphone transmitters are rarely equipped with a standard XLR port, simply because it's too big. Lavalier microphones from Sennheiser, for example, feature a locking mini-jack plug, while models in the highest price ranges commonly have a LEMO port. Additionally, it's worth noting that Shure's clip-on microphones have a TA4F port, which is basically a 4-pin mini-XLR port, while AKG equip their clip-on mikes with TA3F ports which is basically a 3-pin mini-XLR port.
Using a Wireless Lavalier Microphone with a Video Camera
Wireless lavalier microphones are ideal for audiovisual productions, so we also have a range of specialised wireless camera microphones. Here, the main difference when compared to 'normal' wireless mikes is the receiver. Standard wireless systems generally include a rack-mountable receiver unit that requires a nearby power socket. The receivers that come with wireless camera microphone systems are more compact and typically run on batteries or a built-in battery.
Clip-On Microphones with Bluetooth for Android Smartphones and iPhones
Vloggers who spend most of their time on YouTube, FaceBook, Instagram and TikTok can't do without their smartphone, which is why we also stock various wireless clip-on microphones equipped with a Lightning, USB-C or micro-USB port. Most of these systems are coupled via Bluetooth, meaning they come with the bonus perk of license-free use around the globe. The downside of Bluetooth is that high transmission-traffic in the area can lead to poor signal reception or signal drop-outs.
Hooking Up a Clip-On Mike with an XLR Cable
With the right adapter, you can also plug your
lavalier microphone
directly into the XLR port of your mixer or audio interface. A special adapter plug ensures that the 48V phantom power supply fed by the mixer or interface is turned into 5V 'plugin power' for lavaliers. In some cases, an adapter plug is included with the microphone. If not, you can always pick one up on the side.
Frequency Asked Questions About Wireless Microphones
How do clip-on microphones work?
A clip-on microphone is almost always a so-called electret condenser microphone - a microphone that requires power, which it gets from the equipment it’s connected to, like a bodypack transmitter. This kind of microphone can also be connected to a mixer and fed power using a special XLR adapter.
What's a good lavalier microphone?
A good lavalier microphone is extremely small and can be effortlessly secured to a shirt, tie or collar for hands-free use. What's also important is that the microphone has very low self-noise and minimal distortion.
What kind of clip-on microphone do I need?
If you're preparing to record in noisy surroundings or you need to amplify your voice for a presentation or event, get a cardioid microphone. Omnidirectional lavalier microphones, on the other hand, offer a more natural sound and are easier to conceal since they don't need to be aimed directly at your mouth. However, they are more sensitive to ambient noise.
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