The Best Audio Equipment For Videographers and YouTubers In 2021
As a filmmaker, YouTuber or content creator of any kind you will quickly find that even if you have fantastic looking footage, your audience will be immediately turned off if the audio doesn’t sound amazing. You may have heard that sound is half of making a film and it honestly is so true. Bad audio can kill a video dead in the water, leaving your audience unsatisfied, or worse, make them stop watching your work altogether.
Thankfully the cost of good quality audio equipment has never been more affordable! Meaning you can rest easy knowing that your sounds will match perfectly with your visuals and keep your viewers entertained.
Best shotgun mics 2021
RODE VIDEOMIC PRO+
Pros -
Great quality, fantastic sounding audio, easy access control buttons
Cons -
Expensive, larger than other shotgun mics
RODE VIDEOMIC GO
Pros -
Very affordable and reliable option, better than your camera’s internal mic
Cons -
Lower signal output than other mics
RODE VIDEO MICro
Pros -
Very small form factor, comes with windshield
Cons -
Low signal output making for noisier audio
best lavalier mics 2021
RODE SMARTLAV+ WITH SC3 ADAPTER
Pros -
Warm sounding lav mic, low background noise pickup
Cons -
Requires adapter to work with most cameras and external recorders
SHURE MVL OMNIDIRECTIONAL LAVALIER
Pros -
Bright sounding lav mic, all-in-one lav system, low background noise pickup
Cons -
Shorter cable
Best wireless microphone kits 2021
RODE WIRELESS GO
Pros -
Super compact wireless mic and receiver, great sound
Cons -
Windshield clip is difficult to attach, no locking thread for lav input
SYNCO WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYSTEM
Pros -
Cheaper alternative to Rode, comaparable quality, comes with lav
Cons -
Larger in size, lav input on side of mic
best external audio recorders 2021
ZOOM H1N
Pros -
Easy to use, versatile, very durable
Cons -
No locking thread on input
TASCAM DR-05X
Pros -
Smaller than Zoom H1n, easy to use, versatile
Cons -
No locking thread on input, no shielding for internal mics
ZOOM H5
Pros -
Records multiple tracks of audio, pro-use XLR inputs, modular top inputs
Cons -
Expensive, setting levels manually is confusing without exeperience
So where do you start with capturing good audio? The best first step you can take is by upgrading the audio of whatever camera you are shooting on. If you are using a modern DSLR or mirrorless camera chances are the built-in microphone is decent but the sound quality falls apart when you are in busy places or windy conditions. That’s why most of these cameras have a 3.5mm jack to run an external microphone into the camera.
There are so many different types of mic on the market, each with a different purpose, that it can be tough to know which to choose. So here is a quick breakdown of what each type can do.
Shotgun microphones are great for picking up general ‘scratch audio’ that can either be used to sync up an external audio source or as your main audio source if you can get close enough for good sound quality. Most shotgun mics are directional meaning that they are perfect for cutting out noise that is behind or to the sides of the microphone.
Lavalier mics are used extensively in interviews, presentations, documentaries and on live TV programming. They can be clipped onto clothing and when plugged into radio mics or other wireless systems are extremely versatile in allowing your talent to move around without having to worry about staying close to a camera to keep their voice heard in the recording.
External recorders can be used in conjunction with shotgun and lavalier mics to record audio separately from your camera. This does mean you will have to know how to sync your audio while editing, but it is a fantastic way to capture more than one audio source at a time. Most external recorders also have their own multidirectional microphones built into them, making them even more versatile, especially if they can record multiple tracks of audio at the same time.
Okay, now that you know what types of microphones there are out there and roughly what they do now comes the important question. Why do you need a separate microphone?
Not having a mic other than your onboard camera mic means that you are stuck to recording the sound that is nearest to you and your camera, not the source of the sound that you want to record. If your subject is directly in front of your camera in a quiet room this might be okay, but the farther they go, the lower their sound level will be in camera. If you are in a busy or noisy place they will also have to compete with the ambient sound there too.
Having your microphone close to your subject will make all the difference in getting the clearest audio possible. You may not always have time but it is always worth the effort to try and mic up your talent separately to your camera if you can!
Best top mount DSLR and Mirrorless Shotgun Mic
RODE VIDEOMIC PRO+
This is hands down the most used microphone I own. In fact, it never leaves my camera! The Rode Videomic Pro Plus is perfect for capturing audio when I haven’t had a chance to mic up my talent, recording small intimate moments at weddings and even for doing a piece to camera.
The versatility of this mic, combined with the easy access buttons on the back make it a must-have for professionals and beginners alike.
best quality shotgun mic
rODE VIDEOMIC GO
If the cost of the Pro+ is too expensive for you as a beginner then I would definitely recommend the Video Mic GO from Rode. It works in much the same way as the Pro+, just without the ability to control your levels or any other settings. This shotgun mic is about as basic as it gets, while still delivering a noticeable increase in audio quality to your camera!
best budget shotgun mic
RODE VIDEO MICRO
Don’t like the idea of having a big shotgun mic on top of your camera? No need to worry! The Rode Video Micro is here to save the day! This mic is super compact, at about half the size of the other shotgun mics I’ve listed.
The quality from the mic is slightly worse than the other two, but for this form factor alone it is perfect to fit on the top of cameras like the Sony a6400 and Canon M50 without looking out of place and adding a noticeable difference in audio quality to their built-in mics.
best compact shotgun mic
BEST LAVALIER MICS
RODE SMARTLAV+ WITH SC3 ADAPTER
I love these lav mics! For the price, they are an invaluable part of any aspiring filmmakers kit, especially if you find yourself capturing a lot of interviews or pieces to camera! The Rode Smartlav+ not only has the advantage of being a super small lav mic that is easy to place and hide on a subject but can also either be used by itself or with the SC3 adapter.
The adapter allows you to plug the mic into a camera or external recorder to capture audio, or you can use it without it and plug it directly into your phone to record the audio there!
best value lav mic
SHURE MVL OMNIDIRECTIONAL LAVALIER
If you don’t like the idea of needing to have a mic and an adapter for you lav mic then the Shure MVL lav is perfect for you! It has all of the same great features as the Rode Smartlav but as an all-in-one mic, meaning you can plug it into your camera, external recorder or phone to capture your audio. These mics are around the same price point and have very comparable sound quality so the real decision will come down to which you like the sound of more!
BEST WIRELESS MICROPHONE KITS
RODE WIRELESS GO
Yes, yes, I know. It’s another Rode recommendation… but for good reason! These guys really know how to make great quality sound gear! That’s why the Rode Wireless GO is a fantastic addition to any audio kit that needs you to transmit audio across a distance. These kits are much cheaper than the traditional radio mics that used to be used but they don’t miss out on quality.
You can use the Wireless GO as a standalone mic to capture your audio or you can plug your own mic into it via the 3.5mm jack if there is a specific microphone you want to use. This wireless kit is super versatile and I highly recommend it if you want to capture audio from a subject at a distance directly into your camera or an external recorder.
best value wireless microphone
SYNCO WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYSTEM
There have been a lot of wireless kits come out over the past few years and some are definitely better than others. The Synco kit is definitely one of the best non-Rode wireless kits I’ve used! It’s slightly bulkier and the mic-in jack is on the side of the transmitter, but it works just as well as the Rode! And at almost half the price I would definitely pick up this kit as my first wireless set if I didn’t already own the Wireless GO! Not only that, but it also comes with its own separate lav mic bundled in with the kit. Use the extra money you’re saving by choosing this option to pick up a good quality shotgun mic or cheap external recorder and you will be well on your way to building up your audio kit.
best budget wireless microphone
BEST EXTERNAL AUDIO RECORDERS
ZOOM H1N
Right at the beginning of my professional videography career, I bought five of the older model of this audio recorder and I still use them to this day. Given the right care, these recorders will probably last me until I’m ready to retire! I mostly use my array of these to capture multiple sources of audio at live events all at once so I can mix between them in my edits. These recorders only have one mic input into them, but are perfect for coupling up with a lav mic and putting onto your talent so you can record what they’re saying easily. It’s very easy to set your audio levels with these recorders too, or you can leave the levels on auto (that surprisingly does a great job!) which make them very beginner-friendly!
best value external recorder
TASCAM DR-05X
If you want a slightly smaller form factor for your audio recorder, or don’t like the user interface of the Zoom H1n, then your next best bet for a good quality external recorder is the Tascam DR-05X. This recorder comes with all the features I mentioned earlier for the Zoom so makes a great addition to any audio kit!
With its small form factor, you have pretty much no reason to not bring it along with you to every shoot!
best alternative external recorder
ZOOM H5
Sometimes you want to capture multiple sources of audio all at once, to one recorder. Enter the Zoom H5. This professional-level audio recorder is a must if you begin to find yourself needing to record more and more sources all at the same time. With this external recorder, you can capture and set your levels for up to four separate lines of audio all at once. You will need to make sure that the microphones or wireless kits you’re using have XLR mounts as that is the primary input for the Zoom H5.