Should You Use an External Camera Microphone?

Whether you're just starting out with vlogging or are a seasoned content creator, the question of whether or not you needan external microphone for your camera is one that's likely crossed your mind. In this post, we'll take a look at some of the factors you need to consider when making your decision. Spoiler alert: in most cases, the answer is yes - a microphone will make a big difference in the quality of your videos. Read on to find out why!

Benefits of Using Your Camera with External Microphone

Source: Movo

Many people believe that the built-in microphone on their camera is the best option for capturing sound. However, in most cases, this is not true. The built-in mic on a camera is designed to pick up a wide range of sounds, which can often result in poor sound quality. 

In addition, the built-in mic is usually located near the lens, which can pick up the sound of the autofocus motor and other camera noise. For these reasons, it’s often better to use an external microphonewith your camerawhen possible. 

External microphonesfor cameras can be positioned closer to the subject, which results in clearer sound. In addition, they are not affected by camera noise, making them ideal for capturing high-quality audio.

Types of External Mics for a Camera

The most common type of microphone is theshotgun mic. Shotgun mics are highly directional, meaning they pick up sound best from the direction they're pointing in. This makes them ideal for use in situations where you want to focus on a particular sound source, such as an interviewee or a musician. However, shotgun mics can be more expensive than other types of microphones, and their directional nature can also make them more susceptible to background noise. 
Another popular option for a camera microphone is the lavalier mic, which is small and designed to be worn by your subjects. Lav mics are less obtrusive than other types of microphones, making them ideal for documentary-style filmmaking. They also provide good sound quality and are relatively inexpensive. However, they are not always the best choice for picking up ambient sound.

Otherwise, if you want to choose an external microphone for your camera based on pick-up patterns, it’s important to know when each one should be used.
Anomnidirectional microphone can pick up sound coming from all directions, allowing a speaker to talk from any angle and have the sound picked up. Omni mics aren't always the best option, even though the polar patterns they employ when picking up sound can be quite helpful. They will give your camera a special boost, especially when sound needs to be detected and recorded from numerous different directions.

On the other hand,supercardioid microphones have a narrower field of audio capture and primarily pick up sound from the front of the mic. It is crucial that the microphone is positioned in a certain location in relation to the speaker since, despite the fact that the back of this mic is less sensitive to sound, it can still pick up some noise. This kind of microphone is typically utilized when only one person is speaking in a setting with a lot of background noise.

So, if you're looking to start making morehigh-quality videos with your camera, be sure to pick up anexternal microphone for your camera — you won't regret it. And remember, there are plenty of different types and models of microphones to choose from. Luckily, we have some great recommendations to get you started. So what are you waiting for?Buy an externalmicrophone for your camera today!