Cardioid XLR Lav Microphone

Knowing what type of lavalier microphone to go with can sometimes seem like a daunting task. Afterall, you have omni-directional, cardioid, and super cardioid pickup patterns and then there are dynamic and condenser mics. Have no fear though, there are typically just a couple things to consider when selecting your lavalier microphone and MOVO has the right type for just about every occasion. The LV22-OD and the LV22-C are two broadcast-quality lavalier mics that we can look at to get a better understanding of what type of mic to use.

Without nerding out too much on the technical side of how microphones function, let’s break down these two mics. Both the LV22-OD and the LV22-C are lavalier mics, sometimes referred to as “lapel mics”. This style of microphone is small and typically clipped onto someone's shirt or tie. As they are pretty tiny, I have also seen them used on location, hidden inside objects that are close to the person speaking, like a flower pot or desk lamp.

The LV22’s are also condenser microphones, which means they are designed to pick up detail and need to be powered. The LV22-OD and LV22-C conveniently come with body packs, allowing them to be battery powered, while still having the option of using 48V of phantom power. The body pack has a durable brass body with a metal clip, allowing it to be clipped onto a belt, pocket, etc. On the top of the body pack there is a led indicator light, a mini 3-pin XLR mount where the mic will get plugged into, and a standard XLR mount, which is where you will plug in your XLR cable that is going into your audio recording device or camera. There is also an on/off switch on the side, with the battery compartment located on the back of the body pack.

Now, the difference between these two microphones. The LV22-OD has an omni-directional pickup pattern and the LV22-C has a cardioid pickup pattern. Omni-directional tells us that the mic will pick up sound in all directions, which means you will capture audio not only directly in front of the mic, typically a person, but also more of the environment. I have used this type of mic in a pinch to record two individuals that were fairly close to one another, placing the microphone on the quieter of the two individuals and adjusting my levels accordingly. The LV22-C is a cardioid microphone, telling us that the audio pickup pattern is more directional. The name carioid comes from heart, which is similar to the shape of the pickup pattern with the mic picking up more audio directly in front of it, but still picking up a little of the audio behind and to the sides. This is a great microphone to use when you want to focus on one individual and pickup less of the environmental noise.

They also come with a lapel clip as well as foam and fury windscreens so you’ll be prepared for those windy days. Both the LV22-OD and LV22-C are incredibly useful and picking the right one simply depends on what you intend to use it for. You can’t go wrong with either, as both are super easy to use, discreet, and durable.