A lavalier microphone is a small clip-on mic designed to be worn on clothing, just below the collarbone, so it stays close to the mouth without appearing in frame. Because the whole idea is invisibility and hands-free use, everything about the category is built around being small and forgotten about, rather than around the raw fidelity a handheld or shotgun mic offers.
Because the mic sits well below the mouth rather than in front of it, expect a slightly thinner sound than a mic positioned closer — that trade-off is the price of staying out of shot. Clothing choice affects results more than most people expect too, since stiff fabric and loose layers both cause rustle a boom mic wouldn’t pick up.
- Wired versus wireless connection — wireless needs a transmitter and receiver or a compatible camera system, wired is simpler but tethers the speaker
- An omnidirectional capsule, standard for lavaliers because it tolerates head turns without volume dropping in and out
- A secure clip and windscreen, since clothing rustle and handling noise are the category’s two main problems
- Cable or connector type, which needs to match whatever recorder, camera or transmitter it’s paired with
This type is built for interviews, presenting and any setup where the subject moves and a boom operator isn’t practical.
See the full shortlist for options.
