Discreet microphones for field recording

If you practice field recording and are looking to expand your equipment kit, then you should consider looking into lavalier microphones.

Discreet Piece Of Gear

If you practice field recording and are looking to expand your equipment kit while keeping a focus on compactness and quality for your recordings, then you should consider looking into lavalier microphones.

The Lavalier Microphones

Typically, lavalier microphones are used in the fields of cinema and audiovisual production to equip actors for recording their voices. They are either placed visibly with clips on a shirt collar, t-shirt, etc.. Or invisibly, directly attached to the skin under a t-shirt, hidden in a costume, or on the arm of a pair of glasses for example.

With the rise of field recording, these microphones have moved beyond their traditional use, and thanks to manufacturers, mostly craftspeople, lavalier-type microphones are now being used for field recordings, allowing field recordists to record natural soundscapes.

I haven’t had the chance to test anything other than LOM Audio’s microphones, but from what we can read, other brands also receive positive feedback !
Here’s a list of some brands offering this type of microphone :

O-Mini P48

Earsight

Clippy EM272

SO.1 Omni

mikroUsi

DPA 4060 – 6060

Accessible Equipment

These microphones are generally very accessible due to their low price, which allows more people to develop their practice and upgrade their equipment. DPA microphones are somewhat different, as they remain expensive, primarily designed for voice recording rather than capturing soundscapes. However, their small size makes them a valuable asset ! I personally don’t hesitate to use my DPA 6060 during shooting to hide them in the set as additional support, to capture a snippet of dialogue, or to emphasize an effect in a hard-to-reach place. They are easy to conceal.

However, I have never used DPA 6060 for field recording for now.

The Use Of Lavalier Microphones In The Field

These microphones are interesting to use due to their small size. They are easy to store, transport, and can be placed almost anywhere thanks to the various accessories offered by sellers, such as standard clips or magnetic clips. They perfectly complement a portable recorder, allowing it to enhance its capabilities. For example, a Sony PCM A10 paired with a set of LOM MikroUsi can be transformed into a very discreet recorder that can be hidden anywhere for long recordings, with improved sound quality.

Example Of The LOM mikroUsi

As is often the case with field recording, it comes down to compromise ! Indeed, I wouldn’t necessarily go on a trip specifically for sound recording with these microphones as my primary choice, as they are difficult to protect from strong wind and challenging to mount on a suspension. But that’s precisely why I appreciate them, they offer a different approach to sound recording.

They don’t require additional cables because the microphones are directly wired together and are not power-hungry. The mini jack connector is extremely easy to use. They are matched-pair and sound great for a good price ! Their small size allows them to be attached under the branches of a bush, slipped between rocks, placed on the trunk of a tree, almost anywhere, leaving plenty of room for creativity.

The Good Choice

As with most things, the right choice depends on your needs ! The mini jack connector won’t fit all recorders, and neither will the XLR connector. But this type of microphone is excellent because it’s not very expensive for good sound quality and it’s simple to use.

They’ll make it easy for you to develop your practice, your sound kit, and your curiosity. But don’t neglect wind protection !

Do you record with this kind of microphones ? Let me know in the comments below.

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