Discreet Piece Of Gear
If you practice field recording and want to expand your kit while keeping the focus on compactness and quality, lavalier-style microphones are worth a closer look. For me, their main strength isn’t replacing a primary field recording setup, but making creative placements and very compact recording rigs possible.
If you’re looking at the broader range of microphones for field recording, this article focuses on one specific family: small, discreet microphones.
The Lavalier Microphones
Lavalier microphones are typically used in cinema and audiovisual production to record actors’ voices. They are either placed visibly, clipped to a shirt collar or a t-shirt, or hidden: attached directly to the skin under clothing, concealed 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. Thanks to manufacturers, many of them independent makers, lavalier-type microphones are now used by field recordists to record natural soundscapes.
I haven’t had the chance to test anything other than LOM Audio’s microphones, but from what I’ve read, other brands also receive positive feedback. Here’s a list of some brands offering this type of microphone:
- O-Mini P48 from chrisatrevino.com
- Earsight Microphones from immersivesoundscapes.com
- Clippy & Pluggy Microphones from micbooster.com
- SO.1 Omni Microphone from sonorousobjects.nyc
- mikroUsi from store.lom.audio
- DPA 4060, 6060 from dpamicrophones.fr
I haven’t used the DPA 6060 for field recording so far.
O-Mini P48
Earsight
Clippy EM272
SO.1 Omni
mikroUsi
DPA 4060 – 6060
The Use Of Lavalier Microphones In The Field
These microphones are interesting because of their small size. They are easy to store and transport, and can be placed almost anywhere thanks to the accessories offered by sellers, such as standard clips or magnetic clips. They are a perfect complement to a portable recorder and extend what it can do.
For example, a Sony PCM-A10 paired with a set of LOM mikroUsi becomes an extremely compact, very discreet recorder that can be hidden almost anywhere for long recordings, with improved sound quality.
Example Of The LOM mikroUsi
As is often the case in field recording, it comes down to compromise. I wouldn’t necessarily choose these microphones as my primary pair for a trip dedicated to sound recording: 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 two microphones are wired directly together, and they are not power-hungry. The mini-jack connector is extremely easy to use. They are a matched pair and, in my experience, sound great for the price. Their small size lets you attach them under the branches of a bush, slip them between rocks or place them 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. A mini-jack connector won’t suit every recorder, and neither will an XLR connector. But this type of microphone is excellent: it’s not very expensive, offers good sound quality and is simple to use.
These microphones make it easy to develop your practice, your sound kit and your curiosity. Just don’t neglect wind protection!
Do you record with this kind of microphone? Let me know in the comments below.