Put a mic on it!
Thanks to technology, we no longer have to lug around multiple devices to take awesome, professional-looking photos and videos. These days, all you need is your iPhone, iPad, or other smart device, and the right accessories.
With the right accessories, you can turn these smart devices into full-blown professional photography gear for a fraction of the traditional cost. And nothing helps a video appear more professional, than reduced background noise and enhanced audio clarity. Below are three of the coolest, Photojojo.com mic options, to turn your smart device into a dream tool.
1. Rode VideoMic Pro Boom
While technology has brought us a long way in terms of photography, the built-in microphones on smartphones and tablets, can leave something to be desired for professionals and avid amateurs alike. The Rode VideoMic Pro Boom plugs directly into the audio jack on your DSLR, iPhone, or iPad for pro-quality recording from up to 20 feet away.
It can be used with any hot or cold shoe mount and boasts a suspension system (cutting down on pops and crackles). It is powered by a single 9-volt battery, so it will not drain your device’s battery. Each 9-volt should last you approximately 70 hours. The Rode Mic can be paired with the iOgrapher rig, or used alone.
For the creative-minded business entrepreneur, this could be a great investment to make your own marketing videos, YouTube tutorials, and virtual tour videos. The Rode VideoMic will run you $229.
2. The Mighty Mic
The Mighty Mic will step up your microphone game. It is a pro-grade shotgun microphone, shrunken down tiny to pair with your phone for crisper, clearer, higher quality sound.
Simply mount the Mighty Mic to your phone’s headphone jack in noisy situations to minimize pesky chatter and buzz. Get what you really want to hear, without the background noise. Also, you can hear the audio and adjust as needed through the built-in mic jack on the Mighty Mic. So you know you are capturing what you need. It also includes a foam windscreen to cut down on wind noise.
No batteries are required, it works great with iOS and Android, and runs $70.
3. Loud and Clear Lapel Mic
My favorite is the Loud and Clear lapel mic. So many times when you’re interviewing, or creating a YouTube video, you need your hands for gesturing, or setting other things up. External phone mics do not always make the use of both hands while interviewing easy; enter the lapel mic. Record quality sound from up close, in any situation. Just clip the the Loud and Clear to your lapel and plug into the audio jack on your phone or DSLR.
You can also use this to enhance existing equipment: use your smartphone/device to record sound while filming on a different camera. Pick up every word being said from far away. And on windy days, you can add the fuzzy cover to cut out the unwanted noisiness, including wind.
The cable is 6.5 feet long, so you have plenty of room to move around and get comfortable. And with a cost of $37, it could save you the hassle of annoying retakes.
