B.MicrophoneA Complete Guide
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Microphones for video production

Shotguns on boom poles, lavaliers on actors, on-camera mics for run-and-gun. Video sound has its own toolset, and most of it doesn’t overlap with podcasting or music.

Boom standardSennheiser MKH 416
Lavalier standardDPA 4060
YouTube wirelessRode Wireless GO II

The short answer

Three microphones cover almost every video shoot

A reality check

On-camera mics are the worst option

The mic on top of the camera is the farthest from the subject and picks up the most room sound. Real productions never use it. They use boom or lavalier. The on-camera shotgun is for vlogs, run-and-gun journalism, and times when there’s no other choice.

Wireless lavaliers, the modern revolution

The Rode Wireless GO II and the DJI Mic 2 changed video production for everyone making YouTube content. Two pocket-sized transmitters and one receiver, no audio interface, mounts on a camera hot shoe. Real broadcast quality at $300 for the whole system. That used to be a $3,000 setup.