PS: A lapel mic is also called a lavalier mic or clothes mic, so feel free to use the terms interchangeably as we do in this article. Also, this article focuses on how to use one of these mics with an Android phone or tablet.
Get a lavalier/lapel mic
There is a lavalier mic for everyone. That means you can get rock bottom-priced ones for as low as $6 (N2,000) or for as high as $170 (N60,000). Your budget won’t be a problem. And the cheap ones do a good job too. I have tested a $6 lav mic with the Nokia 7 Plus and found it satisfactory. So, go shopping and get one right now. And be sure to get one with as long a cable as possible. Also, while you can find a basic lavalier mic for as low as $6, what you want to do is get the highest quality that your budget can accommodate. So, look around for something that offers more than the basics.
Get a compatible video recording app
Using a lapel mic with your phone is not as straightforward as just plugging it in and starting to record. You need an app that lets you select an external mic for use when recording your video. The app should also let you use your phone’s selfie camera, if you are recording alone. Using your selfie camera means you can see how you are being captured in the recording and can adjust. If you have a video cameraman who handles the recording, this isn’t important. So, what video recording app do I recommend? I have tested a handful and finally settled for HD Camera and Video REC as the best of the lot. It is built on Open Camera app and performs much better. The user interface is simple and it provides all the options I need. You can download it HERE. Of course, there are others out there, including paid apps that you can buy if you really want to go all the way.
Set Things Up
To set things up, open the HD Camera and Video REC app, tap the Settings icon, select “Video settings…“, and scroll down to where it says, “Audio source“, tap it, then choose “External mic (if present)” from the available options. From now, any time you want to record a video and have the clothes mic plugged in, it will use that for audio recording. That is it. You have your smartphone and lapel mic setup and ready to record great videos with solid audio. I wish you a successful career as a vlogger or video content creator.
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