When it comes to creating content with your smartphone, having great audio can make all the difference.
While smartphone microphones have come a long way in terms of quality, they still fall short when it comes to capturing clear audio at a distance.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to set up your smartphone to get the best quality audio, even if you’re recording from further away or need more control over your sound.
Understanding Your Smartphone’s Built-In Microphone
The built-in microphone on your smartphone, like an iPhone, is pretty impressive for short distances.
If you’re speaking directly into the mic from around 6 to 12 inches (maybe up to two feet max), it’ll capture your voice with decent quality.
But as soon as you start moving away from the mic, the audio quality starts to degrade significantly, picking up more background noise and becoming less clear.
So, if your content requires you to move away from your phone, it’s time to consider using an external microphone.
Getting the Right Lavalier Mic: The Pop Voice Pro Lavalier
A great solution for improving your smartphone audio is using a lavalier mic (also known as a lapel mic).
I recommend the Pop Voice Pro Lavalier Mic, which costs under $15 on Amazon. It’s an excellent budget option that many content creators really like.
How to Set It Up
Setting up this mic is super simple. Plug the lav mic into your smartphone’s headphone jack (or the appropriate adapter, since most newer iPhones don’t have headphone jacks).
You’ll need an adapter to connect it to your iPhone, which you can easily find online.
Once plugged in, open your Voice Memos app on the iPhone, hit record, and you’ll see the audio levels coming from the lav mic.
This shows you that the mic is working, not the built-in phone mic.
Recording Audio with Your iPhone’s Camera App
For video recording, the built-in camera app on your iPhone is surprisingly good at capturing decent audio, especially in selfie mode.
When you speak, the camera app will automatically adjust the audio levels to avoid distortion or clipping, which helps when you change your volume unexpectedly.
For example, if you raise your voice, the app will lower the levels to prevent distortion.
However, this automatic leveling may not give you as much control as you’d like if you’re aiming for professional-quality audio. This is where external apps come in handy.
Getting More Control with Filmic Pro
If you’re serious about getting perfect audio and want more control over your levels, consider using the Filmic Pro app.
This app lets you manually adjust the audio levels to ensure they’re just right for your recording. Here’s how to set it up:
- Open Filmic Pro and begin recording.
- On the right-hand side, you’ll see audio level indicators. These show how your audio is performing during recording.
- Keep the levels within the negative 5 to negative 25 dB range to avoid clipping. Clipping happens when the audio peaks too high (above 0 dB) and distorts, similar to overexposing a camera shot.
- Test your audio by speaking at different volumes, ensuring the levels stay within this range.
By manually setting your levels, you avoid the automatic adjustments made by the standard camera app, giving you more control over the sound.
Always Test Before You Record the Full Production
Even with your audio levels set and the mic connected, it’s important to test the audio before diving into the full recording. I always recommend doing a quick test clip:
- Record a short test video with your microphone connected.
- Play it back using headphones or import it into a computer to listen closely.
- Listen for any distortion or clipping. If everything sounds good, you’re ready to record your full video.
Why Test?
Sometimes, even if the levels look good on your screen, the mic’s sensitivity might cause harsh sounds (like “p” or “b” sounds) to distort. Testing ensures that you can catch these issues before recording the entire video.
Using Wireless Options for More Flexibility
If you’re filming with your phone on a tripod and need more flexibility to move around, a wireless lav mic is the solution.
The Rode Wireless Go 2 is a fantastic wireless microphone system that allows you to record high-quality audio while being mobile. Here’s how it works:
- The transmitter has a built-in mic, but you can also plug a lav mic into it for even more flexibility.
- The receiver connects wirelessly to your smartphone and is small enough to clip onto your phone or camera.
This wireless solution is ideal if you need to move freely while recording, like when walking around or filming dynamic scenes.
It’s a bit more expensive than the wired Pop Voice mic, but it’s worth the investment if you need the extra mobility.
The TRS vs. TRRS Connector Dilemma
When setting up your mic with your smartphone or camera, you might encounter two different types of audio jacks: TRS(Tip-Ring-Sleeve) and TRRS (Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve).
The difference lies in the number of rings on the connector, which determines compatibility with your device.
- TRS is typically used for professional gear like cameras.
- TRRS is designed for smartphones and laptops.
If you’re using a TRRS mic (like the Pop Voice Pro), and you want to plug it into a camera or wireless transmitter that uses TRS, you’ll need an adapter to make the connection work. The good news is that adapters are inexpensive and easy to find online.
Conclusion
Using a lav mic like the Pop Voice Pro is a game-changer for getting the best quality audio from your smartphone.
For more control, try Filmic Pro to fine-tune your audio levels. And if you need mobility, invest in a wireless solution like the Rode Wireless Go 2.
Always test your audio before recording the full content to avoid surprises. With the right setup, your smartphone audio can sound as professional as your video looks.