While focused, exposed shots are vital to any film, it’s audio that can really make or break a video. Film’s inherent value versus the written word or photo is the opportunity you, the filmmaker, have to tell an authentic story exactly how it happened.
You can capture the characters’ actions exactly as they were, the scenery’s movement like it was, but without audio, it’s just a series of moving images. And with poor audio? Eek. It’ll be a struggle to keep viewers around.
The filmmaking world has an incredible assortment of audio gear, but it can also get a bit overwhelming. No matter your industry, an external on-camera microphone is one of the most valuable gadgets to have in your camera kit.
6 Reasons You Need an External Microphone for Your Camera
1. External microphones are better than your camera’s internal mic.
Period. No discussion. End of story. In tests between the quality of an external microphone and a high-quality camera’s built-in mic, the results are almost unbelievable. But then again, it makes sense. Your camera alone has limited space to record sound since the focus is image capturing. The on-camera external microphones are designed with audio alone in mind — and the results clearly prove it.
2. An on-camera microphone is an essential safety net.
Murphy’s Law unfortunately translates to the world of videography— whether you’re filming weddings or news clips, documentaries or movies, something is bound to break down. And, if it happens to be an external audio feed, you could fly through key moments without realizing it.
But, if you’re using an on-camera microphone you can breathe much easier. While the audio may not be as perfect as a line in to the soundboard, an external, on-camera microphone can usually do the trick. Case in point? At a recent wedding the best man spoke way louder than we’d anticipated — or soundchecked — so my zoom microphone’s audio was muffled and unusable. Thankfully, my on-camera microphone saved the day. (Although moving forward I’ll now have a third audio backup in case something else were to happen; I’ll be placing the lavalier next to the speaker… you can never be too safe!)
3. You don’t need extra SD cards or cords.
As a filmmaker myself, I know the struggle with “parts” is real. If I’m not checking space on my SD cards or trying to locate the right cords for different devices, I’m off in the corner somewhere plugging into an empty outlet. I’ve developed some semblance of an organizational system, but it’s far from my forte. That’s why I love the fact my Shure LensHopper requires no detachable cords, no SD cards — nothing! I just plug it into my camera and it’s good to go.
4. Syncing in post requires a quality, in-camera audio feed.
If you’re using multiple sources of audio (zoom microphones, lavaliers, etc.) you’ll inevitably have to match it up in post. I use the Plural Eyes audio syncing software to save time. It aggregates all your audio sources, then matches them up based on waveform in an exportable format for editing.
The catch? All audio — especially the in-camera audio captured alongside the footage — needs to have distinguishable waveforms. The solution? An on-camera microphone. While it can’t protect from noise of, say, a violent windstorm (I know, I’ve tried…), the on-camera microphone almost always ensures your feeds can sync quickly in post.
5. The external microphone is easily portable.
For wedding films, I bring my whole kit and caboodle (tripods, gimbals, gliders, microphones, etc.), but for the other half of my work — travel journalism — I need to consolidate into a carry-on bag and pack without drastically cutting quality. Enter the on-camera external microphone. I keep it on my camera at all times because you never know when the perfect shot will strike, but you need to be ready to capture both video and audio when it does.
6. The return on investment is outstanding.
External on-camera microphones are affordable in comparison to most camera or audio gear. And given the functionality — most notably the fact I use mine every time I film! — you’ll definitely get your money’s worth.
External Camera Microphone Frequently Asked Questions
How do I record audio with my camera?
You can record audio footage with your camera only if the camera has an internal microphone. Otherwise, you’ll need to connect an external microphone and turn it on. Then, all you have to do is start filming the scene. The camera will record video and audio footage at the same time and store them on your SD card.
Do you need a microphone for a camera?
If you are both a photographer and filmmaker, you need a camera with a microphone. Especially for interviews, video tutorials, vlogs, and short movies, a single camera can handle multiple tasks. Even if the camera has a built-in mic, you’ll still need to connect an external microphone, if you want your videos to sound great.
Is an external mic worth it?
An external microphone for the camera provides better sound quality than the built-in mic. It also provides a longer battery life as some of them have their own power source. Usually, external microphones are directional, which means they only record the sound coming from in front of them. This reduces the ambient sounds and improves the quality of your recordings.
How to connect an external microphone to a camera
Most microphones mount on the hot-shoe port on top of the camera, directly or using an adapter. They also connect with the camera through a headphone jack.
But there are also microphones you don’t need to mount on the camera. You or the person you’re filming can hold them, or they can stand on a pole outside the scene. There are also wireless microphone systems that don’t require a wired connection with the camera. It’s up to you how you create your photo setup and what features you need from a mic. Just make sure it is compatible with your camera model.
