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Are you tired of dealing with poor audio quality while live streaming an event?
A high-quality microphone is essential for any live streaming setup, as it ensures that your audience can clearly hear what’s going on. Whether you’re streaming from a camera or a smartphone, the benefits of adding a wireless mic are very noticeable.
With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one to choose. I’m here to help you with that.
I'll guide you through the process of choosing a wireless mic for your upcoming events, so you can deliver crystal-clear audio to your audience and take your live stream to the next level.
Let’s begin with the importance of having a good microphone, then explore the different types of mics available, the key factors to consider when making your decision, and end this guide with my top recommendations for different budgets and scenarios.
Do you need to buy a microphone for live stream events?
A good microphone ensures that your audience can hear you clearly.
Poor audio is much worse than poor video resolution, and can make it difficult for viewers to understand what’s happening during the event. Low volume, hissing noises, and bad quality can make your stream difficult to watch, which can deter viewers from staying online.
If you think about it, it’s an easy fix. Investing in a good microphone for live streaming is optional for once-in-a-lifetime streamers, but almost mandatory for everyone else.
Which type of wireless microphone is best for live streaming events?
There are different types of wireless microphones available, each with it’s own unique features and benefits.
Since I’m focusing this guide on live streaming events, I will mention only the ones that are relevant for this particular task:
- Microphones with a Buillt-In Mic: These are perfect to connect to any camera or mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
They pick up the audio from a transmitter unit. These microphones are easy to use, easy to charge, and in some cases very affordable. Reliable within short distances, and easy to set up without prior experience.
These are the microphones I would recommend to 95% of live streamers.
If you pair these with an app that shows audio levels while going live, you'll solve almost all issues immediately.
- Microphones that use a Lavalier: These are more suitable for cameras, encoders, or more complex setups. They pick up the audio from a lavalier microphone, placed on an individual’s clothing.
These microphones require some experience as placement is key in order to get good audio. They are more expensive, and usually more reliable, especially at long distances.
For professional videographers or event producers, the ones I’d recommend are the Sennheiser EW 112P G4.
Each type of wireless microphone has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it's important to consider your specific needs and preferences when choosing one.
Choosing a Wireless Microphone to Live Stream Events
When choosing a microphone for live streaming, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Budget: Determine how much you are willing to spend on a microphone and look for options that work for you. The ones I'm recommending today cost between 60 and 330 USD.
- Compatibility: Make sure the microphone is compatible with your streaming setup and can connect to your computer or mobile device.
- Range and reliability: If you need to maintain a stable connection at longer distances during your stream, you might have to increase your budget. For shorter distances, all the microphones in this article work exceptionally well.
- Audio Quality: In general terms, the more you spend, the better audio quality you get. This isn’t always noticeable, as live streaming focuses more on the action than on tiny quality improvements
By considering these factors, you will be able to choose a wireless microphone that meets your specific needs and delivers high-quality audio for your live stream.
Buying a Wireless Microphone for Live Streaming
#1. DJI Mic
It’s easy to recommend this microphone to everyone I know, and even easier to everyone I don’t know.
It’s compatible with every camera and smartphone out there, which is the biggest problem new live streamers face. If you don’t know if a microphone is compatible with your setup, get this one. It will work.
Works with any smartphone, tablet, or camera that includes a standard 3.5mm microphone input. If you need an accessory, it’s almost always included in the kit.
Lightweight, well-designed, and very aesthetically pleasing, this microphone does what it says it does. It records in good quality, it includes a backup inside the recording unit, it’s reliable at short, medium and somewhat long distances without too many obstacles.
The mic charges automatically inside its case, it features about 4.5 to 5 hours of battery life, and you can throw it into the case for a quick recharge when there’s some down time.
The best option is the one that includes 2 transmitters and the charging case, but you can buy the more affordable version with a single transmitter.
It isn’t an affordable option, but it’s one that will last longer than you need and will serve you well.
#2. Rode Wireless Go II
This was the best microphone to recommend until DJI released the one that ranks first on the list.
It sounds as good, if not better than the DJI Mic, but connectivity and compatibility make this microphone harder to recommend. It will most likely work with your setup, but you might need adapters to make it work properly. If you’re not tech-savvy, those adapters can be confusing.
Battery last longer, at almost 8 hours per charge, but they don’t include a charging case. Charging them takes about the same time as charging the DJI Mic.
The good news is that these are about $100 cheaper, so they’re still a fantastic option to consider.
Personally, I don’t love how the buttons work on these, but once you set them up properly, you don’t really need to fiddle with them anymore.
Just like the DJI Mic, these include a backup recording on the transmitter, which saved me in the past.
You can get the dual transmitter option, or the single transmitter.
#3. Synco P1L or P1T (Smartphone/tablet only)
These are the more affordable version of the previous two. They are a lot cheaper, and that means making some compromises.
First, let’s start with the good aspects of these wireless mics:
- Connecting them feels like a breeze. Get them out of the box, and plug them in.
- Battery life is good, at 5 hours
- Include a charging case that charges faster than the DJI Mic and the Rode, at 1.5 hours
- They allow monitoring through a headphone jack within the unit
These mics are super compact, they work well, and they’re priced well under $100. They connect automatically to a smartphone and work with both Android as well as iOS.
What are the compromises that you make when going for a product that costs 3 or 4 times less?
In some cases, you could argue that the wireless connection is stronger on both the DJI Mic as well as the Rode Wireless Go II, but these are not bad.
Then, the screens. Both the #1 and #2 Mics on this list allow you to troubleshoot and explore audio levels with proper screens. The DJI Mic even includes a touchscreen for easier navigation. In this case? Nothing. You need to manually monitor the levels using headphones, and can’t do much besides connecting them.
Do you remember the amazing backup recording that you get with the more expensive mics? It doesn’t exist here, so there’s that.
Would I still recommend these microphones to anyone looking to live stream an event?
Yes, 100%. These are a set of inexpensive wireless mics that work amazingly well for most people.
Unless you’re a professional live streamer, any of the microphones in this article should help you get the job done.
Tips and Tricks to get the most out of your wireless microphone
- Before you start streaming, test your microphone in a quiet room to make sure that it's working properly and that the audio levels are set correctly.
- Use headphones to monitor the audio levels as you speak into the microphone. This will help you to hear any background noise that might need to be fixed or dampened out.
- Adjust the gain on your microphone to make sure that the levels are not too low or too high. You want the audio levels to be high enough so that your voice is clearly audible, but not so high that it causes clipping.
- Check for any background noise that may be being picked up by the microphone. Placing the transmitter closer to the audio source usually helps with lowering the amount of background noise.
- Experiment with placing the microphone in different positions, such as closer or further away from the presenter or speaker, or at different angles, to find the best sound quality.
- Make sure to check your levels frequently during your live stream. The audio levels might change if the transmitter is misplaced or too far from the audio source.
How to troubleshoot common issues with wireless microphones
When using wireless microphones, some problems might arise. After all, there’s no cable connecting your transmitter to your receiver, so it requires a bit of praying the first time you use them.
Some common problems you might face include:
No sound during the live stream
If you're not hearing any sound from your microphone, check that it's properly connected and turned on. Make sure that the batteries are charged or plugged in. If they are, reconnecting them is the first step.
Once you discard all of that, you must check that the cable or adapter you’re using is the correct one for your device.
Low volume at the event
If the sound from your microphone is too low, check that the gain is set correctly and that the audio levels are not too low. Make sure that the microphone is positioned correctly and that there is no background noise that might be causing the audio levels to drop.
When using a live streaming app such as EventLive to live stream your events, you can monitor the audio levels by just looking at the meter on the left side of the screen. See an example below:
Distorted sound
Check that the gain is not set too high, which can cause clipping. Also, check that the microphone is not too close to your mouth, which can cause a "popping" sound.
Interference
If you're experiencing interference, such as static or dropouts, try moving the microphone and receiver away from other electronic devices. Sometimes even moving the transmitter and receiver further apart can solve this problem.
If none of that works, try to use a different channel if possible. Both DJI and Rode Wireless Go II allow you to do this.
Connection issues
If you're having trouble connecting your microphone, check that the transmitter and receiver are paired. Make sure that the microphone is within range of the receiver and that no obstacles are blocking the signal.
Sometimes replacing a cable or simply reconnecting the audio jack can solve this issue.
Wrapping up
When it comes to live streaming events, choosing a wireless microphone comes down to a budgeting decision.
If you need to live stream a single event, opting for a sub $100 option is probably best for you. It won’t have all the bells and whistles, but you won’t need them. You just need a reliable mic that enables viewers to hear everything that’s going in real time.
For avid live streamers or anyone looking to broadcast multiple events now or in the future, a better piece of equipment will come in handy when, eventually, they run into some trouble or interference at an event.
The most important lesson I want you to take from this article is that in order to solve audio issues and improve the quality of your event, you must focus on audio as much as you focus on video.
