7 Best Wireless Microphones in 2023 for Video Recording
A good wireless mic frees you up from one of the several complexities of recording high quality audio. Here's our pick of the best models of the year.
By Andrew Dilks
Whether you’re vlogging on YouTube or recording an interview on your mobile, these are the best wireless microphones for your money.
I’ve been using wireless microphones for years, and over that time, prices have come down, and quality has gone up.
As long as you invest in a wireless mic with a strong transmitter and receiver from a reputable brand, you’ll enjoy hours of wireless audio recording.
Some even allow you to transmit up to 100m away, making them ideal when using zoom lenses.
Impressive audio quality and battery life with easy to use interface, great wind protection and strong transmission range, in a handy and robust package.
All of the wireless mics below can be used for video recording on DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, as well as iPhones and Android phones.
(You might need a 3.5mm jack to lightning adapter to attach the receiver to newer iPhones.)
Personally, I attach a lavalier mic to the transmitter for optimal audio quality, but this is optional, depending on your preferences.
Check out my recommendations below, and let me know if you have any questions about any of the best wireless microphones in the comments below.
Related:
Image | Product | Features | |
---|---|---|---|
DJI MicOUR # 1 PICK |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
Rode Wireless GO IIHIGHLY RECOMMENDED |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
Hollywood Lark M1TOP RATED |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
Saramonic Blink 500 Pro B2 |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
Lark 150 Wireless Microphone System |
| Check AMAZON Price → Check B&H Price → | |
IK Multimedia Wireless Mic for iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Check AMAZON Price → |
What is the Best Wireless Microphone System for Video in 2023?
DJI Mic
- Robust and durable build quality
- Impressive 820 feet transmission range
- Extra battery life with the charging case
- Professional-sounding audio quality
- Easy-to-use interface and controls
- Solid wind protection
- Expensive
- Mono only recording on iPhones
DJI is synonymous with high-quality yet consumer-friendly filmmaking equipment, delivering robust construction, consistently excellent performance, and great features across its product line.
The DJI Mic wireless microphone system is no exception, sporting an incredibly sturdy design and longevity thanks to its charging case with an intuitive user interface.
In addition to the incredibly handy charging case, which extends the five-and-a-half-hour battery life by an additional ten hours, the DJI Mic also comes with an omnidirectional microphone and receivers.
Everything on the DJI Mic is designed for optimal handling and performance, with an astounding transmission range of up to 820 feet, making it perfect for exterior location shoots covering a large area.
Controlling the mics through the responsive touchscreen is easy, with a neat user interface that can be mastered in a short amount of time to help you fine-tune the audio quality.
Recording quality delivers professional results, with crisp and clean audio across all frequency ranges and impressive dynamic range to ensure your content sounds as good as possible.
This includes the ability to record exceptional audio in stereo thanks to the twin transmitters, with the onboard storage opening up more options for long recording sessions while on location.
While the DJI Mic is certainly on the expensive side compared to its competitors, it’s a notch above the Rode Go II across the board, making it the best all-around wireless microphone setup for those with the budget.
Rode Wireless GO II
- Exceptional audio recordings
- A compact and lightweight system
- Can record to single or separate channels
- Solid battery life of up to seven hours
- Great set of options on both hardware and software
- Onboard storage
- Computer required to adjust some settings
- Fine-tuning gain controls can be fiddly
For videographers who don’t quite have the funds to stretch to the DJI Mic and are looking for one of the best wireless microphones on a lower budget, the Rode Wireless Go II is a great alternative.
Many of the core features found in the DJI Mic are present, with only a handful of compromises on features such as the transmission range, around 600 feet compared to 820, and the expected battery life.
You can use the Rode Wireless Go II microphone easily with a camera or phone, and it also comes with onboard storage for saving audio when shooting on location, aided by its seven hours of uncompressed recording storage.
There’s also the option to record two subjects at the same time with wireless simul-recording, as well as the option to pair them with external lavalier microphones that run to the transmitter’s input.
As you might expect, the sound quality is on par with the best Rode mics in this range, with plenty of options in the mic’s software to allow users to play with the settings and adjust gain and other parameters.
With additional improvements over its predecessor such as the increase in line of sight to 200m, the Rode Wireless Go II is one of the most comprehensive wireless mic systems you can buy for the price.
Hollyland Lark M1
- Incredibly lightweight and compact
- Easy to set up
- Great audio quality for the price
- Eight-hour battery life
- Perfect for content creators on a low budget
- Lacks a single transmitter volume control
- Transmission range of 200 feet might be too short for some uses
While Rode and DJI offer some of the best wireless microphones for users with a larger budget, the Hollywood Lark M1 wireless mic system represents exceptional value for money for budget-conscious content creators.
This suitability extends to beginners, thanks to its simple setup and use workflow, intuitive controls and interface, and streamlined features that won’t take long to master.
Out of the box, you’ll find two microphones, a charging case, and a receiver, in addition to handy peripherals such as windsocks for outdoor recording and the relevant cables to connect to your phone, camera, or PC.
While the range of settings is more restricted than the Rode or DJI, the Hollywood Lark M1 nevertheless allows users to include noise cancellation, as well as adjust the volume across low, mid, and high frequencies.
It’s a little less forgiving when recording sound without a clear line of sight, and while the 200 feet transmission range isn’t ideal for some location shoots, it’s ample enough to meet the needs of most videographers.
Content creators with restricted funds who want an easy-to-use wireless microphone kit that delivers no-frills results will get plenty of value for money from the Hollywood Lark M1.
Saramonic Blink 500 Pro B2
- Includes a compact charging case
- The sound quality is excellent
- Transmitters work over long distances
- Supplied with lavalier microphones
- Incredibly compact package
- Can experience wind noise using the transmitter’s built-in microphone
- The power button position can lead to accidental activation
Like the Rode and DJI wireless microphones, the Saramonic Blink 500 Pro B2 is a more comprehensive package for high-end vlogging and independent filmmaking with smartphones and DSLRs.
It can be used to capture clean audio, with an incredible 100-meter transmission range in a clear line of sight, which combined with the wind-reduction lavalier microphones makes it one of the best choices for outdoor filmmaking.
This optimization for shooting documentary style on the go is further enhanced by the carry case, which doubles up as a charging point to extend shooting beyond the basic eight hours of battery life.
This case houses all three units, including the two wireless transmitters and the receiver, with everything constructed from lightweight black plastic to easily store along with the rest of your filmmaking kit.
The addition of an OLED display to view the animated waveform makes the Saramonic Blink 500 Pro B2 among the best wireless mics for shooting outdoors with a streamlined recording process.
Lark 150 Wireless Microphone System
- Superb crisp audio quality
- Transmitters are incredibly small
- The carry case doubles up as a charger
- Frequence-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) for automatic pairing
- Comes with two lapel microphones included
- No room in the case to store lapel microphones
- Fairly expensive
I’ve covered the basic wireless microphone package offered by Hollyland; now let’s take a look at their premium wireless system, the Lark 150, which brings more features and higher-quality audio to the table.
The system comes with a carry case that doubles as a charger, along with the transmitter, receiver, and lapel microphones, meaning you have everything you need to get started out of the box.
While it comes with plenty of settings to fine-tune the audio, many of the handiest features are automatic, saving valuable time when getting prepped to shoot footage.
It’s easy to see why the Lark 150 Wireless Microphone System has become the go-to setup for many vloggers, combining clear audio with a compact design and great features such as a safety track and real-time monitoring.
Throw in automatic pairing with frequency-hopping spread spectrum and intuitive controls, and the Lark 150 Wireless Microphone System is a competitive entry and a viable alternative to the more popular brands.
Boya BY-XM6-S2
- Delivers crisp and clear audio performance
- Comes with a sturdy carry case
- Latency is negligible
- Delivers a clear signal from 100 meters
- Nearby obstacles can cause signal loss
- 3.5mm jack to lightning port adapter isn’t included
Another good entry-level option for vloggers and content creators looking for an affordable alternative to wired microphones is the Boya BY-XM6-S2, which comes with lavalier clip mics and two transmitters, and a receiver.
With each transmitter fitted with an omnidirectional microphone and a headphone port for monitoring audio levels, it’s a solid package that features all the core gear and tools you need to get started.
There’s also an on-screen display for accurate monitoring, even if this display is limited and can’t be used to check some of the more basic functions such as the volume levels.
While there can be issues with the signal dropping when a presenter turns away from the camera, the overall signal quality remains solid, even when being used at its maximum 100-meter range.
Overall, the Boya BY-XM6-S2 is another great entry into budget wireless mic kits for documentary filmmakers and vloggers who want crisp audio for their interviews and commentary.
IK Multimedia Wireless Mic for iPhone, iPad, and Android
- Incredibly portable
- Light and compact for guerilla filmmaking
- Very easy to use
- Handy bundled software package
- Perfect for filmmakers who primarily use smartphones
- Micro USB connectors could be better made
- Unwanted noise when recording at high volumes
While some content creators need a comprehensive package of microphones, the IK Multimedia wireless mic pares things down for a more streamlined system designed for iPhone, iPad, and Android users.
Its minimalist design and lightweight yet durable construction make this arguably the best mic for vlogging with phone setups and is surprisingly well-made considering the low price point.
Since this is geared towards on-the-go content production, it comes with everything you need as standard, pairing easily with smartphones and tablets and recording high-quality audio.
For content creators who want to use their wireless microphone in a studio setting, the IK Multimedia wireless mic also comes with a handy adapter, so it can be easily mounted on a regular microphone stand.
iPhone and other smartphone users who don’t want to carry around additional interfaces and power supplies and just want to record quickly and easily will find plenty to admire about the IK Multimedia Wireless Mic for iPhone.
What Wireless Microphones do Famous YouTubers Use?
I thought it’d be interesting to research what mics famous YouTubers use to record their video audio.
I discovered that they use a mixture of on-camera shotgun mics when vlogging alone and wireless mics when they have someone filming them.
- PewDiePie – Audio-Technica AT2020
- Mr. Beast – Rode Video Mic GO
- Peter McKinnon – Rode NTG4 PLUS Shotgun Microphone
- Casey Neistat – Wave Pro
- Joe Rogan – Shure SM7B Play
- Crime Junkie – Shure MOTIV MV5
- The Fizzle Show – Audio-Technica AT875R
- Kevin Smith – Shure 55SH Series II
See what camera famous YouTubers use and what video editing software YouTubers use here.
What should I be aware of when using wireless Microphone systems?
Wireless microphone systems are a great way to gain incredible coverage recording audio. Still, there are a few things you should be aware of to ensure you get the best possible performance.
Here are some of the basics you need to know if you want to avoid dropouts, distortion, and other interference from ruining your takes.
Blocking the signal
It perhaps goes without saying that wireless microphone systems work best when there is a clear signal between the transmitter and receiver antennas during recording.
This means making sure there is a direct line of sight between these components and avoiding walls, trees, and metal objects in this line of sight that might compromise the signal.
Likewise, humans should whenever possible to out of this line of sight since the body’s composition of salt water makes them liable to soak up RF energy and dull the signal.
Setting incorrect frequencies
When setting the frequencies for your wireless microphone system, they need to be mutually compatible and avoid clashing with any other channels being used in the vicinity.
This includes making sure they don’t come into conflict with local TV channels when shooting in urban areas, generally within a radius of around 50 miles.
While this issue is less common with simple setups, more complicated wireless microphone systems can be set up using a frequency coordination program to guarantee compatibility.
Incorrect gain settings
Setting the gain too high before recording can lead to issues with the end result such as distortion and clipping, so testing and adjusting the gain for the optimal level is crucial.
To avoid this happening, set the gain control and test it to ensure the loudest input signal only just lights up the peak indicator, which is typically found on the receiver.
Failure to manage batteries
Lastly, poor battery management is often the source of many filmmakers’ woes, whether this is for the camera gear being used or the wireless microphone system.
While the battery life on some of the best wireless microphone systems is impressive, it can be easy to overlook recharging them after a long day’s shooting.
Purchasing additional spare rechargeable batteries will give you the necessary power backup to avoid this issue, as well as potential distortion when recording when using drained batteries.
Final Words on the Best Wireless Microphones
The best wireless microphones open up a range of new possibilities when it comes to creating videography content and delivering crisp audio in a variety of settings.
I’ve covered a selection of wireless mics to suit a broad range of budgets and filming scenarios, from heavy hitters manufactured by Rode and DJI to budget-friendly alternatives for ad hoc use.
These wireless microphones deliver exemplary audio quality with plenty of transmission coverage to take your content creation to the next level with professional recording in and outdoors.
Impressive audio quality and battery life with easy to use interface, great wind protection and strong transmission range, in a handy and robust package.