Getting the Best Sound From Your Lav

In order to get the best sound for your lavalier microphone, it's important to first understand the factors that can affect it. These factors include the type of lav mic and recorder, the placement of the mic, how wind is managed, and the movement of the talent. According to the video, you typically want to use a mic with an omnidirectional pickup pattern, because sound is picked up from all directions and it gives it a fuller tone. If you are using a cardioid pickup pattern, it's best to understand that it's very directional, which can be useful in some situations like noisy environments, although the audio can sometimes sound nasally. Another important suggestion is to place the mic near the upper middle portion of the chest, and to often hide it under the top layer of clothing. This prevents the mic from being a distraction, and it also helps block out unwanted wind noise, which is crucial for recording good audio. A third tip from the video is to invest in a dedicated audio recorder like a field recorder, because they do a much better job at recording a quality signal than just hooking the mic up to the camera.