External Microphones for Phone Recording: Which Type Fits You?

Phones are convenient, but their hardware and software were never designed with music recording in mind, so recording instruments on one comes with limitations (further reading: why phone recordings of instruments sound bad).

To make a musical content sound good on a phone, there are two problems to solve: AGC (automatic gain control) and microphone placement. AGC can be switched off or bypassed through your phone’s settings or a recording app. The placement problem, beyond trial and error, is best solved with an external microphone.

This article breaks down your external microphone options and what to watch for when choosing one.

Plug-in (USB-C): connect and record

These microphones connect directly to your phone’s USB port and become its audio source. The upside is how intuitive they are: plug in and start recording. And now that nearly every device has settled on USB-C, moving one mic between devices has become much easier.

The downside is that the mic is fixed to the phone, so its position follows the phone — and the camera. The moment you face a trade-off between framing the shot and placing the mic, you can only pick one.

Example: Shure MV88 (USB-C version)

Wireless: compact, free placement

As the technology improves day by day, many miniature microphones now work wirelessly. The appeal is obvious: they’re compact and convenient, and they separate the mic position from the camera, so you can keep good sound while keeping the frame clean.

Two things deserve attention, though. First, the transmission format: wireless audio has to be compressed and reconstructed in a very short window, which puts the maker’s wireless protocol to the test (RODE’s Wireless GO, for example, runs on RODE’s own 2.4GHz system rather than open Bluetooth) — and this matters a great deal for sound quality. Second, SPL: many of these wireless mics are designed primarily for speech. To use one on an instrument, you’ll need to work out mounting, and you’ll need to confirm the mic can handle the instrument’s sound pressure without distorting.

Representative product: RODE Wireless GO (proprietary 2.4GHz transmission)

Wired: sound quality plus monitoring

Beyond those two, there’s a third kind: microphones powered by USB that also carry the data, neatly combining a microphone and an audio interface in one body. Their strength isn’t the freest placement (that belongs to wireless) but the combination of three things: a capsule built to handle high SPL, so loud instruments won’t distort; a headphone jack on the body, so you can monitor in real time as you record; and the stability of a wired, interface-grade connection. For anyone planning to record instrument performances with their phone’s camera, this is the type that fits best.

The trade-off is size and weight — these run a little larger than the other two types.

Representative product: FlashTrack DSP (how to connect it to your phone and start recording)

So which one should I use?

As we often say: there’s no best gear, only the gear that fits.

• Want convenience and don’t mind the framing trade-off: a plug-in mic is a great starting point.
• Want wireless and mostly record quieter instruments: a wireless mic is worth considering (check the SPL rating and transmission format).
• Want to play along with a backing track and record a cover you love: a wired mic with real-time monitoring will be the smoothest choice.