What wired lavalier do you recommend for under $50?

It seems likely that nobody here has ever heard of a <$50 lav mic that could be characterized as "good".
Please explain how you want to use this, or in particular, what you want to connect it to?
Are you looking for 3-pin XLR? 1/4" phone plug? 3.5mm mini-phone?
Self powered (battery)? "Plug-in power" (~5V)? Phantom power (48V)?

I've used a $3 "computer mic" plugged into a 3.5mm mic jack on a little camcorder with good results. You can break the conventional rules if you know what the consequences are and are prepared to deal with the consequences.
 
Richard Crowley said:
It seems likely that nobody here has ever heard of a <$50 lav mic that could be characterized as "good".
Please explain how you want to use this, or in particular, what you want to connect it to?
Are you looking for 3-pin XLR? 1/4" phone plug? 3.5mm mini-phone?
Self powered (battery)? "Plug-in power" (~5V)? Phantom power (48V)?

I've used a $3 "computer mic" plugged into a 3.5mm mic jack on a little camcorder with good results. You can break the conventional rules if you know what the consequences are and are prepared to deal with the consequences.
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It'll be connected to a Zoom H2 (so it'll be plugged into a 3.5mm mic jack). I prefer self powered or Plug-in power". I'll be reading books to make audio books.
 
bekky said:
OK. $100 budget. What do you suggest?
Click to expand...

Rent a better one or the one you could have got for $50 for twice as long. Also if you are reading a book for the purposes of an audio book a Lav is way down on the list of mics for this purpose. I have not used the H2 but I would imagine the built in mics would be better then a $50 lav for reading into.
 
$100 still doesn't buy you much. You say you're making audio books. These present a classic studio narration / voice over recording situation. A large diaphram condensor or a dynamic studio mic, not a lav, is generally the mic of choice for this application, though some VO artists prefer a shotgun such as the Senneheiser MKH416. What are the plans for the recordings after they are made? Will they be used just for your own personal use or are they intended for broadcast or commercial sales - in other words, how professional an end result are you looking for?

Are you recording yourself or will you be hiring a professional voice artist for the job (it's not as easy as it looks, BTW). A pro may have strong preferences as to mic'ing his or her own voice and you would be well advised to heed their suggestions - if they've been around a while they'll probably know what mics suit their individual voice the best. Also, working pros very often these days have their own home studios to work in so you wouldn't need to purchase any equipment at all.
 
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Why do you think you want a lav mic for reading audio-books? That is more typically done with something more like a studio mic on a stand. Or on an articulated arm.


A friend of mine does volunteer voice work for audio books and program announcements and promos for public TV stations. I recommended that she get an Audio-Technica AT2020 and she is very happy with it. She records directly to her computer so that she can edit and then email the sound files to the stations. AT now makes a USB version which is even more convenient to just plug directly into a computer.

If you really have your heart set on a cheap lav mic, there is always Audio Technica ATR-3350 which is available from Amazon for $21.
 
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