More and more I see people using lav mics (or lavaliere to be pedantic) being held in the hand as if they were handheld mics .
Here’s a quick tip for you folks.
A lav mic that you normally see pinned to the lapel of a newsreader on TV is NOT designed to be used as a handheld. So please don’t.
Why?
- Lavalier (lav) mics should not be used as handheld microphones because they are physically unergonomic and lack proper shielding. Handholding them typically causes severe “handling noise” (scratching sounds from your fingers) and loud popping sounds (plosives) when the mic catches the direct rush of air from your breath
- Plosives and Wind: Lavs are omnidirectional and are designed to be clipped to a collar, which acts as a natural windbreak. Holding it near your mouth makes it highly susceptible to harsh “P” and “B” popping sounds.
- Inconsistent Levels: When held by hand, the distance from your mouth naturally fluctuates. This results in jarring, uneven volume levels in your recording.
- Omnidirectional Pickup: Lavs pick up sound from all directions. When held in a noisy, handheld fashion, they tend to capture a lot of background room ambience, making the speaker sound distant.
- Unprofessional Look: Using a miniature clip-on square or transmitter like a makeshift stick mic can look awkward or unprofessional.
So, just don’t. If you WANT a handheld, get one suitable for the job from the likes of Sennheiser or RØDE.