I created this external mic comparison with iPad Mini 3

…in response to questions I see on entrepreneurship forums and from teachers about what mic to use to make better videos with smartphones or tablets. I compare three mics in the video: theRode SmartLav, the Audio-Technica AT Pro70, and the Olympus ME52W. Each has its strengths and weaknesses. I explain my findings in this blog post. You can hear the comparison for yourself in the video. I recorded the footage for this external mic comparison with iPad Mini 3 video on an iPad Mini 3 using the 720p Facetime (front-facing) camera and edited it with iMovie for iOS.

Rode SmartLav

Rode SmartLav+ Lavalier Mic

This lavalier microphone is a favorite amongst solopreneur do-it-yourselfers. It comes with a native TRRS plug which matches the smartphone/tablet 3.5 mm audio jack. No adapter required. You can find the Rode SmartLav+ (the newer version of this mic) nowadays around $70. It comes with a little pouch which I find handy to stuff into my cell phone holster. I keep this mic with me all the time. If you find yourself in a louder situation like at a conference or beach and want to record a video on your smartphone, clipping this mic within 10 inches of your mouth will capture your vocal audio level well above most crowd-type background noise. I’m not sure it would help you on an airport runway or in the middle of a rock concert. 🙂 The default recording level and output volume of the mic is fairly high. Unfortunately, this robust level comes with a bit of hiss although this negative is greatly offset by the fact that you can easily understand the speaker as opposed to him/her being too far away or drowned out by background noise.

Audio-Technica AT Pro70

Audio Technica AT Pro70 XLR Lavalier Mic

If you’re shooting for higher audio quality and don’t mind a little extra work, the Audio-Technica AT Pro70 is a great choice. Currently priced at around $90. The AT Pro70 is a lavalier mic with an XLR connector. You will need to purchase an XLR to TRRS adapter to use with a smartphone or tablet. The lav cable on the Pro70 is about 6 feet long so you will probably want to buy an extension cable. You can find shielded XLR cables as well as TRRS extension cables listed in my Amazon store. If high quality sound is very important to you, I would suggest you opt for the XLR cable because it will keep the audio signal cleaner than the basic TRRS cable. In addition to the extra work the XLR cable and adapter, the default recording level/ output volume of the HP Pro 70 is fairly quiet. At one point in the video (External Mic Comparison with iPad Mini 3) I included a sample with the volume turned up in postproduction by 300%. This got the audio level up to the same level as the Rode SmartLav+. but did not carry the hiss/signal noise as with Rode SmartLav+ and the Olympus ME52W. In other words, the sound quality is better with the Audio-Technica AT Pro70, but you have to do some additional work in your editing software.

XLR to TRRS adapter Y Splitter

XLR Extension Cable

TRRS Extension Cable

Olympus ME52W

Olympus ME52W Mono Noise Cancelling Lavalier Mic

The Olympus ME52W was the bargain-basement mic in this comparison currently priced at around $15 on Amazon. The recording volume is strong. The mic itself is essentially a lavalier mic mounted on a 3.5 mm mono plug. You will need to buy a mono to TRRS adapter to use the Olympus ME52W with your smartphone. The mic comes with an extension cable of about 3 feet, but you pretty much have to get an additional extension cable because that distance is hardly even enough to frame a decent selfie. I would suggest a 6 or 12 foot TRRS cable. The mic also comes with a tie clip for attaching to your talent’s clothing. If your budget is such that you need something at this price point, the Olympus ME52W will definitely provide a better sound capture than the onboard mic. This should be clear from the video. However, I found it a little too sensitive and noisier than the Rode SmartLav and the Audio-Technica AT Pro70. This mic would be a good choice for classroom teachers who need a dozen mics for their one-to-one iPad classrooms. However, do NOT forget to buy the adapter necessary for connecting to the smartphone/tablet 3.5 mm TRRS port. Teachers would also need to buy extension cables for any productions they hope their students will film from further than three feet away.

Mono 3.5mm to TRRS adapter Y Splitter

Conclusion: External Mic Comparison with iPad Mini 3

For convenience and all around usefulness for the do-it-yourselfer/on-location/smartphone video creator, the Rode SmartLav+ comes out on top.

For the smartphone video creator who wants to add more quality to their videos and doesn’t mind carrying more gear and putting in a little extra editing effort (to increase volume) you will get better results from the Audio-Technica AT Pro70.

I created this video to demonstrate an external mic comparison with iPad Mini 3 using the native camera app with the front-facing “Facetime” 720p camera and Apple’s iOS iMovie app. I hope the video gives you a good understanding of how these mics perform. Please let me know if you have any questions using the form on my Contact page.