6 Best Lavalier Microphones for Film

What are the best lavalier microphones for film?

The best lavalier microphones for film are tiny, omnidirectional and natural on voices, so they disappear on talent and still sound like the person talking. Here's how we'd rank them, starting with the four we run on set:

1. DPA 4060 Core: best for most voices
2. DPA 4061 Core: best for loud or projected voices
3. Sanken COS11 D: best lav to hide
4. Sennheiser MKE 2 Gold: best for sweat and long days
5. RØDE Lavalier II: best to buy
6. RØDE Lavalier GO: best budget lav

This list is about the lav itself, the mic you clip on talent. If you want a complete wireless kit you can buy off the shelf, our list of the best microphones for content creators covers those.

Which lav mic suits which shoot?

Pick the lav by the voice and the wardrobe. A 4060 for normal speech, a 4061 for loud voices, and a Sanken when the mic has to be invisible.

1. DPA 4060 Core: best for most voices

Best for: interviews, presenters, documentary and quieter voices.

A good lav is where interview sound is won or lost, and the 4060 sounds like the person talking in the same room, not like a mic under a shirt. The capsule is about 5 mm across, so it hides in a collar, a hairline or behind a button. It's omnidirectional with a neutral sound, so the voice stays even when the talent turns their head.

Watch out: it uses a Microdot connector, so book the right DPA Microdot adapter for your wireless pack. Loud voice? The 4061 is the better match.

2. DPA 4061 Core: best for loud or projected voices

Best for: theatre, broadcast, actors projecting and loud presenters.

For broadcast and theatre lavs, the answer is usually DPA. The 4061 is acoustically the same as the 4060 with lower sensitivity, so it handles loud voices, actors projecting on stage and wireless packs with plenty of gain without distorting. It's about 5 mm across and black, so it hides in hair, under a collar or on a tie, and it works on strings like violin and guitar too.

Watch out: quiet or soft spoken talent? The 4060 is the better match. Like the 4060, it needs the right Microdot adapter for your transmitter.

3. Sanken COS11 D: best lav to hide

Best for: drama, documentary and any shot where the lav must not be seen.

The COS11 D is the lavalier on most film and TV sets. It's 4 mm across and about 16 mm long, so it tucks under a collar, a lapel or a strap and stays hidden on camera, and its water resistant mesh copes with sweat and drizzle. Every sound recordist knows how to hide one. It's the lav that comes with our Lectrosonics LT and LR kit, and you can hire extras as a backup for the one that goes through the wash.

Watch out: it comes wired for Lectrosonics or Lemo transmitters, so pick the right connector when you book. Using a Sennheiser pack? Tell us and we'll put the adapter in the case.

4. Sennheiser MKE 2 Gold: best for sweat and long days

Best for: theatre, broadcast and talent who'll be working hard under lights.

The Sennheiser MKE 2 Gold is an omni lav made for broadcast and theatre, small enough to hide under wardrobe, with a natural sound. Its Umbrella Diaphragm keeps out sweat and moisture, which is why it's a long time favourite for performers. [CONFIRM WITH MIKE: when he picks the MKE 2 Gold over a DPA or Sanken]

Watch out: [CONFIRM WITH MIKE: which connector the hire MKE 2 Gold is wired for, and which packs it suits]

If you'd rather own a lav than hire one, these two are the ones worth buying.

5. RØDE Lavalier II: best to buy

Best for: creators and filmmakers building their own kit around a 3.5 mm wireless system.

The Lavalier II is RØDE's premium lav, with a low profile flat capsule, an omni pattern and a locking 3.5 mm TRS connector. It sits flatter against clothing than a standard round lav and comes with a windshield, clip and coloured ID rings.

Watch out: its capsule is 6 mm, a little bigger than a DPA or Sanken, so it's easier to see under thin clothing. It runs on plug in power through a 3.5 mm input, so check your transmitter first. We don't hire it, so it's a buy.

6. RØDE Lavalier GO: best budget lav

Best for: interviews and presentations where the lav can be seen on a lapel.

The Lavalier GO is an omni lav with a 3.5 mm TRS jack and a Kevlar reinforced cable, built for RØDE's own wireless systems and anything else with a 3.5 mm input. It's tough, simple and cheap enough to keep a spare.

Watch out: it doesn't lock into the transmitter like the Lavalier II, so tape or loop the cable on a busy shoot. We don't hire it, so it's a buy.

Do you need a lav or a boom mic?

Usually both. A lav gets close to the voice and stays there when the talent moves. A boom sounds more natural and catches the room, but it has to stay out of frame.

On most shoots we record a lav and a boom on separate tracks, so the editor can pick the better one for each take. Our guide to boom mics vs lav mics covers when each one wins, and our list of the best shotgun microphones for film covers the boom side.

Do lav mics need a wireless pack?

Not always, but on most film shoots they're on one. A wired lav runs a cable from the talent to the recorder, which is fine for a seated interview. As soon as the talent walks, a wireless pack like the Sennheiser G4 or Lectrosonics frees them up.

Pro lavs use pro connectors, so match the lav to the pack: DPA lavs use Microdot adapters, and the Sanken comes wired for Lectrosonics or Lemo. Tell us your system when you book and we'll put the right adapters in the case.

Questions we get asked