Microphones for recording with your phone

An external microphone can help you make better recordings, whether your goal is simply to get better suggestions on Merlin Sound ID, or to make cleaner recordings for uploading to the Macaulay Library via eBird. Almost any microphone can be attached to a phone with the right connectors, but typically birders using their phone to record are looking for something lightweight and portable. If your goals are more around making the best possible recording and you’re less concerned by using Merlin Sound ID and are willing to download the recordings to a computer, see our equipment recommendations page.

Many, many microphones are available, at different price points and with different qualities. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list or exhaustive review, but rather a list of a few units that we have tested and found to have positive impact on both recording quality and Sound ID results.

In addition to specific models, here are some tips to keep in mind when using an external microphone with your phone:

  • Be sure to check which connector a given setup has, and make sure it matches your phone’s input. Most modern phones now use USB-C, making things simpler, but if you have an older iPhone with a lightning connector, make sure to take that into account.
  • All microphones need a power source to function, so if you want to use a higher-end shotgun microphone, for example, be sure it can be powered by a battery. Smaller microphones can usually be powered by Plug-in Power (PiP) which can be supplied by the phone.
  • Wind protection is very important for recording, and one of the most challenging aspects of just using a phone. Parabolas of any kind offer a lot of wind resistance, but others need windscreens to help combat this, and even then it effectiveness can vary.
  • Consider portability—not just size and weight, but how easily you can carry the mic while walking (a strap or holster helps)
  • Some less expensive phones have very low quality built-in microphones, so if the results you get sound unnatural, an extern microphone might be of even more use to you.

KLOVER Mik 09 Birding Bundle ($428)

This small, portable parabola provides some amplification to the target bird (with proper aim), giving both Sound ID results and sound quality a nice boost over a phone’s built-in microphone. This bundle comes assembled, making it easy to plug-and-record right out of the box, with no additional accessories needed. The amplification and resulting directionality don’t really compare to a full-size parabola, but it’s a nice tool when portability is crucial, and is markedly better than a phone by itself—especially if there’s any wind.

 

Pros

  • Give a nice boost to sound quality and Sound ID results
  • All-inclusive, no additional accessories needed
  • Fairly robust design
  • Easy to attach a strap to the handle for portability
  • Helps a lot with wind noise

Cons

  • Quite pricey
  • Limited amplification compared to a full-size parabola
  • Screws attaching handle can come loose and may need to be tightened periodically

Rode NTG2 ($269, plus accessories)

The Rode NTG2 has become a go-to option for a relatively low-cost but high-quality short shotgun microphone. We have found its sound quality to be on par with other models in the NTG line-up, and given its lower cost, it’s been our recommended model in recent years. It can be powered with AA battery, and has an XLR connector that can be used with a high quality sound recorder (like a Zoom F3), or a phone using an XLR – USB-C cable

For the cable, look for something relatively short (2-3ft usually preferable if using with a hand-held phone). A direct XLR-USB-C simplifies the interface over one that needs additional adapters. Brands can vary, so you may want to buy a backup as well if you find one you like. If you’re using an older iPhone, you may need an XLR-Lightning cable, which are somewhat harder to find.

For a handle (shock mount), many options exist, but something like this shock mount paired with this grip is a nice mid-priced option.

Note that many other shotgun microphones will work well for this purpose as well, just be sure they take a battery so they can power themselves.

Pros

  • Great quality and reasonably directional
  • Quite compact for a real shotgun microphone
  • Takes a AA battery so can be used with devices like phones that can’t supply 48v power
  • Works well with dedicated sound recorders in case you upgrade to one later

Cons

  • Requires an additional cable (plus AA battery) to connect to phone
  • Needs a separate handle and shock mount

Rode VideoMic Go II ($81)

The VideoMic series has been popular with amateur sound recordists as a compact, inexpensive microphone that’s easy to connect to cameras and phones. In general, they are not very directional, but do seem to improve sound quality overall from most phones’ built-in microphone, resulting in more natural sounding (if not much more “focused”) recordings. A handle such as this one is helpful for holding this microphone in the field.

Pros

  • Very light and portable
  • Decent boost to sound quality
  • Easy to connect to phone via USB-C port
  • Less expensive than many other options

Cons

  • Not very directional
  • Limited boost to Sound ID results
  • Needs a separate handle

BOYA BY-MM1 ($30–$50)

This small microphone provides a mild boost to recording volume, and results in more natural sounding results than the phone’s built-in microphones. Don’t expect it to be able to focus in on a particular bird, but the resulting recordings do sound more natural, versus the tinnier, rather artificial sound that many phones produce using their built-in microphones.

Several models are available, but the easiest to connect to a phone is the BY-MM1 AI, which has a USB-C port that won’t need extra adapters. However, it’s critically important that if you get this model, you turn OFF the AI noise reduction, which will result in a garbled sound and bad recordings. Make sure the light on the mic is blue (not green) before recording. Other models don’t have this risk, but will need an extra 3.5mm-USB-C connector to attach to a phone.

You will probably also want some kind of handle or shock mount for this small microphone, as handholding it may introduce handling noise and it somewhat awkward due to its small size. Mounting it on the phone directly is also a possibility.

Pros

  • Very small, lightweight and portable
  • Inexpensive
  • Gives recordings a more natural sound over just the phone (provided AI noise cancellation is OFF)

Cons

  • Not directional, so you’re dealing with extra gear for not much isolation effect
  • Noise cancellation is easy to turn on by accident, ruining recordings

 

Summary

Phone microphones are not designed to record wildlife, so an external microphone can improve the quality of your files, depending on your budget and how much you’re willing to carry around. They’re not magical, though, and are no substitute for good field technique (getting close to the bird, staying quiet). See this page for smartphone recording tips.