Specifications

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Lavalier — Another popular mic for video use is the lavalier type.
Historically, the word “lavalier” refers to microphones which are hung on a
cord around the wearer’s neck, but the term has grown to include almost any
small microphone that attaches to the user’s clothing.
Lavalier microphones leave the talker’s hands free to gesture, hold notes,
or demonstrate a product. In addition, they are usually very small and
therefore tend to disappear on camera. Also, using a lavalier will keep the
distance from the microphone to the talker’s mouth fairly constant, reducing
the need for frequent mixer adjustment once the levels have been set.
A disadvantage of lavalier mics is the fact that they tend to be single-
purpose microphones - they rarely sound good if handheld or used away
from the body. While the lavalier mic’s small size makes it easy to conceal
behind lamps or other objects, an equalizer is usually necessary to make the
mic sound natural when it is not attached to the person talking.
Tips on Using Lavalier Mics: For best results, lavalier mics should be
placed on the outside of clothing, about six to eight inches below the chin.
They are generally clipped to a pocket, lapel, or necktie. If none of these
options are available, the mic can also be clipped to the collar of a shirt or
blouse. Sound quality in this position tends to be somewhat muffled,
however, because some high frequencies (which contain consonants) do
not fully wrap around to the area under the chin.
Illustration: Ideally, a handheld microphone should be positioned six to
twelve inches from the user’s mouth, at an angle of 45 degrees or less.
This usually avoids air currents that result in “popping” sounds
when the consonants “P” or “T” are pronounced.