After publishing a few vlogs, the most common feedback I got was about audio quality. Either too quiet, too much noise, or just plain hard to listen to. It’s not surprising — most people shoot video without thinking about audio at all.
Here’s what I’ve learned after experimenting with different setups for vlogging audio:
Why Audio Matters More Than You Think
People will tolerate bad video — shaky shots, bad lighting — but bad audio is an immediate turn-off. If viewers can’t hear or understand you clearly, they’ll click away. Audio quality is arguably more important than video quality for vlogs.
The Options
Built-in camera mic — convenient, but picks up everything: wind, background noise, handling noise. Only workable in very controlled environments.
Lavalier (lapel) mic — clips to your shirt. Great for talking-head videos. The Rode SmartLav+ plugs directly into a smartphone. Affordable and effective.
Shotgun mic — mounts on the camera’s hot shoe. Good for outdoor shooting. The Rode VideoMicro is compact and works well with mirrorless cameras.
Zoom recorder — for serious audio needs. I use the Zoom H2N, which also doubles as a podcast recorder. You can sync audio in post.
My Current Setup
For most vlogs I shoot at home or in controlled environments, I use a lavalier mic plugged into my iPhone. For outdoor or event shooting, I mount a Rode VideoMicro on my camera. For podcast-style interview videos, I use the Zoom H2N with a proper mic stand.
Audio Editing
Even with good recording, you’ll need some post-processing. I use Auphonic to normalize audio levels and reduce background noise. It’s free for up to 2 hours of audio per month — more than enough for regular vlogging.