Video Tips - Android Video Production Tips Part 2: Audio, Power, and Memory - DIY in 5 EP 79

Опубликовано 5 июня 2018, 17:00

Your audio must sound good. Viewers can excuse poor video, but poor audio can instantly make your stream look and feel less professional. Unfortunately, good audio is also one of the hardest things to capture when recording or streaming from a mobile device, especially in a crowded area. Some Android phones have prioritized directional microphones and hi-fi recording, such as LG phones and old Nokia Lumia phones. But in most cases you’ll be better off with an external microphone solution. There are a few options out there now that work with Android, but they don’t always work with all camera apps. There are both wired and wireless options.

Single Wired Lavalier Microphone
One of the best and least expensive is a simple wired lavalier microphone connected to the headset jack with an Android phone that can detect and record using an external mic. If you plug in and see a message about the mic being detected, then you are all set. If you don’t see a message, it means the phone may still be recording audio using its onboard microphone.

Two Channels of Wireless Microphones
If you have more than one person you need to record, or you’ll be moving around too much to use a clip on mic, then you may want two lavaliers or a handheld microphone. This option will connect straight to your Android phone and is suitable for livestreaming, and if you’re recording, no syncing in post will be necessary. Samson offers the Go Mic Mobile audio system which is designed specifically to be a wireless solution for professional smartphone recording. It has a dual-channel receiver that mounts to the back of the phone, and connects using a micro USB or USB-C connector. It works with both their wireless handheld and lavalier microphones, and has a 100ft range and a 13hr battery life.

Two Channels of Microphone with monitoring
If you want to get really fancy, Creative Labs has the new Sound Blaster K3+. It is a small USB-powered recording and streaming mixer with a 4-pole 3.5 inch jack, which is an input and output from the phone. It also features XLR/TRS combo connection, phantom power, dual headphone monitors, stereo line in, and you can even add-in pre-recorded sound effects, auto tune, and reverb!

Power and Battery
Another thing to keep in mind when recording or streaming via your Android phone are your power requirements. When shooting on any smartphone, remember that poor or intermittent Wi-Fi will drain your phone’s battery. If you still have a phone with a removable battery, then you can simply swap it out. If you do not have that luxury, then you can use a portable power bank. These have gotten smaller and less expensive over the years.

Memory
Expandable memory is one department where many Android users have a significant advantage over iPhone users. Just like with a regular camera, bringing extra microSD cards to swap out when your memory is low is also a great benefit to Android video shooting. Some cards even come in speeds specifically tailored for certain phones, like our Kingston 256GB MicroSDXC card, which is ready to go for a Samsung Galaxy S9+. It’s optimized for increased performance and longer battery life, for $189 USD. There are much less expensive options out there, like the Kingston Canvas Select 32GB microSDHC for $10.99 if you don’t need quite so much extra memory.

What type of content do you most like to see livestreamed and do you do any phone recording or streaming yourself? Let us know in the comments.

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