If you’re looking for the best way to improve the sound quality of your GoPro or action camera, you need to get one of these external microphone attachments.
External microphones are the fastest and easiest way to capture high-quality audio.
They can help reduce wind noise and ambient sound and greatly improve the clarity of voice recordings.
The action camera microphone attachment helps you get better sound quality on your Insta360, DJI Osmo, GoPro or any other action camera.
Let’s take a closer look at the top models of the year.
Table of Contents
4 BEST ACTION CAMERA MICROPHONE ATTACHMENTS IN 2023
1. Rode Wireless GO II
Why would you want an action cam if you can’t move around freely because of all the wires? Well, that’s why the Rode Wireless Go II is the best action microphone accessory of the year.
The first version was excellent, but this latest V2 version adds some useful features that make it even more useful for high-quality run-and-gun style audio recording.
It’s still compact and lightweight, and coupled with the unique clip’n’go design, it’s incredibly versatile and easy to use.
The device consists of three units: two transmitters and one dual-channel receiver – each weighing only 31 g. The dimensions of the transmitter are 44 mm x 45.3 mm x 18.5 mm and the receiver 44 mm x 46.3 mm x 18.5 mm.
The built-in internal storage is also a handy feature, allowing you to store up to 24 hours of compressed audio within the unit – with uncompressed recording, you’ll have a limit of around 7 hours in internal memory.
Watch the video below where Mark reviews the first version of Go to get a better idea of how it can be used outdoors.
Note that the first version had a transmission distance of 70m, while this latest model uses Series IV 2.4GHz digital transmission technology with 128-bit encryption, allowing you to get a range of up to 200m (656ft) in open space.
The Rode VideoMic Pro is compact and lightweight, but it’s also a piece of professional equipment, so you get excellent sound quality.
This is probably the most common action cam microphone in 2023 for vloggers and YouTubers, although it’s quite large on a GoPro – you’ll sometimes see it used as part of a rig or “cage” to support other accessories such as action camera lights or external screens.
Its robust construction makes it ideal for outdoor use and has a built-in high-pass filter to reduce ambient noise.
This shotgun microphone also features an integrated Rycote® Lyre® silencer for better noise isolation and a high-quality foam windshield to ensure the highest sound quality.
The Rode VideoMic Pro uses a 9-volt battery that will give you up to 70 hours of use. The device comes with a one-year warranty, but it can be extended to 10 years free of charge after registration.
Pros
- Record up to 2 audio sources at once
- Internal storage for up to 24 hours of audio
- Battery life up to 7 hours
- Wireless Range up to 200 m
- Clip’n’go system
- Comes with 3 units
Cons
- Gain fine-tuning controls are only available on PC
2. Sennheiser MKE 400
The Sennheiser MKE 400 is a shotgun unidirectional microphone. The design helps reduce ambient noise and vibration while you’re on the go.
The sound quality is excellent, as you would expect from Sennheiser, a brand synonymous with high-end sound recording and reproduction.
It has a headphone jack with built-in controls, which is handy if your action camera also has a headphone jack.
It comes with a TRS to TRS cable to connect to your camera. You can also get the MKE Mobile Kit with a Manfrotto tripod and a TRS to TRRS cable for connecting to mobile devices.
The MKE 400 runs on two AAA batteries, giving you an impressive 100 hours of audio recording. It has a cold shoe mount to fit any camera and weighs 344g.
As with the other action camera mic connection options on this list, we recommend using it in conjunction with a case or mount.
3. Rode VideoMicro
The compact and lightweight design makes the Rode VideoMicro an excellent choice as an action camera microphone accessory. It weighs just 42g and measures a minute 21mm x 21mm x 80mm.
The Rode VideoMicro has a built-in Ricote® Lyre® mount and comes with a furry windscreen to help isolate outside noise.
One of its biggest advantages is that you don’t need to change the battery or recharge it because it is powered by the action camera itself.
The Rode VideoMicro is a condenser directional microphone that provides better sound quality for your footage even when recording outdoors.
You can use it with any action camera that supports an external microphone input, and even with a smartphone.
The only drawback we found while reviewing the VideoMicro is the slightly flimsy support structure, which is designed to make the microphone unit “float” above the action camera – any slight movement of the camera causes it to bounce.
It’s true that the sound quality isn’t effective when bouncing, but it can be a little disconcerting to see it wobble while recording!
Pros
- Light and compact
- No battery required
- Cost-effective
- Good value for money
Cons
- The windshield is too big for some action cameras
- It can be wonky on some action cameras
4. Rode smartLav+ Lavalier Condenser Microphone
The Rode SmartLav+ is an omnidirectional lapel microphone. It is extremely light and compact with an easy-to-use clip-on system.
The sound quality on the Rode SmartLav+ is much better than the original Rode SmartLav, so it’s really worth the upgrade if you had the original version. Check out the gray connector that differentiates the new version from the previous one!
Simply connect the Rode Smartlav+ to your smartphone or action camera and register the audio signal to instantly enhance the voice recording in your videos.
You can download the Rode app to your smartphone, but the lite (free) version doesn’t give you access to advanced settings and offers fewer file formats to register – the Pro version is paid for.
To use the Rode SmatLav+ with some action cameras, you will need the 6m long SC3 adapter available from Rode.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good value for money
- Super light
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not great for windy situations
- Pro app sold separately
- The wire can get in the way