Portable Recording Microphones for Voice Actors

As a voice actor, you can work from home or even on the road, should you choose to do so. From time to time, you may also decide that you want to travel but still get paid.

Let’s say you are on vacation and receive a response to your submitted audition — the client wants to hire you! Great news, but how can you record professional-sounding audio while on the road?

In this article

1. Travel Equipment for Recording on the Road
2. Portable Recording Microphones for Your Mobile Device
3. All Wrapped Up

Here is a list of tips and tricks, as well as the best portable recording microphones, that can keep you working and getting paid, no matter how far away from your studio you may be, as long as you have a quiet spot to sneak off to.

Travel Equipment for Recording on the Road

Voice actor and coach Julie Williams agrees that having travel equipment ready to take along with you on your next getaway is key to retaining your professionalism while on the road. She shares key pieces of travel equipment, including portable recording microphones, that you will need to record successfully on the go.

• A laptop or tablet equipped with recording software
• A USB microphone
• Mic Stand
• Case to protect your equipment
• A way to absorb sound in your room, car or wherever you may be

A good way to absorb sound is to throw a heavy blanket over your head while recording — a great, quick, and easy way to create an on-the-go recording space.

Now that you have a list of equipment, you may wonder which microphone will give you the best sounding audio quality, no matter where you will be physically recording your voice. Here are a few good microphones for the inevitable need to record when you are away.

Portable Recording Microphones for Your Mobile Device

If you don’t travel with a laptop but instead use a mobile device like an iPhone or iPad, you can now get high-quality microphones that connect to these devices.

Several new and exciting products are available, especially for iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch). For example, the Rhodes VideoMic Me™ and the Samson CO1U Pro have headphone jacks and/or can plug directly into your cell phone. Both are examples of mics that offer professional-quality recordings, even for those who are on the go.

Here are a few microphones and brands that have been around for several years. While their mics have had various compatibility and functionality upgrades, they continue to release new models that voice actors are drawn to.

IK Multimedia iRig Mic

IK Multimedia has a couple of products you can use for mobile voice-over recording. The iRig Mic is a condenser mic specifically designed to plug into an iOS device (e.g., an Apple iPhone). You can download free apps to your device to use it as your recording studio software. Check out this published review of the iRig Mic.

IK Multimedia iRig PRE

The iRig PRE is a mic preamp/interface that allows you to plug your microphone into your phone (Android or iOS). A product like this preamp is great if you travel with your favorite mic.

Blue Spark Digital

The Blue Spark Digital is a studio microphone for iOS, Mac and PC, making it useful for home and the road.

Blue Mikey Digital

According to Blue, this microphone is ‘an ultra-compact stereo condenser microphone that turns your iPhone or iPad into the sleekest mobile recording device around.‘

Apogee Mic — The Best USB Microphone

The best USB microphone you can get is the Apogee Microphone. According to Apogee’s website, “The Apogee MiC Plus is a professional studio quality USB microphone you can connect to your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac or PC. MiC Plus makes it easy to capture your best take with incredible quality, anywhere you go. Record any sound you can imagine, from vocals to voice-overs, instruments to interviews and everything in between.“

The mic is relatively small (compared to dragging around your Rode NT1, for example) and comes with a portable tripod desk stand, making it very portable, fitting easily into small and convenient spaces.

All Wrapped Up

So there you have it. You don’t have to pass on that voice-over gig just because you’re on the road or even in the woods. There are many options for mobile recording, whether it be a portable recorder or a mic you attach to your phone or tablet. It is important that you follow these tips to care for and preserve whichever microphone you choose.