It may not be immediately obvious when you scroll through Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, but a key characteristic of engaging video content is good, clear audio quality. And using a dedicated microphone can make all the difference. I’ve been writing about devices for over a decade, but when I finally ventured into making videos
It may not be immediately obvious when you scroll through Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, but a key characteristic of engaging video content is good, clear audio quality. And using a dedicated microphone can make all the difference.
I’ve been writing about devices for over a decade, but when I finally ventured into making videos about them, capturing good audio was a big obstacle. It’s more complicated than it seems and especially tricky because many smartphones shoot incredible videos. Therefore, it is always surprising that the quality of your microphone is so poor compared to that of your camera.
I’ve tried some basic handheld microphones, and even basic ones can provide a big boost to a phone’s built-in recording capabilities. But after purchasing the Insta360 Mic Pro, I’m more convinced than ever that I should have splurged on a good portable microphone sooner. Here’s why it’s been the best addition to my content creation toolkit.
Insta360 Mic Pro Wireless Microphone and Receiver
The Mic Pro is a portable microphone with excellent audio quality for content creation. This package includes a receiver that connects directly to your smartphone for reliable recording up to 400 meters away.
What I like most about the Insta360 Mic Pro
The Mic Pro has useful features, such as a three-microphone array for multiple pickup patterns. Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
The Insta360 Mic Pro is a wireless, portable lapel microphone that can be paired with a phone or camera. You can purchase the Insta360 as a single microphone transmitter ($100), a bundle with a receiver ($200), or a bundle with a receiver, second transmitter, and charging case ($330).
The Mic Pro has 32GB of built-in storage for internal recording and supports up to 10 hours of battery life on its own or 30 with the charging case. There are many other subtleties that make the Insta360 Mic Pro a great choice for content creation, but in my use, three features have really set this microphone system apart: multiple pickup patterns, floating 32-bit internal recording, and an e-ink display.
Multiple pickup patterns
There is an array of three microphones on each Mic Pro transmitter: top, left and right. Having multiple microphones on each unit allows you to use different pickup patterns for different situations. You can select between omnidirectional for full pickup, superdirectional to capture voices right in front in noisy spaces, or figure-eight, which is ideal for interviews.
Even if the style of content you create doesn’t vary, different pickup patterns still allow for better audio in various locations or unique environments. The Mic Pro is even flexible enough to use as a hot shoe-mounted shotgun-style microphone on a more advanced camera.
32-bit floating recording
Whether you’re using the Mic Pro with an iPhone or a mirrorless camera, the internal 32-bit floating recording feature is an important feature. Pressing the red (record) button on the transmitter will record your audio with wide frequency capture. It’s kind of like the RAW equivalent for photography. You can then correct clipping and better adjust the volume with the Mic Pro’s internal recordings because they are captured over a wide frequency range.
E-ink screen
One of the first things you’ll notice about the Mic Pro is its E Ink display. This visual touch may not technically affect the Mic Pro’s performance, but it is a nice feature. You can customize what is shown to add a logo, a name or ID number, or just a fun design.
I had fun changing the screen to different images and after a couple of weeks of use I was happy using some basic layouts. Even though the novelty wears off, I still like this aspect of the Mic Pro. Unlike many other clip-on microphones, I’m not forced to put the brand logo right on my chest.
It’s also worth noting that due to the static nature of the E Ink, the screen does not use additional battery. So, it doesn’t degrade the experience.
Disadvantages to consider
The optional charging case is a nice bonus, but I wish it had room for more accessories. Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
For minimalists, the Mic Pro transmitter is not the smallest portable microphone on the market. It’s a decent size and when attached with a clip, can drag light shirts down a bit. If you want something ultra-compact and lightweight, this may not be the best option.
Although a single Mic Pro can connect wirelessly to multiple Insta360 cameras and any smartphone via Bluetooth, there are limitations when pairing it directly with a phone without a receiver. For one thing, audio quality is restricted to 16 kHz. In some cases, you may also need to use a third-party camera app to enable audio capture, as some default camera apps do not support recording sound over a direct Bluetooth connection. This applies to any Bluetooth microphone, not just the Mic Pro.
With that in mind, the best way to pair a Mic Pro with a phone is with the Insta360 receiver that’s included in the $200 and $330 bundles. The receiver plugs directly into a phone’s USB port and can be wirelessly paired with up to four Mic Pro transmitters to capture multiple audio streams.
While I appreciate the battery case included with the $330 package because it keeps everything fully charged, it does have a few quirks. I don’t like that you have to remove the wind filter from the microphone to close the hard case. That means the filter, along with some optional cables, must be carried in another case. And as picky as it may seem, I have a hard time opening the case quickly. It has an interesting hinge that baffles me more than it should when I’m not paying attention.
Should you buy Insta360? professional microphone?
The Mic Pro is a great portable microphone for everyday video and content creators. Tyler Hayes/Business Insider
I know that a good microphone can’t create captivating tech videos for me, but now I also know that it’s hard to make good videos without one. The Insta360 Mic Pro is my favorite option at the moment. For those just starting out, the $200 package with a single transmitter and receiver is a great addition to a video recording workflow.
A dedicated portable microphone should probably be any content creator’s first purchase. But it’s not a bad investment for occasional users either. It can offer a solid way to record audio for school projects or for better family vacation videos. It makes a big difference for any phone or camera, even those with “good” built-in microphones.