How do I use my Android as a wireless microphone?

Using your Android phone as a wireless microphone is a convenient way to record audio hands-free. There are a few main steps involved:

First, you’ll need to make sure your Android phone and computer are compatible and have the required hardware. Then, you’ll install a recording app like WO Mic on your phone and connect it to your computer. In the app settings, you’ll configure your phone to act as a microphone. Once connected, you can test the microphone and make any needed adjustments. When ready, simply record your audio through the app. Finally, you can export the recording to use as needed. With just a few setup steps, your Android can become a versatile wireless microphone.

Compatibility

To use your Android phone as a wireless microphone, you’ll need to make sure your device and operating system are compatible. Most newer Android phones released in the past few years support using external microphones, but the minimum Android version required is usually Android 10 or higher (1). Some specific phone models known to work well as wireless mics include the Samsung Galaxy S20 series, Google Pixel 5 or newer, OnePlus 8 and above, LG V50 and V60, and Sony Xperia 1 II and 5 II (2).

However, even if your Android phone is relatively new, you’ll still want to check that it specifically supports USB audio peripherals or external microphones. Some manufacturers disable this ability on certain models. Consulting your phone’s specs or user manual is the best way to verify compatibility (3).

Sources:

(1) https://store.hollyland.com/products/lark-c1

(2) https://micprice.com/product/grenaro-wireless-mic-single-channel-universal-version/

(3) https://www.amazon.com/wireless-microphone-android/s?k=wireless+microphone+for+android&page=2

Required Hardware

To use your Android as a wireless microphone, you will need the following hardware:

External microphone – You will need a dedicated external microphone, rather than relying on your Android’s built-in microphone. Look for a quality microphone designed for recording audio and broadcasting.
Bluetooth transmitter/receiver – You need a Bluetooth transmitter that can connect to your external microphone, and a Bluetooth receiver that can connect to your Android. The transmitter plugs into the mic and broadcasts the audio over Bluetooth. The receiver plugs into your Android and picks up the wireless audio signal.

The transmitter and receiver don’t have to be a matched set, but they do need to be compatible Bluetooth versions. The microphone and transmitter should also be compatible. Check requirements before purchasing hardware.

Install a Recording App

There are several excellent audio recording apps available for Android that can turn your device into a wireless microphone. Here are some of the top options to consider installing:

Recorder by Sony Mobile Communications (Source) is a great free app that provides high quality recordings, support for MP3 files, and a clean and intuitive interface. Key features include noise reduction, easy trimming of recordings, and the ability to share files through various methods.

Smart Recorder by SmartMob (Source) is another solid free choice that stands out for its waveform graphics that help visualize recordings. It also has bookmarks, cloud storage support, and options to change sample rate and encoding bitrate.

Voice Recorder by KOOKONG (Source) is a fully featured app with cloud storage integration, built-in editing tools, playback speed adjustment, file sharing, and more. The app promotes high quality recordings and organization with color coding and tags.

These are just a few of the many excellent recording apps available. Look for ones that offer the features you need and have positive reviews from other users. The right app will help you reliably use your Android as a microphone for audio recordings.

Connecting an external microphone to your Android phone is an easy process that just requires pairing the devices via Bluetooth. Most wireless microphones designed for phone use will have Bluetooth capabilities to wirelessly transmit audio to your phone.

To connect your Android phone and wireless microphone via Bluetooth:

Turn on your wireless microphone and put it in Bluetooth pairing mode by following the manufacturer’s instructions. There is usually a pairing button or switch on the microphone.
Open your Android phone’s Settings app and select Bluetooth. Ensure Bluetooth is turned on.

Your phone will scan and display a list of available Bluetooth devices. Select your wireless microphone from the list to initiate pairing.
Confirm pairing on both devices when prompted. Some microphones may require an authentication code which is often “0000”.
Once successfully paired, your Android phone and wireless microphone will automatically connect when in range without needing to repair. The microphone can now transmit audio to your phone wirelessly.

Most wireless microphones will have clear instructions from the manufacturer on initiating Bluetooth pairing. Just follow the steps to get your external mic linked with your Android phone over Bluetooth and you’ll be ready to record high-quality audio.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq1YhDgztHY

Configure the App Settings

The settings related to recording quality can be configured in the app used to record audio on Android. According to https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/resources/setting-up-recording-apps/setting-up-recording-apps-for-android-devices/, you should select the following:

Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or higher
Bit rate: 320 kbps or higher (for high quality audio)
Channels: Mono or stereo as desired

These settings determine the level of audio quality in your recording. A higher sample rate and bit rate means better audio quality, at the expense of larger file sizes. Most apps default to reasonable settings, but you may want to check and optimize based on your needs.

Some apps like https://www.descript.com/blog/article/how-to-record-audio-on-android also have automatic leveling options, which can help prevent the volume from peaking and clipping.

Test the Microphone

It’s important to test your microphone connection and audio levels before recording. To test the microphone:

Open the recording app and go to the settings.
Tap the microphone input to make sure the app detects your phone or wireless microphone.
Speak into the microphone at the same level and distance you plan to record from. Observe the audio level meter in the app to ensure your levels are strong without peaking or distorting.

Do a test recording of 10-30 seconds. Play back the test recording and listen closely with headphones to check the audio quality. Make sure the audio is clear and audible without issues like static or distortion.

Use the test recording to adjust the microphone volume, gain levels, or distance/position as needed. Check your test recordings carefully before recording anything important or lengthy.

Record Audio

Once you have connected your Android device as a wireless microphone, you are ready to start recording audio. Launch the recording app you installed and tap the record button to start capturing audio. Source

For best audio quality, speak directly into your Android’s microphone at a consistent volume and distance. Avoid background noise when possible. You can monitor recording levels in real-time in most recording apps to ensure optimal levels without peaking or distorting. Source

As you record, keep an eye on the app’s visual sound wave indicator. Make sure it fills around two-thirds of the wave without hitting the red zone, which indicates peaking/distortion. Adjust your distance from the mic accordingly. Source

Export the Recording

Once you have finished recording audio on your Android device with a recording app, you will likely want to save or export the files to share with others. There are a few options to export the recordings from your Android device:

Share via messaging or email: Most recording apps give you the ability to directly share the audio file via messaging apps installed on your device, like text messaging, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc. You can also typically share via email. The app will handle attaching the audio file to a new message that you can address and send to a recipient.

Upload to cloud storage: To save the recordings off your device, you can upload to cloud storage platforms like Google Drive. Connect your Google Drive account in the recording app’s settings. Then when you finish recording, there is usually an option to save or export directly to Google Drive where it will sync and store a copy.

Transfer to a computer: To move the recordings off your Android device to a Windows or Mac computer, you can use a file transfer method like USB or Android File Transfer. Connect your device to your computer via USB and locate the audio files, then copy them to store on your computer.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues using your Android as a wireless microphone, try the following troubleshooting steps:

Common Issues and Solutions

No audio or low volume – Ensure the microphone is properly connected and the app has access to the microphone. Also check your Android’s volume levels.

Audio quality is poor – Enable noise reduction in your recording app settings. Also make sure there is no obstruction between your mouth and the microphone.

Microphone intermittently cuts out – Check your wireless connection and move closer to the wireless receiver if needed. Also try removing other wireless devices connected to your phone.

Improving Audio Quality

Here are some tips for getting better audio quality when using your Android as a wireless mic:

Use a dedicated external microphone rather than your phone’s built-in mic
Enable a high bitrate recording setting in your app
Set the microphone input volume just below maximum to prevent distortion

Experiment with microphone positioning to find the optimal distance from your mouth
Consider using a clip-on lavalier microphone for hands-free operation

With some tweaking of settings and positioning, you can greatly enhance the audio recording quality using your Android phone as a wireless microphone.