NYT: Tiny Microphones, Huge Presence. I guess...

[Jim Feeley]

I'm just shaking my head. Yes, it's in the style section. But still

 

Tiny Microphones, Huge Presence

Once a quirky accessory, small external microphones have become ubiquitous in social media videos.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/12/style/tiny-microphones-tiktok-social-media.html?unlocked_article_code=1.tU8.PPXK.tlGWDrrNNv_c&smid=url-share

 

 

 

 

[The Documentary Sound Guy]

If it means I can hide the mic in plain sight, I'm all for it.  But how do they sound?  Can I put a DPA inside?

[Derek H]

ASMR.. wtf 

[OB1]

21 hours ago, The Documentary Sound Guy said:

If it means I can hide the mic in plain sight, I'm all for it.  But how do they sound?  Can I put a DPA inside?

Precisely what I was thinking...

[borjam]

So now we can expect special edition lavs with Swarovski glass. 

 

[John Blankenship]

Just shy of a couple years back I did a tiny microphone shoot for NBC Sports IndyCar coverage. 

 

James Hinchcliffe interviewed drivers for two days with them each sitting in a tiny car holding a tiny microphone. 

 

The production company said they had tiny microphones to use, but when they explained the gig, not knowing what their quality would be, I made my own tiny mics using Sanken COS-11s inside ink pen barrels topped with foam windscreens. The cables ran to transmitters that I laid on the floor out of sight behind the cars. 

 

Here's a sample clip: