BUDGET-MINDED MULTIMEDIA TOOLS FOR YOUR PHONE
If you want to use your phone to gather and edit audio, images, and videos but have a limited budget, you’ll find a useful list of equipment and apps below. Everything listed has been recommended by professional journalists who gather news as a “one-man band.” Updated July 2024.
Audio: Mics
A mic with a warm, directional sound, with few digital artifacts. Perhaps the best USB microphone for radio or podcasting from home. $279
A lapel mic that connects directly to iOS devices, Android devices, and computers, thanks to the included USB and Lightning cables. $199
A lavalier microphones (or “clip mics”) attaches to the interviewee’s clothing. The widely used Boya by-M1 has a 3.5mm jack so an adaptor may be needed. $6.69
A handheld microphone with a built-in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio and control levels when paired with the iRig Recorder app. $69.99.
Professional studio mic that comes with many adapters including a lightning port plug (which is it smaller than). Includes gain control, level indicator, and headphone output (with its own level control). Tripod stand included. $150.
Lavalier mic under $33.96
BOYA Clip-on Lapel Microphone for iPhone, Lavalier Lightning Microphone for Phone. $30
A lavalier microphones (or “clip mics”) attaches to the interviewee’s clothing. The widely used Rode Smartlav has a 3.5mm jack so an adaptor may be needed. $50.78
Compact and lightweight, directional microphone. $90. Click: For iPhones. For Andriod. $37.50
Very compact. Works with a smartphone. Video here. $105
Rode Shotgun Mic
RodeVMGO Video Mic GO Lightweight On-Camera Mic. Lightweight directional microphone. Adapter and extension cord needed. $149
Instead of putting a bunch of gear together this kit has everything you need to capture great mobile audio recordings including a tripod, phone clamp & shoe-mount, microphone, foam windshield, and USB-C and lightning cables. $249
The Shure SM58S is a good choice particularly for recording interviews or podcasts with a laptop. $99.
This compact condenser mic is portable. Can be set to record a source from the front with or without the surrounding ambiance from the sides. $99.
Audio: Apps
Easy-to-use audio editing software. Free.
Searching for a section of audio corresponding to a note is easy to find.The recording time is inserted at the beginning of each line of text. Free.
Live internet audio app. Share in social media, text with listeners, embed player on your website. Free.
Quality voice recorder and editor for both iPhone and Android. Includes Dropbox and Evernote integration. Free but voice-to-text human transcriptions in 12-hours for $1 a minute.
Post your audio here and then link to it from your blog or embed it into your blog. Limited space free, more for a fee.
Creates audio slideshows. Resizes your images for you, can reorder them, etc. but doesn't edit photos. Free trial. Starts at $5 a month.
Record cell phone calls and export the audio for editing, to email or upload to Google Drive or Dropbox. $20 a year.
All things audio. A performance space,editorial session, an audition stage, a library, and a hangout. How to guides for podcast beginners.
Audio: Adapters/Plugs
A preamp which allows you to plug your quality mic into an your iOS device. It takes an XLR input and turns it into a 3.5mm jack. A built in headphone socket allowing users to monitor audio when paired with the iRig Recorder app, which also gives audio control levels. Simple to use. $59.99.
To record a two-person interview you’ll need a dual adaptor like the Rode AI-Micro which can be plugged right into the phone.$79.
Photos
Photo app with lots of filters and strong HDR mode. Sets the standard when it comes to third party iPhone cameras. $4.99.
Advanced mobile photo editing that allows for sending by email, FTP, Dropbox, SFTP or export into social media. $3.99.
Photo editor that offers a film-photography retro look for iPhone. Lenses and filters are automatically applied as you take photos. Free though $2 a month gets you more presets.
ProCam 8
An iOS camera app that allows the manual selection of ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation, and focus distance. $9.99.
Great start-to-finish photo app. Easy to use filters. Manual controls like focus lock, exposure lock, and white balance. Edit images and share them on social media. IOS. Free for app with limited functionality. Membership $20 a year.
STABILIZATION (GIMBALS, TRIPODS, CLIPS, ETC.)
ePhoto Portable Swivel Flash Clamp with Hot Shoe Mount Flash Adapter. Holds your phone to many different surfaces. $15.
Joby GripTight Pro 2. Flexible legs wrap around objects for unlimited angles. 6.6 pounds. Rubber foot grips provide stability on any surface. $37.95.
Versatile tripod system for smartphone photography or video.. $19.83.
Light and simple to use, these camera platforms turn your phone into a filmmaking device by providing stability and a place to put additional filmmaking accessories such as a microphone and lighting.$39.99.
Lightweight and compact, the legs on this 2-pound tripod extend up to 60 inches. Converts into a selfie stick. $79.
This smartphone stabilizer includes motion lapse, auto face and object follow, full wireless control. $159.
Lightweight and easy-to-use packed with innovative and helpful features that let you make the most out of your iOS or Andriod phone camera. The app that comes with it has some good features. $69.
This stabilizer for smartphones also works with some GoPros. Simple setup. Comes with a Smartphone app. $129.
VIDEO
One of the best video-making apps, it offers two tracks of video and audio for editing on your phone or laptop. Filters and templates. Free.
Video recording app that lets you listen live to your sound, includes manual controls for exposure, focus, and white balance. Shoot stills while recording. Has a built-in single-track video editor. Includes a wide range of video resolutions and aspect ratios, adjustable video quality. $9.99.
Perhaps the best Android video editor app with special effects. Similar to iMovie in ease of use. $4.33 a month.
Lots of useful features to edit video on phones. $.1.99.
VIDEO & PHOTO
Android camera app for photo and video editing. Lots of filters and frames, it comes with some special effects that can be applied and previewed in real time to photos and videos. Free.
Add to your photos or videos text, filters, emoji, music, and opaque transition cards. Intended to be fun, though the menu layout is not entirely intuitive and it does take some time to create. Free.
Photoflex LiteDisc reflects light to your subject from the sun or other light sources. When placed between the light and the image, it can cut shadows. 12’ for $18.95.
An all-in-one vlogging setup. Pricy but Shure quality. $249.
Create photo and video stories on an iPhone with an emphasis on mobile design. Create collections and share on social networks. Free.
App for easy photo and video editing on your iPhone. Free.