Audio Gear

Lavalier Microphone Clip: What Type to Buy and Why It Matters

A lavalier microphone clip is the small mount that holds the mic capsule to a shirt, collar, or lapel, and it matters more than most buyers expect. A poor clip lets the mic shift position mid-shoot, rustle against fabric, or fail to grip heavier clothing at all. Getting the clip right often solves audio problems people mistakenly blame on the mic itself.

Metal vs. plastic clips

Most lav mics ship with a standard alligator-style clip, either metal or plastic. Metal clips grip heavier fabric, like jackets, thick sweaters, and suit lapels, more securely and hold that grip longer through a full shoot day. Plastic clips are lighter and less likely to snag delicate fabric, but they can lose grip strength faster on repeated use and don't hold heavy material as well.

If you're mounting mics on a wide range of subjects and outfits, a metal clip is the safer default. If your interview subjects tend to wear lighter fabrics, a plastic clip is fine and slightly gentler on the material.

Magnetic clips

A magnetic lavalier mount uses two magnetic discs, one on each side of the fabric, to hold the mic in place without piercing or pinching the material at all. This is the best option for delicate fabrics, thin dresses, or any wardrobe where a visible clip mark or small hole would be a problem. The tradeoff is a slightly bulkier mount point, since there are two disc pieces instead of one clip, and a strong enough magnet is needed to hold the mic securely through movement.

Tie clips and mic flags

Some clip styles are shaped specifically for a tie or narrow lapel, holding the mic vertically rather than the standard horizontal alligator mount. These work well for on-camera talent in formal wear but are a poor fit for casual clothing without a comparable narrow mounting point.

Cable management matters as much as the clip

Whatever clip you use, route the cable down and behind clothing, secured with a small cable clip or piece of tape partway down, so movement doesn't pull directly on the mic's mount point. A cable that's pulling on the clip is one of the most common causes of a lav mic slowly working itself loose mid-interview.

Building out a full audio kit and not sure which mounting accessories you actually need? The Filmmaking Gear Starter Checklist covers this by budget.

A mistake worth avoiding

Using the stock clip that shipped with a budget lav mic on every outfit, including heavy jackets it wasn't designed to grip, is a common cause of mid-shoot mic drops. Keep a couple of clip styles in your kit (at minimum one metal alligator clip and one magnetic mount) so you can match the clip to the wardrobe rather than forcing one clip to do every job.

Replacing a lost or broken clip

Most lav mic manufacturers sell replacement clips separately, and a generic third-party clip in a compatible size often works fine as a cheaper alternative, since the clip itself doesn't affect audio quality the way the capsule does. Measure the mic body's diameter before ordering a replacement, since clip sizes aren't universal across brands.

FAQ

Can I use the same clip across different lav mic brands? If the mic body diameter matches, often yes, since alligator clips and magnetic mounts are largely generic hardware. Capsule-specific mounts (a clip built into the mic housing itself) won't transfer to a different mic.

Do magnetic clips work through thick jackets? Thicker fabric weakens the magnetic hold, since the two discs are farther apart. For heavy jackets, a standard metal alligator clip is more reliable than a magnetic mount.

For the full mic comparison this clip attaches to, see best lavalier microphone. For a computer-connected recording setup, check mac audio recorder.