RODE invisiLav: Hiding your Lavalier Microphone

Hiding your lavalier mic improves the impact of your film or video because it keeps your audience focused on the story. But just mounting a lavalier mic under someone’s shirt can result in a bunch of clothing noise. For those of us with RODE lavalier mics (RODE Lavalier, smartLav, smartLav+), we now have an affordable little accessory that can help: invisiLav. This mounting system makes it easier to mount your lavalier under the shirt of your talent and has a few other perks as well:

What it does:
- Gives you the ability to attach to talent regardless of what they’re wearing
- Reduces some clothing movement noise by isolating the mic
- Helps reduce wind noise when recording outdoors in a breeze and reduces sibilance from your talent’s voice

What it does not do:
- the invisilav does a respectable job reducing some clothing and movement noise but won’t prevent noise if your talent is moving wildly

Notes:
- the two-sided tape is tricky to set up but don’t give up—it works
- the adhesive leaves some residue and it came off my shirt after two washes
- you will eventually run out of the two-sided tape but you can always use wig or toupee tape (links below)

This episode shot with the following:

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RODE invisiLav (price ranges from $18 - $22 USD):
https://geni.us/ofEjyzI

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RODE smartLav+ (be sure to get the plus version—the original is not as good):
https://geni.us/A6TO9

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Wig/Toupee Tape:
https://geni.us/Wl23v

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Other Gear Used to Produce This Episode:

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Photoflex Starlite QL:
https://geni.us/tAgsFQg

Photoflex Large SilverDome nxt Soft Box:
https://geni.us/7VDEtt

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Limo Studio 650 Watt Fresnel (kicker light)
https://geni.us/kkCo2A

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Fotodiox 508A LED Light (used as a kicker to camera left, behind talent)
https://geni.us/toBdueC

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Westcott Photo Basics 5-in-1 Reflector (Fill)
https://geni.us/xKH8

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Gray Card--Lastolite EZ Balance
https://geni.us/xZZ9G7

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Panasonic GH4 (Close shot camera):
https://geni.us/MyX6w

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Olympus 45mm f/1.8 micro 4/3 Lens
https://geni.us/vOsxD

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Atomos Ninja II HD Recorder
https://geni.us/6LG7

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Nikon D600 (Wide Shot Camera):
https://geni.us/PnUx

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Nikon 20mm f/2.8 AF-D Lens (Wide cam lens):
https://geni.us/LhIbUv

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RODE NT1A Condenser Microphone (Cardioid, also used for voice over)
https://geni.us/mweyr

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Tascam DR-60D Audio Recorder
https://geni.us/eZ76

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Music copyright Curtis Judd 2011

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.