Sennheiser G4 Lavalier Mic vs. Rode Wireless Go II for Teaching Yoga Online
When I started teaching yoga online, I was on a quest to find the best audio quality possible. As a musician, audiophile and perfectionist, I spent weeks researching gear and tested multiple options. I work alone, so I need gear that works for self-recording.
Here's what I learned and what I narrowed it down to.
I really appreciated the high production quality of videos byYoga with Adriene on YouTube, so I began my search there. I discovered that Adriene's producer and partner Chris Sharpe was using the Sennheiser G4 lavalier mic ($649).
I was ready to make this investment in my online yoga business, so I bought the Sennheiser.
I regret that choice.
I found myself wrestling with wires and troubleshooting endless sound problems. I discovered that the other yoga teachers who use the G4 and its predecessor the G3, have similar problems in their videos, such as Yoga with Kassandra and Brett Larkin.
The Sennheiser is in a class of lavalier mics that are just not designed with the DIY yoga gal in mind. It feels like a dated design best suited for a 1990's analog production team with a cameraperson behind the scene, whose job is to make sure your wires aren't showing and an audio technician who is paid to listen through headphones to make sure you aren't creating any clothing rustle sounds or other issues.
Despite all sorts of under-clothing taping methods and against-the-skin adhesives that I tried, plus various mic clips and holders, my videos with the Sennheiser still just tend to be disturbingly prone to audio problems. I'm talking about the kind of audio problems where I had no way of knowing there was a plastic-bottle-crunching sound happening every time I moved my arms, until after I taught the whole dang thing and realized I had to throw it out. I hate to think of how many hours I've wasted re-doing videos or tediously fixing the sound on the ones I tried to salvage. Not to mention the discomfort of having a long wire and antenna taped to my body for half the day – something I had to carefully disconnect from my waistband every time I needed to use the restroom (often).
In short, the Sennheiser G4 may be great for a team of two or more people where one person wears headphones for quality control – such as in the case of Adriene Mishler and Chris Sharpe. But for those of us who work alone, I just don't think the small improvement in voice quality is worth the extra cost and hassle.
After all my frustration with the Sennheiser system, I found myself envying the yoga teachers I knew who used the Rode Wireless Go II ($189). Even though I considered this a starter microphone below the level of production quality I wanted, I saw that these teachers were able to clipped this thing on easily and sound decent without audio nightmares.
I bought one and started using it for my low-pressure gigs, going back to the Sennheiser when I needed full production quality. But after using both for a while, the Rode has become the one I reach for every time, and it's the one I recommend to all my teacher training students who want to begin teaching online.
Here's why I think the Rode Wireless Go II is the best choice for yoga teachers:
It plugs directly into your camera or computer – and unlike the Sennheiser, it can plug directly into the audio jack of a laptop. The Sennheiser, on the other hand, requires a separate interface like the Scarlett Solo that costs an additional $120. It's easy to set up. It's small with a convenient clip that makes it a cinch to conceal under a sports bra or tank top. There are no wires. It's got a brilliant design that never creates crunching or rustling sounds when you move.
Interestingly, a recent twitter post by Chris Sharpe indicates that he now prefers the Rode Wireless Go II as well.
While the Sennheiser does provide a slightly higher vocal sound quality, the Rode system is just a delight to use, and it gets my recommendation.
My Recommendation
Rode Wireless Go II
The best lavalier microphone for online yoga teachers.
Other Products Mentioned
Sennheiser Evolution G4 Lavalier Mic System
Professional choice for yoga teams with a dedicated cameraperson
Buy Now – $649 USD
Looking for a video camera for teaching yoga? Here's my blog on that:
Best mics and cameras for making yoga videos
Cameras and mics used by Adriene Mishler
Yoga with Adriene - Cameras and Gear by Chris Sharpe
This page includes affiliate links, which means I may get a commission if you purchase. However, I only recommend resources that I've used myself and that I truly believe are worth my stamp of approval. The fees are never increased to compensate me.
