What is a "lavalier" microphone and can it improve my camcorder's sound quality?

What is a "lavalier" microphone and can it improve my camcorder's sound quality?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What kind of sound quality can I expect from my camcorder?; What do I need in order to use an external microphone for my camcorder?; Can I use professional microphones with a consumer camcorder? and more...

One of the most common microphone choices is called a "lavalier" mic, and a lavalier mic is a small microphone that would typically pin onto somebody's lapel, or maybe become part of somebody's clothing. A lavalier is really used a lot when you're doing an interview or when the person is the only person in the scene, so that there is no other person that sound needs to come from. Lavaliers are very popular in any kind of interviewing system. They are small and don't get in the way of the image, so they're easy to deal with.