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External Mic Plugged into iPhone for audio recording?
- Thread starter salilsundresh
- Start date
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I received mine today. I haven't had a chance to use it, or review it, but I can tell you, my initial impressions. It feels VERY cheaply made. All plastic. Even what appears to be metal is that chrome plastic coating. There's no weight or heft to it at all, and I feel like it would be quite easy to break the mics off the sides of this. The sound quality had better be fantastic to make up for the cheap feeling build.
The Blue Mikey felt like you had a quality mic in your hand. This feels like a children's toy.
I can't wait to test this out.
Looking forward to your review, Daremo 
I was searching around for other reviews as well and come across this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4GROPxiErA
I was searching around for other reviews as well and come across this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4GROPxiErA
The caveat: it doesn't consistently work. After a recording, traveling aback to the mic awning on Voice Recorder, the beat is not acrimonious up annihilation for an alien reason. I can bung in the Mini AV cable ascribe in and out and sometimes the buzz will aces up the signal, added times not.
I've been updating my page here: http://www.lifeisaprayer.com/iphone-mics
I haven't had a chance to try out the iM2 yet, but I hope to acquire one soon... I've just been testing the GuitarJack, and it's a GREAT audio interface. Lots of things to like about itdurability, flexibility in inputs (I can plug in XLR mics, stereo video shotguns, etc. without any adapters, maybe just a simple XLR->1/8" or something like that).
I'm always on the hunt for better interfaces and mics, too, so I promise to keep my iphone page updated over time with all the devices/mics I've tested!
I haven't had a chance to try out the iM2 yet, but I hope to acquire one soon... I've just been testing the GuitarJack, and it's a GREAT audio interface. Lots of things to like about itdurability, flexibility in inputs (I can plug in XLR mics, stereo video shotguns, etc. without any adapters, maybe just a simple XLR->1/8" or something like that).
I'm always on the hunt for better interfaces and mics, too, so I promise to keep my iphone page updated over time with all the devices/mics I've tested!
Thanks for the update Steve. Glad I did not ordered, even the Mikey was not so good for my requirement.
Back to the waiting game with Apogee Mic
Back to the waiting game with Apogee Mic
Mic W i266 for iPhone / iPad / iPod Touch
Being a musician, Im always looking for a way for a portable way to record live music, take notes, or capture some unique sound I may want to add into a song at a later time. Im a stickler for quality, and even when I use my iPhone camera to video record, in many instances the internal microphone just isnt good enough. Apple has made vast improvements on the iPhone 4S, and what used to be acceptable alternatives to the iPhone 3GS are now inferior to the internal Mic. Im sure youve seen external Mics before. Most are quite small, some are thumb tack shaped, some look like a fat pill. The one thing they all have in common, is they lack in quality to the internal iPhone 4S.
No one has come out with a better, portable headphone port mic Until now.
After searching for years, and with Blue Mics seeming to be dropping the ball on the Mikey for the iPhone 4 series, I found a company called Mic W, and reached out them, explaining my needs, and that I would love to review a Mic. The good people at Mic W sent me out the i266.
The i266 is a cardioid broadcasting microphone, designed specifically for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. This cardioid mic has high sensitivity, and Mic W recommends using it for high quality sound recording, specifically for broadcasting, live radio interviews, and other live applications.
It comes in a clear plastic box with with foam and informational print surrounding the mic. My exact initial impression was Wow. Thats bigger then I expected. Thats what she said.
Since every external mic Ive used is fairly small, I expected more of the same, but with the i266, there is no comparison. This mic is beautifully designed. You can tell the design team wanted something sleek, and industrial, to match the iPhone 4, and they achieved this. Its made from metal, not plastic, and has real weight to it. Not making it too heavy to carry, but just enough to know you have something solid in your hand. This Mic is PURE class.
I started testing the mic. First I recorded normal speaking into the iPhone, using its internal mic, then repeated the test using the i266. Right away, you notice a difference. Where the internal iPhone mic may be slightly better with canceling out room and background noise, the i266 records a richer, more professional sound.
You do get a better sound speaking into the top of the i266, as apposed to the side of the mic (which has holes in it) but this mic is highly sensitive, so getting too close causes distortion. I found keeping the mic about 8 to 12 inches from my face, speaking at a normal level worked best.
Knowing this was a broadcast mic with such high sensitivity, I already knew the answer to this next test, but for the sake of science, and being as thorough as I could be, I tested the mic recording a live band in very high volume. This is not the mic for that, as it distorts horribly, but I knew that, and they dont advertise the mic for use in that way. I had to try it though. I was that kid when mom said Dont touch that pot, its hot the first thing I would do, was touch the pot.
This is only my initial impression, and testing. This is something I need to use much more, field test this, and do another review later down the line.
I have 3 minor complaints
1) You need to put the iPhone into airplane mode to achieve the best sounding recordings. As with every other mic Ive tried, you get a periodic static on your recordings if you dont do this. Audio, or video, if using this mic, use Airplane mode for sure. I was hoping Apple had fixed this, but not yet.
2) I always keep my phone in a case, but to use this microphone, I need to remove the case as the mics circumference is large at the base, and will not fit into the headphone jack. This could have been resolved if they had added a small spacer as many companies are doing now, for this very reason. BUT, I did find that an adapter does work, and Mic W sells a kit with an external wire.
3) The mic cant be bent and repositioned. There is no hinge on this mic, so once its plugged in, it points straight up, and thats it. Now, for interviewing or speaking, this is fine, but if I wanted to use this mic for video recording, I have to keep in mind, the mics best position is now facing to the side, and not facing the subject Im recording. Again, this is solved with an adapter wire, but then I need to clip or mount the mic facing front.
All minor complaints, as the recording quality on this is suburb, and the recording quality outshines the negatives. I would highly recommend this Mic to anyone who needs or wishes to capture broadcast quality audio on their iPhone. Right now, Id be hard pressed to find a headphone port mic that offers better quality, although, Mic W does have a couple other, higher end models. I can only imaging how great those sound.
Keep an eye on Mic W, they are a major player in the portable audio, with some of the very best design, build quality, and sound quality Ive come across so far. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I will be adding a Youtube video on this Mic, and comparison audio in the future.
Being a musician, Im always looking for a way for a portable way to record live music, take notes, or capture some unique sound I may want to add into a song at a later time. Im a stickler for quality, and even when I use my iPhone camera to video record, in many instances the internal microphone just isnt good enough. Apple has made vast improvements on the iPhone 4S, and what used to be acceptable alternatives to the iPhone 3GS are now inferior to the internal Mic. Im sure youve seen external Mics before. Most are quite small, some are thumb tack shaped, some look like a fat pill. The one thing they all have in common, is they lack in quality to the internal iPhone 4S.
No one has come out with a better, portable headphone port mic Until now.
After searching for years, and with Blue Mics seeming to be dropping the ball on the Mikey for the iPhone 4 series, I found a company called Mic W, and reached out them, explaining my needs, and that I would love to review a Mic. The good people at Mic W sent me out the i266.
The i266 is a cardioid broadcasting microphone, designed specifically for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. This cardioid mic has high sensitivity, and Mic W recommends using it for high quality sound recording, specifically for broadcasting, live radio interviews, and other live applications.
It comes in a clear plastic box with with foam and informational print surrounding the mic. My exact initial impression was Wow. Thats bigger then I expected. Thats what she said.
Since every external mic Ive used is fairly small, I expected more of the same, but with the i266, there is no comparison. This mic is beautifully designed. You can tell the design team wanted something sleek, and industrial, to match the iPhone 4, and they achieved this. Its made from metal, not plastic, and has real weight to it. Not making it too heavy to carry, but just enough to know you have something solid in your hand. This Mic is PURE class.
I started testing the mic. First I recorded normal speaking into the iPhone, using its internal mic, then repeated the test using the i266. Right away, you notice a difference. Where the internal iPhone mic may be slightly better with canceling out room and background noise, the i266 records a richer, more professional sound.
You do get a better sound speaking into the top of the i266, as apposed to the side of the mic (which has holes in it) but this mic is highly sensitive, so getting too close causes distortion. I found keeping the mic about 8 to 12 inches from my face, speaking at a normal level worked best.
Knowing this was a broadcast mic with such high sensitivity, I already knew the answer to this next test, but for the sake of science, and being as thorough as I could be, I tested the mic recording a live band in very high volume. This is not the mic for that, as it distorts horribly, but I knew that, and they dont advertise the mic for use in that way. I had to try it though. I was that kid when mom said Dont touch that pot, its hot the first thing I would do, was touch the pot.
This is only my initial impression, and testing. This is something I need to use much more, field test this, and do another review later down the line.
I have 3 minor complaints
1) You need to put the iPhone into airplane mode to achieve the best sounding recordings. As with every other mic Ive tried, you get a periodic static on your recordings if you dont do this. Audio, or video, if using this mic, use Airplane mode for sure. I was hoping Apple had fixed this, but not yet.
2) I always keep my phone in a case, but to use this microphone, I need to remove the case as the mics circumference is large at the base, and will not fit into the headphone jack. This could have been resolved if they had added a small spacer as many companies are doing now, for this very reason. BUT, I did find that an adapter does work, and Mic W sells a kit with an external wire.
3) The mic cant be bent and repositioned. There is no hinge on this mic, so once its plugged in, it points straight up, and thats it. Now, for interviewing or speaking, this is fine, but if I wanted to use this mic for video recording, I have to keep in mind, the mics best position is now facing to the side, and not facing the subject Im recording. Again, this is solved with an adapter wire, but then I need to clip or mount the mic facing front.
All minor complaints, as the recording quality on this is suburb, and the recording quality outshines the negatives. I would highly recommend this Mic to anyone who needs or wishes to capture broadcast quality audio on their iPhone. Right now, Id be hard pressed to find a headphone port mic that offers better quality, although, Mic W does have a couple other, higher end models. I can only imaging how great those sound.
Keep an eye on Mic W, they are a major player in the portable audio, with some of the very best design, build quality, and sound quality Ive come across so far. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
I will be adding a Youtube video on this Mic, and comparison audio in the future.
Has anyone bought any new external microphones recently to hook up to their iPhone or iPad for FaceTime calls or regular calls to see if they got better quality calls on the other side of the party where the other side got more clear audio with less background noise? Like calls placed in a car where a lot of background noise could occur when being on speakerphone. Anyone try the new Shure MV51, Blue Raspberry or any other similar device to test for better call quality while driving?