NOTE: I am not affliated with any manufacture, product, vendor mentioned herein. The information herein is accurate and cannot be easily found on the Internet. If you are into the iPhone 4 and want better audio with a Shotgun / Directional style mic, then this information will give you the guidance needed.
The $50
Azden ECZ-990 Mono Microphone is a great value in an external Shotgun / Directional mic for the iPhone 4.
6" length
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As with almost anything, you get what you pay for. The notes below in the specs compare the $50 ECZ-990 to the $250 Rode NTG-2 mic. I would imagine that 70% to 90% of readers here would be more than satisfied with the $50 Azden ECZ-990 mic. If you want to go all the way, then go for the $500
Sennheiser ME66 / K6 Short Shotgun Mic combo. Those recording bird calls who want the best and most sensitive Shotgun / Directional mic for the iPhone 4 would go this way.
Those who are in to some serious movie / video work with the iPhone 4, may prefer to go with the battery powered Rode NTG-2 even though it is less portable than the Azden ECS-990. The image below shows the iPhone 4 &
KV Connection XLR impedance matching adapter cable & the Rode NTG-2 as used by a Hollywood Movie Producer.
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Other 3.5mm mics, such as the
Vericorder Mini Mic, which work on the iPhone 3 series,
do not work with the iPhone 4 because of an impedance mismatch.
The ECZ-990 along with a
3.5mm TRRS connector from KV Connection works fine with the iPhone 4.
This special connector is a MUST HAVE REQUIREMENT.
The Azden box says: "ECZ-990 Zoom Microphone For Camcorders"
They should redo their box and say: "ECZ-990 Directional Microphone For Camcorders & The iPhone 4". The word "Zoom" in this case means "Directional" or "Narrow / Shotgun Polar Pattern" when speaking about microphone pickup pattern types.
The iPhone 4 shoots HD 720P Video. However, using the iPhone 4's pinhole internal Omni Directional Short Range Mic is a poor choice when shooting HD Quality Video. The internal iPhone 4 mic is a real bad choice in windy situations. As noted below, the ECZ-990 comes with a foam windscreen.
The iPhone 4 internal mic is "OK" for phone call usage ... but "Not OK" for decent video / movie usage.
Good quality audio is at least 50% of the equation when using the iPhone 4 in the movie mode. This is specially so for professionals such as journalists who are incresingly using the iPhone 4 for their MOJO Kit - Mobile Journalist Camera / Video Kit when they don't have their DSLR or video camera with them. Other professionals such as those doing field voiceover work, live and recorded field podcasting, remote field radio broadcasts, semi-pro movie production, etc. may want to go with better iPhone 4 / Rode NTG-2 Mic / KV Connection adapter cable as noted in the above text and image.
In breaking news situations ... the best camera / mic is the one you have with you. The iPhone 4 & ECZ-990 is the duo to have with you. Apps such as iMovie, Reel Director, etc. can be used on the iPhone 4 for a quick edit in the field. Or, with a little more time and money ... in FCP - Final Cut Pro on your MacBook Pro.
For better quality HD Audio on the iPhone 4, an external microphone such as the the Azden ECZ-990 is the way to go. The mic is easy to carry with its 6 inch length and low weight of 2.75 ounces. The iPhone 4 weighs 5 ounces. So together, you have a 7.75 ounce audio and video mobile kit that can easily fit in a pocket.
The ECZ-990 can be used as a handheld mic for interviews (get a 10ft extensiion cable) or mounted next to the iPhone 4 (
in a holder with 1/4" thread)on a 11 ounce Zipshot collapsable tripod.
For the tripod see:
Tamrac TR406 ZipShot Compact Ultra-Light Instant Tripod
Azden ECZ-990 Specs & Notes For iPhone 4 Users (and what the specs mean)
A. Mic Type / Transducer Type: Electret Condenser (For the iPhone 4, a battery powered sensitive condenser style mic is preferred over a dynamic mic. Some iPhone 4 users have tried a 350 Ohm dynamic mic (XLR connection) with the iPhone 4 along with a
special matching transformer cable. However, most iPhone 4 users, such as journalists, should consider a battery powered condenser mic such as the Azden ECZ-990. The $250 Rode NTG-2 is also a battery powered condenser mic ... but with a XLR connector. My advice is to stay clear of a dynamic XLR mic unless you are going to use it in conjunction with a portable audio mixer with mic preamps or a battery powered portable mic preamp. One can also consider using the iPhone 4 in conjunction with a portable audio recorder such as the
Tascam DR100 where you can use the line out going into the iPhone 4.)
B. Polar Pattern: The ECZ-990 has a switch to select 2 different polar patterns. 1. In the the Long
Shotgun "Directional" Pattern the ECZ-990 has a "Zoom / Directional" 30 foot range and picks up sound directly in front where it is pointed. 2. In the Short Cardiod Pattern the ECZ-990 picks up sound from a wider set of directions. For the iPhone 4, the Long "Zoom / Directional" pattern is the best. You direct or point the iPhone 4 video camera ... you direct or point the Azden ECZ-990 mic in the Long "Zoom / Directional" position toward the sound source. The
Rode NTG-2 has a a Supercardioid pattern similar to the Short position of the ECZ-990.)
C. Frequency Response Range: 150Hz - 18000Hz (This range is perfect for the iPhone 4 since the iPhone 4 has a low pass cut off filter of 150Hz for the internal mic and external mics. The human voice frequency band ranges from approximately 150 Hz to 3400 Hz. The ECZ-990 will also pickup various musical instruments and sounds which are are in the higher frequencies. The Rode NTG-2 mic has a 20Hz - 20,000 frequency response range.
The iPhone 4 frequency range is 150Hz to 20,000Hz)
D. Microphone Output Impedance: Long = 1700 Ohms (at 1000Hz) and Short = 760 Ohms (at 1000Hz) (It is very important to note that the iPhone 4 internal mic input requires a mic with an impedance of 800 Ohms and higher. The ECZ-990 has a 2 position switch: Long & Narrow Directional Pickup Pattern at 1700 Ohms and Short & Wide Pickup Omni Directional Pattern at 760 Ohms. It is recommended that iPhone 4 users select "only" the Long & Narrow position for optimal audio perfornance and compatability with the iPhone 4. The Rode NTG-2 Mic has a 350 Ohm Output Imbedance and can only be used with the iPhone 4 with a
XLR Impedance Matching Cable as seen in the above image.
E. Sensitivity: Long & Narrow = -33dB (at 1000Hz 1V/Pa) and Short & Wide = -43dB (at 1000Hz 1V/Pa) (As noted above, iPhone 4 users should select the Long & Narrow Directional position.
Mic Sensitivity indicates how efficiently the microphone converts acoustic sound pressure to output voltage which goes into the audio amplifier in the iPhone 4. A high sensitivity microphone creates more voltage and so it needs less amplification at the recording / pickup device such as the iPhone 4. The -33dB Long & Narrow Directional setting is more sensitive / efficient than the -43dB Short & Wide Omni Directional position. GOOD SENSITIVITY: The $250 Rode NTG-2 XLR condenser mic is at -36dB. BETTER SENSITVITY: The $50 Azden ECZ-990 is at -33dB in the Long position. BEST SENSITIVITY: The $500 Sennheiser ME66 K6 is at -26dB)
F. Maximum Input SPL - Sound Pressure Level: 100dB (The point where the mic distorts, or clips the waveform. [More=better] In normal interview situations with the ECZ-990 with the iPhone 4, a SPL of 100 dB is fine. The higher the Maximum SPL value, the better, although microphones with a very high maximum SPL also have a higher self-noise. The Rode NTG-2 has a Maximum SPL of 131dB)
G. Dynamic Range (Typical): > 75dB (The range between self noise and Max SPL. [More=better] If stated on its own, for example "120 dB", it conveys significantly less information than having the self-noise and maximum SPL figures individually. The Rode NTG-2 has a dynamic range of 113dB.)
H. Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 43dB (Signal to Noise ratio = The range between self noise and a reference signal. [More=better] The Rode NTG-2 mic has a Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 76dB.)
I. Microphone Output Connector: 3.5mm TRS Male Plug (The iPhone 4 requires a special $20
KV Connection part: KM-IPHONE-2TRS. This connector has a 3.5mm Male TRRS Plug which goes into the iPhone 4 and the other end a 3.5mm Female TRS connector into which the Azden ECZ-990 3.5mm Male TRS plugs into. There is also a headphone 3.5mm TRS Female jack which works in the playback mode only. No external mics will work on the iPhone 4 without this special TRRS connector!)
J. Power Requirements: 1.5 Volt AAA Battery (The ECZ-990 has an ON/OFF switch. It is recommended that that iPhone 4 users select a longer life 1.5 volt lithium battery.)
K. Dimensions & Weight: 6" Length x 0.83" Diameter. Weight 2.76 oz Without Battery (This compact mic size and weight means the ECZ-990 can readily be carried along with the iPhone 4.)
L. Accessories Included: Foam Windcreen (If the Azden ECZ-990 is used in very windy situations a better
fuzzy style windscreen is strongly suggested)
M. Azden ECZ-990 Microphone Audio Review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONQVpwDjWd8
