iphone

Just posted to the Articles section of the site: DIY $10 iPhone 4 & 3G/3Gs Tripod Adapter/Case

Please read this article for background/more info: iPhone/iPad external microphones

8/25/12 Update: The Tascam iXZ is another good alternative to the KVConnection cable, and is more flexible than the VeriCorder or KVConnection adapters, though it's a little more cumbersome. It's also only $30 on Amazon.

There was an amazing storm that practically parked itself over Springfield, MO yesterday. I grabbed my iPhone 4 and shot some video, getting a few intense lightning strikes, a trash can lid blowing across the field of view, and some daring souls who braved the storm to get where they needed to be!

Please read this article for background/more info: iPhone/iPad external microphones

Formula for success: iPhone 4 + iPhone TRRS Mono Mic Input Adapter + RadioShack Lav mic

Using this setup, I am able to record interviews on the go on my iPhone, without carrying around a mess of equipment. This rocks. Here's a picture of my entire on-the-go interview kit:

Always, always, always makes sure you check your text message's recipient before you hit 'Send' ;-)

A few of the many microphone options to make your mobile recordings better.

Note on iPhone 5: Right now the only confirmed way to record stereo on the iPhone 5 is with the GuitarJack Model 2 and an Apple 30-pin to lightning adapter. All other headset-jack based solutions work as well as the iPhone 4/4S!

To dramatically increase the quality of the sound you record on your iOS device, you should use an external microphone or mixer, or a direct line input.

You can use external microphones/inputs with any of the following iOS devices:

• iPad (audio recording), iPad 2/new iPad/iPad mini (audio or video recording)
• iPhone 3G, iPhone 3Gs, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 (audio or video recording)
• iPod Touch (3rd/4th/5th generation) (audio or video recording)

Skip to: Recommendations | Details

Video: iPhone External Mic Comparison

(See also: iPhone 4/4S External Microphone Comparison, listing of mics and adapters used in this video)

My Recommendations

Software - App Recommendations

• iPad: Use GarageBand. It's not expensive, and is awesome for recording and editing.
• iPhone/iPod Touch: Use FiRe, FourTrack, or even built-in Voice Memos.
• Camera/iMovie (Built-in) - Quick and simple to use, can lock focus, but has very few settings/features. Handles different audio inputs, but without much configuration or level control, and no monitoring.
• For Video: Although the built-in Camera app is pretty good, I prefer FiLMiC Pro, which allows focus, metering, and white balance lock/unlock, and has a built-in audio meter. No audio play-through yet (as far as I can tell).

Simple, one-mic setup (podcasts, one-person interviews)

Buy a RØDE smartLav, and plug it into your iPhone. If you need more than about 5' of cable (so you can record an interview with the iPhone's camera, for instance), buy a 2m TRRS extension cable as well.

Another option, which allows you to have a more flexible mic setup so your mic can be used with other equipment, is to buy a microphone and adapter to use together:

• Audio-Technica ATR-3350 lavaliere microphone ($22)
• KVConnection 1/8" to iPhone Mic-level adapter ($20)

For better quality recordings

This setup will allow you to record a little nicer quality sound, especially since the VeriCorder cable or Tascam adapter boosts the signal a bit so it comes into the iPhone at the right level for more clarity and amplification:

• Shure SM58 handheld microphone for $99
• VeriCorder XLR Adapter Cable for $70
  (OR Tascam iXZ for $30 along with a 1/4" to 1/8" audio adapter)
  (OR SignalEar iPhone/iPad TRRS to XLR adapter for $30)
• (Alternatively, for an even simpler kit, with a little lower quality audio: iRig Mic - read my review of the iRig mic)

For wireless mobility and great quality

Another option, for more freedom of movement, a perfect recording level, and much more flexibility with one mic (this is the kit I use most often now - plug the line/headphone output on the wireless receiver into the KVConnection line-level adapter):

• Audio Technica PRO88W-R35 Wireless Microphone (about $120)
• KVconnection 1/8" line-level input adapter (about $30)

For multiple-mic interviews/recordings

Buy a Dual 1/8" Microphone to iPhone adapter from KVConnection, and plug one Audio-Technica ATR-3350 into each jack. (If you use XLR mics, get this adapter instead).

Another couple of options include:

• The GuitarJack Model 2, into which you can plug a stereo input source (or two microphones that go one in left, one in right channel).
• You can get a Monster iSplitter and plug a lavaliere microphone into each side, then plug this into a KVConnection mic adapter. (See example video).
• The Fostex AR-4i works great for the iPhone 4/4S (put one lavaliere microphone in on the left channel and one on the right), but doesn't work with the iPhone 5.
• The Line 6 Mobile In, which also has a stereo input like the Guitar Jack.

For recording loud music, concerts, environmental sound

Right now, there aren't a lot of out-of-the-box options for recording sound in high SPL situations (loud rock concerts) or other environmental sounds. However, there are three solutions I recommend:

1. The Tascam iM2 - a great stereo mic for the iPhone 4/4S/5 that provides a simple AB-pattern stereo microphone (that can handle up to 125 dB).
2. The GuitarJack Model 2 (read my review of the GuitarJack Model 2) allows for padding and relatively high sound level input.
3. A preamp or mixer in-line before the iPhone. This is more clumsy/less portable, but if you simply plug the output of a mixer or preamp into the iPhone (or a product like the AR-4i or GuitarJack), you can handle as loud of sound levels as your mixer/preamp can handle.

For line-level inputs (Guitars, Mixers, Sound Systems)

One option right now is the Apogee Jam, a nice interface for guitars and other 1/4" plug line-level inputs, that works through the Dock connector, and is specifically advertised for use with GarageBand on the iPad. Another simple option (if you want a little nicer build quality than the KVConnection adapters) is the iRig from Amplitube. Another inexpensive option is the iJAM cable from Ampridge.

KVConnection provides two nice adapters, though, which I use because they're cheap and reliable: Line-level 1/4" adapter w/ attenuation ($28), and Line-level 1/8" adapter w/ attenuation ($28)

The Details

I'll run through most of my kit for mobile recording, following along with the picture below:

1. iPhone 3G/3Gs/4 Tripod (instructions for building the tripod mount)
2. Crown Sound Grabber II PZM Boundary microphone ($80)
3. Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Powered Lavaliere Microphone ($20)
4. KV Connection microphone-to-iPhone audio adapters (read more about them, and about available alternatives below)
5. Spare batteries - you can never have too many
6. Sony WCS-999 Wireless Microphone Adapter ($100 - Note: Throw out the included mic, and use the ATR-3350 with this. Only good for 10-50 ft., but nice and cheap, that's why I'm recommending it.)
7. (NOT PICTURED: The following items have been added to my kit since I wrote this article)
   1. Rode VideoMic shotgun/condenser mic ($150)
   2. VeriCorder XLR Adapter Cable ($70)

One option for easy external audio in a pinch is to plug in your headset, hit record, and voila! You have a much better sound-isolating mic than the iPhone's built-in mic (especially over distance). The disadvantage here is that the iPhone's headset cable is pretty short.

I have posted my (comprehensive, but still in-progress) review of the iPhone 4. The review includes an HD video (via YouTube) and photos taken with the iPhone 4. One word: awesome.