Recording Sound from an iphone at DVinfo.net

Tim Kerigan · July 29th, 2010, 10:33 AM

So the station I'm interning at right now wants our reporters to start doing teases with their iphones to post on our facebook page. Right now though the audio sounds like crap because it's just the built in mic. I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to record audio from a mic plugged into the headphone jack? I was thinking I could wire in a 3.5mm to XLR than plug in a mic or lav.

Chad Johnson · July 29th, 2010, 01:25 PM

There are mics for the iPhone. Jut try google. "iphone mic"

Tim Kerigan · July 29th, 2010, 07:51 PM

I know there are mics available, I'd rather be able to just plug in the existing mics, rather than purchase new equipment, plus I still don't even know would it record the audio in video mode? I use an android phone so I'm not all familiar with iphone's

Damon Roger · July 29th, 2010, 08:07 PM

Hi Tim,

Yes you can. I have an iphone and a 4-track recording program app I use with the mic/headset that came with the phone.

Regards,

Chad Johnson · July 30th, 2010, 01:28 PM

Well many mics require power, even lavs and it's not clear if the iPhone gives any power to a mic - most likely not. You would need a dynamic mic. And this is for video or audio? A "teaser" could be either.

You could always record audio separately. I suggested the mics they sell specifically for the iPhone because I saw no preamps/mixers for the iPhone. So there may be a mic with a cable that would get the mic off the phone and closer to the person talking. But you need to do your research yourself. When you find the solution please make sure to post it.

Steve House · July 31st, 2010, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Kerigan

So the station I'm interning at right now wants our reporters to start doing teases with their iphones to post on our facebook page. Right now though the audio sounds like crap because it's just the built in mic. I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to record audio from a mic plugged into the headphone jack? I was thinking I could wire in a 3.5mm to XLR than plug in a mic or lav.

Check out the JK Audio 'BluePack' which uses Bluetooth to interface a standard XLR mic with a cell phone amd also provides an IFB return via a headphone output..
http://jkaudio.com/bluepack.htm

Note that there are two reasons your present audio sounds bad. One is the internal mic on the phone isn't all that great. But also remember too that the phone network is limited to a 3 kHz bandwidth so you're never going to get full-range audio on a telephonic, be it through the cell network or via landline.

Tim Kerigan · August 1st, 2010, 09:45 PM

Thanks guys, I realized I forgot to mention it's a wireless lav, so it is a powered mic, tested it out last night, works great actually, still getting some compression obviously. I'll post up on of the teases we did with it next time I'm at the station.

Josh Laronge · August 2nd, 2010, 01:51 PM

Has anybody used the Recorder Pro App?

I have a project coming up where I need to record lectures and then add the audio to PowerPoint slides. Final output is YouTube. Will this app work for my needs? If not could you recommend an app (if something good exists)?

I realize it's only $0.99 and I could just buy it and try it but, I'm being cheap today. Thanks in advance.

Chad Johnson · August 2nd, 2010, 02:14 PM

Really only you can tell. I say flip for the .99 and take a chance. That's less than a cup of Joe. I don't think there is going to be much quality difference between aps, as your hardware will stay the same. The best you can record on iPhone is 16bit.

Josh Laronge · August 3rd, 2010, 07:36 AM

I got the app and made some tests. I used a Senheiser lav and made some tests. It sounds really good, especially for $0.99. Transferring the files is super easy too.

Ron Little · August 3rd, 2010, 08:53 AM

How do you transfer the files?

Josh Laronge · August 3rd, 2010, 09:08 AM

You can either transfer the files through iTunes, via email or via wifi. The app has pretty good instructions built into it.

Ike Tamigian · August 3rd, 2010, 09:41 AM

You could also try the "Blue FiRe" recording app from Blue microphones. It's free and quite good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josh Laronge

Has anybody used the Recorder Pro App?

I have a project coming up where I need to record lectures and then add the audio to PowerPoint slides. Final output is YouTube. Will this app work for my needs? If not could you recommend an app (if something good exists)?

I realize it's only $0.99 and I could just buy it and try it but, I'm being cheap today. Thanks in advance.

July 29th, 2010, 10:33 AM	#1
Tim Kerigan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicopee, MA/Upland, IN Posts: 57	Recording Sound from an iphone So the station I'm interning at right now wants our reporters to start doing teases with their iphones to post on our facebook page. Right now though the audio sounds like crap because it's just the built in mic. I was wondering if anyone knew if it was possible to record audio from a mic plugged into the headphone jack? I was thinking I could wire in a 3.5mm to XLR than plug in a mic or lav.

July 29th, 2010, 01:25 PM	#2
Chad Johnson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arcata, Ca Posts: 750	There are mics for the iPhone. Jut try google. "iphone mic" __________________ My Work: http://www.youtube.com/ChadWork1 Sony FS5 :: Panasonic GH4 :: Sony PMW-EX1 :: FCPx :: AT4053b :: Rode NTG-3,

July 30th, 2010, 01:28 PM	#5
Chad Johnson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arcata, Ca Posts: 750	Well many mics require power, even lavs and it's not clear if the iPhone gives any power to a mic - most likely not. You would need a dynamic mic. And this is for video or audio? A "teaser" could be either. You could always record audio separately. I suggested the mics they sell specifically for the iPhone because I saw no preamps/mixers for the iPhone. So there may be a mic with a cable that would get the mic off the phone and closer to the person talking. But you need to do your research yourself. When you find the solution please make sure to post it. __________________ My Work: http://www.youtube.com/ChadWork1 Sony FS5 :: Panasonic GH4 :: Sony PMW-EX1 :: FCPx :: AT4053b :: Rode NTG-3,

August 2nd, 2010, 01:51 PM	#8
Josh Laronge Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 241	Recorder Pro App Has anybody used the Recorder Pro App? I have a project coming up where I need to record lectures and then add the audio to PowerPoint slides. Final output is YouTube. Will this app work for my needs? If not could you recommend an app (if something good exists)? I realize it's only $0.99 and I could just buy it and try it but, I'm being cheap today. Thanks in advance.

August 2nd, 2010, 02:14 PM	#9
Chad Johnson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arcata, Ca Posts: 750	Really only you can tell. I say flip for the .99 and take a chance. That's less than a cup of Joe. I don't think there is going to be much quality difference between aps, as your hardware will stay the same. The best you can record on iPhone is 16bit. __________________ My Work: http://www.youtube.com/ChadWork1 Sony FS5 :: Panasonic GH4 :: Sony PMW-EX1 :: FCPx :: AT4053b :: Rode NTG-3,

July 29th, 2010, 07:51 PM	#3
Tim Kerigan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicopee, MA/Upland, IN Posts: 57	I know there are mics available, I'd rather be able to just plug in the existing mics, rather than purchase new equipment, plus I still don't even know would it record the audio in video mode? I use an android phone so I'm not all familiar with iphone's

July 29th, 2010, 08:07 PM	#4
Damon Roger New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 21	Hi Tim, Yes you can. I have an iphone and a 4-track recording program app I use with the mic/headset that came with the phone. Regards,

August 1st, 2010, 09:45 PM	#7
Tim Kerigan Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Chicopee, MA/Upland, IN Posts: 57	Thanks guys, I realized I forgot to mention it's a wireless lav, so it is a powered mic, tested it out last night, works great actually, still getting some compression obviously. I'll post up on of the teases we did with it next time I'm at the station.

August 3rd, 2010, 07:36 AM	#10
Josh Laronge Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 241	I got the app and made some tests. I used a Senheiser lav and made some tests. It sounds really good, especially for $0.99. Transferring the files is super easy too.

August 3rd, 2010, 08:53 AM	#11
Ron Little Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pensacola Fl. Posts: 627	How do you transfer the files?

August 3rd, 2010, 09:08 AM	#12
Josh Laronge Major Player Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jupiter, FL Posts: 241	You can either transfer the files through iTunes, via email or via wifi. The app has pretty good instructions built into it.