External mics for smart phones

Acoustic_Stevo · #1 12-13-2016, 04:26 PM

Has anyone tried using an external mic on their smart phones?
I did a quick recording to go on Facebook the other day, but the sound was a bit naff. So after a little Google, I came across the 'Rode Videomic me'.
It just plugs into the headphone socket of your phone.

http://en.rode.com/microphones/videomicme

I'm just after something to make my video recording sound a bit better.

Thanks

Fran Guidry · #2 12-13-2016, 06:01 PM

I'm assuming you want to shoot what I call "Look At Me Play Guitar" video rather than a headshot. I find that my iPhone needs to be several feet away to frame the whole guitar and me from the waist up. For a standing shot or anything wider, the phone will be even farther away. With this in mind I've ignored mics that plug directly into the phone, because the mic placement will be too distant from the source.

I have a few mics around here, so I chose an iRig Pro to connect one of my mics to my phone: http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/2015/...-lampg-videos/ They now offer a two channel version if that's needed.

If you don't have a mic already, there are a number of add-on mics that let you position the mic separately from the phone.

Fran

220volt · #3 12-13-2016, 07:14 PM

Apogee 96k. No need to look anywhere else. Phenomenal mic. You're welcome

That is the only thing I use for my YouTube videos. I actually sold my SM81 and audio interfaces after I got Apogee. I like it better than legendary SM81. It is little warmer and friendlier. The only downside is it only works with iPhone.
https://www.amazon.com/Apogee-MiC-Pr...NGNYC7G3CE2QF2

Acoustic_Stevo · #4 12-14-2016, 03:43 AM

Thanks guys.
Yes Fran, I see what you mean about mic placement, and iPhone placement. It'll have to be an add on mic positioned close to the guitar with my iPhone further away to get everything in shot.

Goat Mick · #5 12-14-2016, 09:30 AM

I've done a few videos with my iPhone from far enough away to see my entire guitar. I use a Blue Microphones Mikey plugged directly into my iPhone and as long as I'm in a relatively quite room everything came out just fine. All my SoundCloud recordings below are recorded directly into my iPhone with the Mikey onto GarageBand.

dneal · #6 12-14-2016, 04:25 PM

Blue has a new one - the Raspberry - that's i-device compatible.

darach · #7 12-16-2016, 05:04 PM

Faced with a similar challenge recently to record did short video for a friend's shop at short notice. I used the iPhone 6, the FilmicPro app and the new Blue Raspberry Dneal just mentioned and got pretty good results for an ultra mobile setup.

The benefit of the Raspberry is that it's a direct USB to lightning connection and is powered by the phone and gives you a direct latency free headphone out. The fact that it has a long cable allows you to setup the iPhone far enough to show the guitar while placing the mic close to the guitar without invading the frame.

Filmic Pro gives you full control of the video, which you can export in hi-res uncompressed format and allows high resolution audio with no AGC direct from the external mic. Excuse the lack of editing and dire tuning, caught off guard by an upside down tuner!

http://www.filmicpro.com/

Lowden F35 Lucky Strike Demo - Blueberry Mic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jEdQHmblXQ