The iPhone internal microphone

[Brad McGowan]

Is it just me, or does that internal iPhone microphone actually sound pretty good? I've been making sketch recordings of song ideas using a 4-track app for my iPhone. I'll typically put the phone down on the coffee table or on my knee and just play some acoustic guitar. I'm listening back to these tracks and realizing that they kind of sound much better than they should. I got similar results just placing the phone on the floor in front of an Ampeg Jet guitar amp.

Is anyone else getting similar results out of their iPhone?

It would be really cool if someone would make an app that simply allowed you to use the the phone as a microphone. The headphone jack could then be used as the microphone's output and plugged into a preamp or directly into a recorder.

[edit]: I just found this app called Megaphone:

Megaphone iPhone App Review - AppVee.com

Has anyone tried recording using this? It's only $1.99.

Brad

[mdjice]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

Is it just me, or does that internal iPhone microphone actually sound pretty good? I've been making sketch recordings of song ideas using a 4-track app for my iPhone. I'll typically put the phone down on the coffee table or on my knee and just play some acoustic guitar. I'm listening back to these tracks and realizing that they kind of sound much better than they should. I got similar results just placing the phone on the floor in front of an Ampeg Jet guitar amp.

Is anyone else getting similar results out of their iPhone?

It would be really cool if someone would make an app that simply allowed you to use the the phone as a microphone. The headphone jack could then be used as the microphone's output and plugged into a preamp or directly into a recorder.

[edit]: I just found this app called Megaphone:

Megaphone iPhone App Review - AppVee.com

Has anyone tried recording using this? It's only $1.99.

Brad

actually I think it's pretty horrible me and a friend did a test to see if the quality would be enough to do decent drops or recordings, I plugged a jack out into a Pre (avalon 737) and recorded in protools, it sounded like SHiiii.
it might not be bad for a phone but IMO it's still way to LO-FI for anything else.

[Brad McGowan]

Which version of the phone were you using? Lo-fi can be cool...

Brad

[Alex Specht]

Originally Posted by mdjice

I plugged a jack out into a Pre (avalon 737) and recorded in protools,.

High end dude!

[mdjice]

lol, I was using the first generation, maybe that's why?
Lo FI can be cool but i got speakerphone 2 for that with the Iphone setting

[Brad McGowan]

I have the 3G iPhone...not the very latest. So perhaps there is a difference. I'm going to download that Megaphone app and make some recordings of acoustic guitar and post them.

Brad

[IsleBeatUDown]

I use a first gen (4gig) iPhone to record all my ideas and sometimes jam sessions when nothing better is at hand. Best sounds so far? Drum kit totally overloading the thing. It sounds like the smashed talkback pre in Phil Collins' tom fills. Brutal. I need to cut the sounds out and use them as samples.

But it didn't handle the AC/DC concert so well. So much for my bootlegging career.

[john caldwell]

What app permits 4-track recording please?

Thanks,

John-

[Brad McGowan]

This. It's brilliant. You can download the songs to your computer via wi-fi.

Sonoma Wire Works - FourTrack iPhone App

Brad

[cyork]

McDSP also makes the Retrorecorder for $2.99. I've also been pleasantly surprised at how functional the iPhone is as a scratch pad.

Retro Recorder

Chad

[kozsak]

The iPhone mic and Guitar Tuner app (Guitar Toolkit) I bought work way better than my old standby guitar tuners (ie: Boss, Korg, etc...) for acoustic guitar. The mic in the phone is very sensitive-but in a good way.

I also record some scratch tracks into Voxie and they do sound pretty good, but sorta sterile/compressed/grainy. It's a nice recording tool to have in your phone for getting down song ideas and such.

[fakiekid]

I used it on the floor outside my drum room once for a quick tryout.

best drum sound ive ever had! haha!

[bonnybilly]

Hey,

I also use the sonomo works 4 track recording...a really nice app for getting back to basics when songwriting. I would have the agree that the mic sounds way better than expected. I think blue make a stereo mic for the iphone...may be worth investing in to compliment this - iPhone Apps - FiRe - Field Recorder | Apptism which is also a great app.

Best.

[kooz]

I was impressed with the mic after hearing this clip recorded by accident on a buddy's iPhone...and the compression too. There are some electronics in the chain that are too noisy for quiet ambience like this, but for louder sources would be just fine.

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

This. It's brilliant. You can download the songs to your computer via wi-fi.

Sonoma Wire Works - FourTrack iPhone App

Brad

Is this the coolest of the four track recorders??

[Brad McGowan]

It's the only one I've really tried, but I really dig it so far. It's very easy to use.

Brad

[henryrobinett]

OK, Brad. Good. I'll pull the trigger.

[bexarametric]

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

OK, Brad. Good. I'll pull the trigger.

You won't regret it. It's only like $10.

[henryrobinett]

Cool. Got it, but haven't played with it yet.

[Art Johan]

I haven't heard it.
but I'm not surprised.
many times high distortion / compression sounds great for us gearslutz.

[Bounce]

I just picked up the 32gb 3gs to use as a phone (duh) and for field recordings (getting samples). This replaced my OG iphone. After researching, what I found was that the 3G and up have better internal mics. The apps and synths and whatnot for the iphone blow my mind daily now for about 2 years! I use the Griffin italk app but there are several cool ones. You can transfer your files right over wifi. Very nice. I actually used it today to record some vocal melody ideas a client had since the vocal chain was not set up for this section (joint was being rewired) and it did the job perfectly for archiving the ideas. It sounds great so far on the samples I've collected.

I've often liked samples I've gotten of drums or piano from my Macbook Pro mic. Viiiiibey!

[Mr. Liszt]

What are you guys doing with peaking? I haven't found anyway to lessen the input on the iPhone's mic. Makes recordings kinds useless unless it's something really quite. Though I did record some takes of some rock drum kit playin' and despite the constant clipping, it does sound great for a freakin' phone - that smashed video camera audio quality and all - the clipping causing that major compression. There's no way to get around that though is there?

[Brad McGowan]

I'm not sure how you can adjust the mic. I think it's optimized for voice levels.

I downloaded Megaphone last night and recorded some acoustic guitar quickly to my Otari tape deck at home. I had to plug the output of the phone into the DI input of a True Systems mic preamp for additional gain. You know what? It sounded really good! To be honest it sounded better than some of the guitar sounds I've captured by spending lots of time messing around with expensive mics, EQ's, and compressors. Maybe the lesson I should take away is that I like the sound of very small diaphragm omni mics on guitar. Anyway it sounded really good. It was balanced and captured the body of the guitar and "strum" in nice proportion. It wasn't too boomy or too thin and didn't have any weird frequency peaks. I'm sure it's not a 20-20k signal but it had enough there to satisfy my ears.

Brad

[mdjice]

ok well nevermind what I said as i only had experience with the Iphone first generation. I got a 3GS now and recorded a quick test just for fun with fourtrack and the iphone, nothing fancy, 1 take each 4 tracks, vocal, High hat (mouth) and snap on my knee..of course NOT mixed lol just to test and I have to agree it's pretty good quality for a phone! you can hear here:
https://download.yousendit.com/UmNMUWVzR3NRWUxIRGc9PQ

[thermos]

You guys know about these apps right?

Studio Six Digital

The 2nd gen internal mic is good enough to fairly accurately tune your room according to them and every review I've read (by people who are comparing those apps to real stuff). Apparently though, the 3rd gen mic has a steeper roll off, and is not as flat as the last one. D'oh!

[Brad McGowan]

It's a good thing I have the money sounding Gen2 mic.

I'm going to check out that link now. Thanks for the tip.

Brad

[pearldrum944]

You should check out "RTA" as well. One of the best apps I have bought!

[travisbrown]

The 88 records entire song on their iPhone - Technology Live - USATODAY.com

These guys shouldn't be confused with the awesome band The 77s, who've been around for ~25 years. The 77s incidentally have a live album titled 88.

[dominic hoenig]

Originally Posted by travisbrown

The 88 records entire song on their iPhone - Technology Live - USATODAY.com

These guys shouldn't be confused with the awesome band The 77s, who've been around for ~25 years. The 77s incidentally have a live album titled 88.

that's nuts.....