Why Not Use The Built-In Microphone On The iPhone?
It’s important to understand that the microphone on your iPhone is a single channel mono audio recording that will produce less than desirable audio quality for applications like video and podcasts. The sound produced from your regular iPhone audio recorder is muffled in the important high frequencies and hard to make out words. For this reason, your better option for recording podcasts and other vocals with your iPhone is to purchase a microphone that can be used in conjuction with your iPhone or smartphone.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Podcast Microphone For Your iPhone
- Newer models of iPhones have completely ditched the headphone jack to go wireless with headphones. Opinions aside, you will need to consider this heavily when purchasing an iPhone microphone. Some models simply will not work with newer iPhones. For these models you will need to look for a lightning connected microphone.
- Lapelle or Lavalier microphones are the style that will clip onto your clothing or collar and work best in close proximity of the person they are recoridng. While Shotgun style microphones usually will attach directly to the phone, record anything in close proximity, and are sometimes able to repsition the direction the microphone is pointing while on the phone.
Shure MV88
- Attach to phone style.
- Comes with foam wind screen cover, carrying case and a 3.5mm extender for headphone jack
- Adjustable mic allowing you to reposition for best sound but it’s only 90 degrees of range which seems like a drawback.
- Connects via Lightning (iPhone).
- No lightning pass-through so you are unable to charge the phone while using the microhpone.
- Great sound quality.
- Play with the settings for your own preference.. But, the mono cardioid setting is probably best recommended for podcast applications.
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Shure MV88 Specs
Bit Depth / Sample Rate: Up to 24 Bit / 48 kHz
Maximum SPL: 120 dB SPL
Net Weight: 40.5 g (1.43 oz)
DSP Modes (Presets): Speech, Singing, Acoustic, Loud, Flat
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
Headphone Output: Available through Apple device
Dimensions (H × W × D): 67 mm × 25 mm × 35 mm
Transducer Type: Cardioid (1cm), Bidirectional Condenser Cartridge (1cm)
Adjustable Gain Range: 0 to +36 dB
Power Requirements: Powered through Lightning Connector (iPhone)
Polar Pattern: Adjustable Width Stereo / Mono / Bidirectional / Mono Cardioid / Mid-Side
Sensitivity: -37 dBFS / Pa at 1 kHz
Housing: All-metal construction
Rode iXY-L
- Attach to phone style
- Slick design. Visually appealing.
- Comes with foam windscreen protector, carrying case, and headphone jack adapter
- Connects via Lightning (iPhone)
- Attaches to bottom of phone and covers home screen button, however the home button is still functional due to a silicone button cover on the mic.
- Best recording bitrate will come when recording within its own app.
- Great sound quality. Audio sounds high quality.
- Built-in gate feature of some sort seems to block out low ambient noise very well.
- The app is not included and costs $6 which is pretty lame.
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Rode iXY-L Specs
Mono/Stereo: X/Y
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
Max SPL: 139dB SPL
Signal to Noise Ratio: 76dB SPL
Low Cut Filter: 72Hz Switchable
Color: Black
Connector: Lightning
Weight: 0.11 lbs.
Included Accessories: Windshield and zip case
Manufacturer Part Number: iXY-L
IK Multimedia iRig Mic Field iOS Microphone
- Attach to phone style
- Blue and green light indicator shows when the mic is on and being used. Red and yellow light indicates audio is too loud and you are approaching clipping. Handy.
- Headphone jack on the side of the actual microphone
- Adjustable gain dial on the side of the microphone to control levels.
- Connects via Lightning (iPhone)
- Good sound quality
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IK Multimedia iRig Mic Field Specs
Microphone Type: Condenser
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency Response: 40Hz-20kHz
Max SPL: 115dB SPL
Color: Black
Connector: Lightning
Weight: 0.07 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: IP-IRIG-FIELD-IN
Rode smartlav+
- Lavalier/Lapel style microphone
- Cable is reinforced with kevlar. Points for quality.
- Comes with foam windscreen, clothing clip, and carrying case.
- Cord is kinda short for some applications and uses but you can always purchase an extension.
- Plugs in via headphone jack so won’t work with newer iPhones. Works with most smartphones with a headphone jack though.
- Built in gate setting hides hiss and background noise well. An upgrade from the previous mode.
- High sound quality. Sounds great.
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Rode smartlav+ Specs
Acoustic Principle: Permanently Polarise
Active Electronics: JFET
Capsule: 0.10″
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
Address Type: End
Frequency Range: 60Hz – 18kHz
Output Impedance: 3000Ω
Maximum SPL : 110dBSPL
Maximum Output Level: 189.0mV (@ 1kHz, 1% THD into 1KΩ load)
Sensitivity: -35.0dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (17.80mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz
Equivalent Noise Level: (A-weighted) 27dBA
Weight: 6.00g
Dimensions: 1180.00mmH x 4.50mmW x 4.50mmD
Output: TRRS Output
Warranty: 1 year
MicW i437L
- Attach to phone style
- The most lightweight option of all the microphones discussed in this article.
- The most portable iPhone microphone available.
- Connects via Lightning (iPhone)
- Sounds honestly good… Doesn’t sound tinny.
- Static noise and hiss on recordings could be a little less noticeable as pointed out by some buyers. This won’t be a factor for some users who will be using gates and other things in post production.
- Some users make the point that this mic is more of a lavalier mic that is attached to your phone rather than clip to your shirt or collar style. Probably best used as a “talk into the mic” point style microphone.
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MicW i437L Specs
Microphone Type: Electret condenser
Capsule Diameter: 0.3″ / 7 mm
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity: -27.5 dBFS / 94 dB SPL @ 1 kHz (±3 dB)
Signal to Noise Ratio: >62 dB
Operating Temperature: -4 to 122°F / -20 to 50°C
Power Requirements: Powered via Lightning port
Connector: Lightning
Length: 2″ / 50 mm
Weight: 0.4 oz / 10 g
MicW i316
- Lavalier/Lapel style microphone
- Comes with foam windscreen, clothing clip, and slitter for monitoring.
- High quality sound but also really great value for a lavalier style microphone.
- Plugs in via headphone jack so won’t work with newer iPhones. Works with most smartphones with a headphone jack though.
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MicW i316 Specs
Transducer: Electret condenser
Capsule Diameter: 0.3″ / 7 mm
Polar Pattern: Omnidirectional
Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity: -35 dB (±4 dB)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 58 dB
Impedance: <2.2 kOhms
Power Requirements: Plug and play
Connectors: Microphone: 1 x 1/8″ (3.5 mm) TRRS
Split Adapter: 2 x 1/8″ (3.5 mm) TRRS, 1 x 1/8″ (3.5 mm) TRS
Operating Temperature: -4 to 158°F / -20 to 70°C
Cable Length: 5′ / 1.5 m
Weight: 0.2 oz / 5 g
Boya M1
- Lavalier/Lapel style microphone
- Lots of extra cable
- Comes with foam windscreen, clothing clip, 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter LR44 battery, and a carrying pouch.
- Switch on the cord allowing you to switch from smartphone to camera.
- High quality audio but the sound kind of varies depending on settings and uses. Good quality for price.
- Connects via headphone jack so won’t work with newer iPhones that lack a headphone jack. Able to use on most phones, not only Apple iPhones.
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Boya M1 Specs
Polar pattern: Omini-directional
Frequency response: 65Hz-18KHz
Signal/Noise: 74dB or more
Output Impadence: 1000Ω or less
Power requirement: LR44
Zoom iQ7
- Attach to phone style
- Functional adjustable Gain dial on the microphone is handy.
- Connects via Lightning (iPhone)
- Headphone jack located on the actual microphone.
- Sound quality is kind of tinny and not quite as good as competitors.
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Zoom iQ7 Specs
Mid-side (M-S) stereo mic (90°/120°/M-S)
Output Connector: Stereo mini ⅛” jack (combined headphone/line level output)
Audio Quality: 48kHz/16-bit
Input Gain: +3 to +43dB
Maximum input sound pressure: 120dB SPL
Connector: Lightning connector
Power: Powered by the connected iOS device
Compatible Devices: iPhone (5, 5s, 5c, 6, and 6+), iPod touch (5th generation), iPad (4th generation), iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad mini with Retina display
Supported iOS: iOS 6.0 or newer
Included Accessories: Operation manual, Foam windscreen
Optional Accessories: Hairy windscreen (WSU-1)
Dimensions: 54.5 (w) x 57.2 (d) x 26.5 (h) mm
Weight: 30.5g
iRig mic
- Classic microphone style that plugs into phone.
- Perfect cord length for the proper distance of doing video in front of iphone
- Good weight and build to it
- Comes with mic stand, carrying case and the cord.
- Plugs in via mic jack on phone. Won’t work with newer iPhones that lack a headphone jack. Able to use on most phones, not only Apple iPhones.
- Sensitivity switch on microphone with three settings for sound intensity.
- Not so great sounding when a second mic is added via the second input spot via the cord.
- Sound quality isn’t extremely great. Kinda sounds how it looks.
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iRig Mic Specs
Microphone Type: condenser electret
Polar Pattern: unidirectional/cardioid
Frequency Response: 100 Hz – 15 kHz, -3dB
Maximum Sound Pressure (set for high sound pressure): 120 dB
Maximum Sound Pressure (set for mid sound pressure): 90 dB
Maximum Sound Pressure (set for low sound pressure): 75 dB
Distortion: 3% THD at 120 dB, 1 kHz
Windscreen: built-in
Power and Connection: works with iOS, most Android devices (CTIA/AHJ compatible) and most Mac computers
Rode VideoMic Me
- Mini shotgun style microphone that plugs directly into headphone jack.
- Comes with furry windscreen protector. Higher quality windscreen than any of the other mics.
- Because it plugs into the headphone jack means it will not be compatible with newer iPhones. Will work with most smartphones with a headphone jack though.
- Great for selfie style video recording.
- Great for point and shoot style audio recording applications. Able to point the microphone wherever you need for shooting.
- Pretty good sound quality. Focuses the sound on the subject you are shooting.
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Rode VideoMic Me Specs
Acoustic Principle: Pressure-gradient
Active Electronics: JFET impedance converter
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Address Type: End
Frequency Range: 100 Hz to 20 kHz
Maximum SPL : 140 dB SPL (@ 1 kHz, 1% THD into 1 kOhms load)
Sensitivity: -33.0 dB re 1 V Pascal (22.00 mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1 kHz
Equivalent Noise: 20 dB-A
Output Connection: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) TRRS mini-jack
Dimensions (H x W x D): 1.5 x 0.8 x 3.1″ (38 x 21 x 80 mm)
Weight: 1.2 oz (34 g)
Other iPhone Podcasting Options To Consider
Another option to consier is simply using an iPhone converter with a regular podcast microphone not designed for use with smartphones. This is a plus because you can utilize the quality of a larger more expensive microphone with the convienence of your iPhone or smartphone.
Rode SC4 Microphone Cable
Check them out here available for purchase.