Recording a Voice Memo with an External STEREO mic - Pro Recording

Question

Recording a Voice Memo with an External STEREO mic - Pro Recording

Hello,
I want to use Apple's iphone Voice Memo app to record stereo samples for use with my digidesign music projects.

Apple claims that "voice memo" can record in stereo using external mics:

http://www.apple.com/iphone/how-to/index.html#voice-memos.recording-voice-memos

I have a great powered audio techniques stereo mic that I want to use for grabbing field recordings (AT825). However, I have yet to find clear information on if there is a cable out there that can record in stereo...

I've seen many many reports of the 3rd party (breakout) headphone/mic systems, but nothing clear that denotes that I can plug a stereo mic into the system....

My mic is a stereo XLR mic. So, I would need a cable to go from XLR to 3.5mm.. or whatever else that may be in between the mic and the iphone.. more on that in a bit.

----
Here is some links to things that are close to what I need, but are not quite there to give people an idea:

The closest example of the type of system I'm looking for.. only I don't know if I can plug my STEREO mic into this system??:
http://provideocoalition.com/index.php/atepper/story/connectyour_pro_xlr_microphone_into_youriphone/

XLR to 3.5mm cable for recording only (again, not sure if this has stereo capabilities):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWEsyawbti0
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Again, I have:
- Pro Headphones
- Pro STEREO Mic

And I (ideally) need:
- Breakout system that would allow me to plug my headphones and XLR mic into it.
- Perhaps an inline levels system since I think there is no way to adjust the input level on the iphone.

If all fails, what I would like to know most is if there is a cable/adapter out there that would let people plug their stereo mics into it. I've been searching for over a day and still am not absolutely clear on this.

Sorry for the long post... and thanks in advance for ideas.

Donovan

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2), MacBook Pro, iMac intel, iMac G3 (webserver), Powerbook G4, MacMini G5, others

Posted on Jan 2, 2010 11:06 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 4, 2010 3:41 PM in response to Donovan Brooke

Hi,
Look at this: http://www.showmecables.com/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8335
and read throughfully the following blog:
http://benttronics.blogspot.com/2009/05/audio-breakout-cable-for-ipodiphone.html
I guess that together with your sources you should be able to set up what you "ideally" need.
Good luck.
F.F.

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Answer 2

Jan 5, 2010 9:57 AM in response to Fred Freed

Hi Fred, thanks for responding... I hadn't seen that Jack that you posted, so thanks. However, the problem with this system is the same that I've seen with all the solutions. That is that they all state "stereo" for the headphones, but not the mic.

Anyway, I've resigned to the effort and am probably going to pick up one of these instead:

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1471

24-bit,
WAV,MP3, and WMA
Better than CD recording.

I was really hoping that I could turn my iPhone into a professional recorder and at the same time, save a little money, but it appears they would have to extend it's feature set to some of those qualities posted above first. Knowing my luck, Apple will do this just after I've purchased another solution. 😉

Donovan

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Answer 3

Jan 5, 2010 10:06 AM in response to Donovan Brooke

Donovan Brooke wrote:
...they all state "stereo" for the headphones, but not the mic.

That's because the headphone/mic jack on the iPhone only accepts monaural input. If you want to record in stereo, you need a different device.

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Answer 4

Jan 5, 2010 10:15 AM in response to neuroanatomist

Well, not quite right... the 3.5mm input may be in mono, right, but the iPhone (and voice memo), whether through a dock, or what-have-you, can record in stereo apparently, which is what I was chasing after.

However, like I said, even if I found a dock that would allow me to plug in my stereo mic, there is still some recording quality issues that are not ideal perhaps.

Donovan

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Answer 5

Feb 27, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Donovan Brooke

Just like the OP stated, I am having a very difficult time getting any external mic working with my Iphone 3gs.

I already purchased the following adapter cable:

http://www.kvconnection.com/product-p/km-iphone-2trs.htm

I also already have a couple different mics:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68461-REG/ShureSM58_CN_SM58_CN_CardioidDynamic.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/400801-REG/AudioTechnica__AT897_ShotgunMicrophone.html

The first is not a "powered" mic, second requires power (battery)

I am connecting both of these mics to a female xlr cable on one end, and the other end to adapter that is a 1/8" with one ring. I also put a two ring adapter on the end of the cable. None of these are working. When I plug in any combination, bring up voice recorder, my internal mic still works, but not the externals.

Can anyone tell me what I may be doing wrong, or offer suggestions? Thanks.

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Answer 6

Dave Hutch

Level 4

1,497 points

Mar 1, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Donovan Brooke

This pinout diagram shows the iPhone has stereo line in connections, but obviously your source would need to be line level:
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml

This page might help as well
http://www.lunamusika.com/blog/?p=1966

and the Blue Mikey stereo microphone is here:
http://www.bluemic.com/mikey/new/

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Answer 7

nixav

Level 1

4 points

Mar 12, 2010 8:36 PM in response to Dave Hutch

My two cents on audio inputs on an iphone: A trrs cable can be used to get at the mic in through the normal mini 3.5mm jack. On a standard av cable the mic in ends up being the red channel (usually audio right). You could also use a 3.5mm 4 conductor TRRS Male to 3.5mm Headphone and Microphone Jacks, which basically gives you a headphone jack and a mono line in jack. I've seen some websites try to pretend that this will give you a stereo in. It does not.

The 30-pin port has the stereo in. Pins 5&6 are line ins. The only current consumer solution to get at them is the Belkin TuneTalk, but then you're forced into paying for a nice stereo condenser.

I picked apart my old 2G dock to see what the chances of switching the line outs to line ins, since the dock already has as 3.5mm jack. Doesn't look promising... maybe someone else has a clever solution?

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Answer 8

nixav

Level 1

4 points

Mar 12, 2010 8:55 PM in response to nixav

wait wahhh?
when did this come out?

http://www.alesis.com/protrack

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