iPhone X and Using External Microphone.

While Apple may not have designed their phones to work with external peripherals, that doesn't mean manufacturers aren't designing products specifically for them. Just have a look at some of the products they sell directly on their website (microphone - Apple). These are external lightning accessories made specifically for iPhones and their new phone models just don't support these accessories very well at all (if it all). Not to mention these are all supposedly "Apple MFi (Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad) Certified compatible with all iOS devices equipped with a Lightning connector."

It doesn't matter. IOS 11 and higher is not allowing external microphones using the lightning connector. I don't know if this is a bug or done purposely. Thanks Apple, for making my $100 mic (Zoom IQ7) useless.

A stereo microphone is not going to work with the 3.5 mm to Lightning adapter. The 3.5 mm jack is stereo out for headphones, but only mono for microphone input. The microphone input needs an extra contact on the plug. A normal 3.5 mm stereo plug does not have that extra contact and there will be nothing sent to the phone.

Look for a stereo microphone or adapter that has a Lightning plug. There are several out there.

I've tested multiple external microphones with multiple configurations on the iphone X and have nothing but problems. Whether I'm using the included 3.5mm to lightning adapter, lightning specific microphones (such as the Shure MV88), or a lightning to USB adapter with USB mics, all of them have issues. Problems range from audio interference, audio glitches, complete dropouts, or no audio at all.

The only company that seems to acknowledge this problem is Shure who claims there is an issue with the newer iphones (Shure on Twitter: "Unfortunately, this is an issue that Apple introduced with the release of the iPhone X, iPhone 8 and …).

Never had any problems with external microphones on my older iphone 6S other than minor interference issues that could be solved by switching to airplane mode but the iphone X has been a totally different story so far. Hope that a future iOS update will solve these problems.

I learned a weird trick with the MV88 .

if you start recording and then plug the mic in, it works perfect!

I kept trying so many different things with and it would only record for like 10 secs and then shut off, but if you hit record and then plug the mic in it works!!

Using a Y cable if you're just using a standard 3.5mm from the microphone split the input for you.

Iphone --> Lightning Connector --> Lightning to 3.5mm Stereo Adatper --> Stereo Male Y Cable 3.5mm --> Mono 3.5mm Female --> Mono 3.5mm Male --> Mono 3.5mm Male --- 3.5mm Female at the back of the micrphone like this setup in the picture. In the Filmic Pro app it will appear as Headphone Microphone

I regularly use an external mic for on the go voice-overs. I use a Rode M3, which can draw power from a 9V battery inside it. It has an XLR out, so I connected an XLR to TRS (aka minijack), then in turn to a TRS to TRRS adaptor, and from there to the Apple headphone adapter to lightning (see pic). Worked flawlessly on my iPhone X for several months. Until the latest update. Now I get absolutely no signal on the iPhone. Same deal with my iPad Pro. Worked perfectly until recent update. Now? Nothing. Doesn't matter if I connect the cables before or during, I get nothing. Also, the iPad would also recognize the audio input going into the headphone jack (i.e.: foregoing the lightning adapter.) That doesn't work now, either. Really annoying, since I now have to find a work around. Yet again. Any solutions most welcome.

Have you seen this solution? How to Add a Wireless Microphone to iPhone 7, iPhone 8, or iPhone X - YouTube

I ended up buying the recommended Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter - Apple and had already purchased a Amazon.com: SYBA external USB Stereo Sound Adapter for Windows, Mac, Linux Extra Audio Source with Microphone SD-CM-UAUD…

I used this combination over the weekend with my condenser mic with great results.

The next issue will be to resolve audio latency during livestreams with this setup.

Minok wrote:

the design blind spots Apple seems to have with their "you will use our technology the way we thought you would use it".

Yes, that has been Apple's philosophy right from the beginning. Nothing new about it.

What is the point of having a 4k video recording capability and the massive storage the XS line comes with, if you can only record mediocre audio in that mode and have to separately record audio with a separate device and sync up in post-production that cannot be done on the device?

No one here can answer those questions. I suggest you let Apple know how you feel here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Hi Guys, I thought had the same issue when I tried to connect the Rode Videomic to my iPhone X. Based on one of the suggestions provided, I found out that:

1. The voice is being recorded while using the video camera and the rode mic. You just have to remove the lightening connection of the Rode mic to hear the playback of the recording. Or u can connect a earphones to the end of the rode mic and u can hear everything.

And....? Did it work? I’m trying to use a Rode mike with a Zhiyun Smooth 4 Gimbal but it’s not happening. I have some success without the gimbal using a lightning splitter, a mike and a tripod.

I think it’s working but who knows?

i have the similar question, i just bought the Rode stereo videoMic X, and hoping to use with the iphoneX, however i am testing the recording with and the Rode SVMX and another mic Sony ECM-DS70P Portable Stereo Condenser Microphone and iphone X only, with either the mini XLR connect to the adapter or SC7 cable( a 3.5mm both end), all has the same sound, no different at all. I dont know what has gone wrong

Thanks

Wong

Malcolm J. Rayfield,

Thank you for your reply.

In reply to John, I just found this http://www.edutige.net/apple-lighting-3-5mm-adapter-external-microphone-review/, i dont know if this could solve part of the problem

Thank you

Wong

Perhaps, but the fact of the matter is, this device was NOT designed for this sort of use with external peripherals like this. Workarounds may exist, but this is in no way officially referenced or supported in any support articles I can find.

I have the same problem. Both Shure and the developers for Filmic Pro point to Apple introducing a problem in the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X. Makes me a bit sorry I plopped down the cash for an iPhone X. More fool me. My son suggested I use his antique 6s for video and sound. Sad, but it will probably work.

Apple, please make the changes necessary to make this work OR put out a statement saying that won't happen.

Thanks