On my previous posts regarding an iPhone 4 microphone, I wasn’t able to test out the kVConnection audio cable because I didn’t have one. Well I ordered one and here are the results.
This simple adapter plugs into the headphone jack of your iPhone 4. You can then add one of your microphones to the other end. For this test I used one of my favorites, the Audio Technica ATR-3350 [aff].
I’m very pleased with the results. It makes iPhone 4 video sound as good as it looks. I highly recommend it.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kevin B, Scott Skibell. Scott Skibell said: Improve iPhone 4 audio with kVConnection cable. Make iPhone audio as good as its video. http://bit.ly/bYzjJp [...]
[...] It’s easy to capture good enough audio with a lav mic or Zoom H1 recorder along with the kVConnection cable attached to your iPhone. This is an incredible combination that makes capturing marketing, [...]
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Scott
Another really useful video. Thanks! Sound quality is really great with your lav mic and the KV connection cable.
I’ve done more work on a mic for speech recognition on the iPhone and I am now listing a new product on our UK online store
http://www.speechempoweredcomputing.co.uk/Store/details.php?prodId=116&category=26&secondary=&keywords=
The price is high as I bring the mics over to the UK from the States plus there’s the cost of the adapter.
Any thoughts on the merit of this product?
Peter
Speech Empowered Computing (UK)
Peter,
I like the idea. Just the other day I was in McDonalds doing some work and wanted to dictate some stuff but I knew it was too loud. Both Dragon Naturally Speaking and MacSpeech Scribe require high quality recordings to get their accuracy. A good noise canceling microphone is a must.
In my review of MacSpeech Scribe over at SkillCasting [ http://www.skillcasting.com/transcribe-iphone-recordings-with-macspeech-scribe/ ] I talk about ways you could use it. But it all starts with a good recording.
I’m not sure of the current exchange rate but watch the pricing. If you can keep it low enough, I think people would get real value from it.
I’d love to hear some examples from it too.
I’m confused. I thought the video was going to show the ATR-3350 sound with and without the kVconnection cable. All you did was show it with iPhone internal mic and then with the ATR-3350. I am still not clear what the kVConnection cable does (at least with this particular mic, I know you need it if you’re going to use a studio quality mic).
Charlene,
Sorry if I wasn’t clear. The ATR-3350 doesn’t work when plugged directly into the iPhone. You have to plug it into the kVConnection cable first for it to work with the iPhone.
I start the video with the ATR-3350 plugged into the kVConnection cable and then plugged into the iPhone. I unplug the mic & cable connection it in the middle of the video so you can hear the difference. It’s pretty substantial.
If you’re going to record video with your iPhone, I highly recommend the cable. Then you can plug in external microphones and really improve your sound.
Any suggestions for iPhone mics when conducting interviews? Lapel mics work great but probably not practical with more than one person talking.
I hear you on the lapel mic issue. You may want to consider the Zoom H1. It comes with a 10-foot mic cord so it would work pretty well. I find the audio to be pretty good when it’s up close. You could put a windscreen on it and it should work fine. They aren’t bad for $99.
Another solution would be to just pick up a regular microphone. They’d be cheaper. Just make sure you get a long enough cord. I’ve seen 3.5mm extenders from 10 to 25 feet. At 25 feet though, I’m not sure if you’d loose some quality though.
Let me know what you end up doing and what works best.