Field recording with an iPhone

[Ken Olmstead]

Tell me about recording with the iPhone. I have a 3G. I saw mention of the Griffin software in another thread. Has anybody tried it. Do you have to get a seperate mic or does it use the one in my phone? What is the quality like.

Don't need a bunch of Zoom/Olympus/Yamaha recorder suggestions. I appreciate the help but I am very versed in what these little machines can do and their cost.

As a very ameture bird watcher there is a certain reality that I have found to be true. The best binoculars are the ones you have with you. (Same is true for mandolins) That has proved true many times when I have not lugged my super nocs on a trip since I was not going "birdding" but when your friends are whipping out their $50 portables and glassing a cool bird that is not on your list, it makes a believer out of you.

I always have my iPhone and I have reaped the rewards already. I snapped a photo of my friend and it turned out to be the last time I saw him. If I would have known I would have set up a photo shoot!

My point is, I think a field recorder on my phone would be a worthy addition but not if it is not really usable. Thinking ahead to Symposium so any hands on comments would be great thanks!

[Ken Olmstead]

OK answered my own question here. The quick version is that the recording apps actually work pretty good. Yesterday I downloaded "Recorder" and "Gigbaby." The Gigbaby is pretty cool as it is "capable" of 4 track recording. The other one is far simpler to operate with a clean interface. The sound quality is the same for both. Getting files back to you computer is a bit clunky. They use a wifi connection and a web transfer deal. The Gigbaby also can email files. This is very hit and miss according to online reviews. I will take it righ out of the headphone jack through my firewire interface into garageband. However, far from friendly.

As far as working for Symposium, I don't think so. It sounds good with a mandolin 5 feet away but the signal really drops off with some distance, just not enough microphone. I think it would work fine for personal lessons though. So for quick unexpected snipits of recording it is worth having on my phone for under $5, but I will have to get a better recorder if I want to archive my experience at Symposium.

Hope others find this helpful.

I also downloaded a tuner "cleartune" which seems to work very well!

[mcH]

I purchased an Olympic WS-40 recorder for recording sessions, lessons, quick ideas. The quality is not bad -- it's more on the treble side. I have used it in a concert to record "great ideas" and it's certainly listenable. The file format of the recordings are .wma And I've recorded things over 100' from the stage [put run through a sound system] and gotten good results.

Just an idea.

[Amandalyn]

There is a mic coming out in April for Ipod recording by Blue microphoenes-Mikey, works with:Compatible with iPod nano 2G, 3G & 4G; iPod classic; iPod 5G & most cases,
looks like Iphones not listed, but this is a quality mic alternative to buying a separate recorder.here's the blurb:
"Mikey features Blue's superior quality stereo condenser capsules, 3-position user selectable gain settings, and built-in speaker for playback. You can fine-tune Mikey to record everything from the barest audible sound to extremely loud sources without losing audio fidelity. Mikey's unique user-positionable head swivels 180° to provide maximum flexibility and usability, allowing you to position Mikey towards sound sources in various directions."

[Bob Stolkin]

OK answered my own question here. The quick version is that the recording apps actually work pretty good. Yesterday I downloaded "Recorder" and "Gigbaby."

Ken,

There are dozens of recorder apps in the App Store. Did you just randomly choose those two?

Bob

[mcH]

The Mikey uses the iPod's voice memo app. I'm betting that when iPhone 3.0 comes out, with voice memos included, the Mikey will be available for the iPhone.

[Ken Olmstead]

Ken,

There are dozens of recorder apps in the App Store. Did you just randomly choose those two?

Bob

Basically. I read reviews on them all but it is really hard to tell.

I like the Gigbaby more. I was doing some reading on it and figured out how to get the metronome and drumbeat features working. Also, I have not tried it yet but according to the developer, you can use regular headphones and record multiple tracks using the mike on the phone. I will try it this weekend but it will make some pretty amazing multitrack recordings for a phone if it is true!!! I was using the headphones with the mic built in and it is to close to the mandolin that way. If I can listen to the rhythm track on head phones and adjust the mike distance with the phone....lookout!!!

Thanks for the info on Mikey. I will look into it!