Use Your iPhone As A Microphone
The iPhone is a device that has a variety of uses. From a personal assistant to a web navigator to the device you use to keep in touch with other people. It’s no wonder that the iPhone has also become the weapon of choice for reporters and people in need to take a quick verbal note. Here are a few options and how to use them if you want to transform your iPhone into a device used for taking notes.
Voice Memos
The Apple iPhone comes with an app called Voice Memos. You can find it in the Utilities folder of your iPhone. The application is not only useful but it also comes with a set of features that will amaze you, despite the app itself being well-hidden from the user’s view. Use the red button to start a recording. There’s also an audio level meter that you can use and that will allow one to monitor audio levels. Try to keep the levels below 0 to ensure a recording of great quality. Passing the 0 mark means the recording will be slightly distorted. You can pause the app as you record to take a short audio break or you can stop the recording altogether by pressing the Stop button.
All your audio recordings will be accessible from the main windows once you press the menu icon on the left. These recordings can be shared with others via email or messaging. Audio files are stored int he .m4a format that is a compressed audio file with the same quality as that of an MP3 file but using a compression format known as Apple lossless.
Quick tip: the device’s microphone is located at the bottom left, adjacent to the speaker and dock connector.
The Voice Memos app is a free app and pretty simple to use. It does the job intended for pretty well and the limit of how much you can record with it is dictated only by the available space on your device.
Other recording apps worthy of notice
Similar apps are available and they can do the tings the stock app can do, and then much more. One of these apps is Recorder Pro. It will let you sort your recording according to categories. It will also let your record in a variety of audio formats such as AIFC, AIFF, WAV and CAF. The application also lets one transfer these recording via WiFi, iTunes and email.
Connect your device with a mixing board or PA system
Even more options are available when it comes to your device being hooked up with a mixing board or PA system. VonBruno Microphone Pro lets one use the iPhone more as a traditional microphone, in contrast with Voice Memos that only allows one to record.
Using VonBruno Microphone Pro will let one make the sound travel from the microphone to a set of external speakers or a headset. You can connect the 3.5 mm headset jack from your device to a mixing board and amplify your voice through a PA system.
The app costs $0.99 and it is available from the Apple App Store. The Pro version of VonBruno Microphone costs $4.99 and it will “provide the lowest latency possible on your device while providing crisp and clear CD audio reproduction”.
Turn your iPhone into a microphone
Did you know you can actually plug in a microphone (a hardware one) into your device? There’s iRig Mic and it costs $59.99 (retail value). It comes with a jack that is connectable to the 3.5 mm jack of the iPhone and it will work wit various apps.
There are a lot of things a portable microphone can be used for and having your phone in your pocket acting also as a microphone means you get to save space. Writing down a long text on the device can be tedious due to the small screen and having an app to record your note for your means saving time and doing it more pleasantly. Besides – you never know when you will get to record your next big hit while sitting on your porch and sipping your morning coffee.
