[grc] How to record better audio on your smartphone

[Paul Bame]

I think that writeup starts in the right place -- how to get the best sound
with whatever gear you have by optimizing placement, sound paths etc. Kudos!

Then I think they go a little more complicated than necessary in the
add-a-microphone section. It's true that there are purpose-built
microphones for cell phones with the per-cell-phone specialized
connector(s), but you can end up with a microphone which can't be used
anywhere else, and will probably pay a premium for it, and it won't
necessarily move from one phone type to another.

My recommendation for the simplest microphone setup is to use any USB
microphone appropriate to your needs, and podcasting has made them
ubiquitous, plus whatever little adapter cable your phone needs. Two
components only, and both can be used for other purposes.

For example if you have an Android phone with the micro-USB like i have,
you need an "OTG" cable, which even if you haven't heard of it, it's
nothing weird and is widely available for a few bucks. It's just the
adapter to plug USB devices, like flash drives, into a phone. When you're
done recording, you can use the same adapter cable to transfer the audio
files to a flash drive.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1121069-REG/startech_uusbotgra_5_rght_angl_micro_usb.html
<https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1121069-REG/startech_uusbotgra_5_rght_angl_micro_usb.html?sts=pi&pim=Y>
If your phone has USB type C or whatever proprietary thing Apple uses,
there are little adapters for those too.

For voiceover or interviews in audio-friendly settings, even the cheapest
USB microphones -- under $20 -- will beat the cell phone mic. The "Blue"
brand of microphones is popular but not under $20. There are also lavalier
USB microphones. I think I saw a pair of USB lavalier's -- you record in
stereo for that.

For news gathering and other real-world unpredictable recording, I favor a
cardioid microphone, and there are USB versions of them too. I like that
some you can use either as a USB microphone (and listen via headphones!),
or plug into standard audio gear via XLR. There are TONS of USB
microphones, and I link this one just as an example -- I've never used it.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/751977-REG/Audio_Technica_ATR2100_USB_ATR2100_USB_Cardioid_Dynamic_USB.html

So there's my choice for simple -- just a little adapter cable and any old
USB microphone -- no hub, no worries about phantom power, no worries about
overdriving your mini-plug phone input (or which electrical method yours
happens to use) or even if you still have one on your phone. The microphone
can be moved to different phones easily or used as is for PC-based
recording or podcasting.

Use the same setup for live remotes, using streaming software rather than
recording software.

There are other great ways to do field recording with a phone depending on
budget and requirements, and this is just the simplest way to upgrade to a
"real" microphone that I can imagine.


Paul (pablito) Bame
Prometheus Radio Project <http://prometheusradio.org/>, Engineering Director
215.727.9620 x505
N0KCL/3




On Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 3:34 AM Caitlin Reading via grc <
grc at maillist.peak.org> wrote:

> Very cool, we all knew this was possible. Thanks for sharing this Frieda 😏
>
> On Fri, Jun 28, 2019 at 2:20 AM Frieda Werden via grc <
> grc at maillist.peak.org>
> wrote:
>
> > I haven't tried this myself, but it looks helpful.  A lot of volunteers
> > would like to do this to record for radio.
> > https://www.popsci.com/record-better-smartphone-audio/
> >
> > Frieda Werden, Series Producer
> > WINGS: Women's International News Gathering Service
> > http://www.wingsradio.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > grc mailing list
> > grc at maillist.peak.org
> > http://maillist.peak.org/mailman/listinfo/grc
> >
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