(Please note: Becuase of the extreme volatility in this category, there are a number of updates to the original post. The last update was made December 28,2011)
Okay, it’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of Apple. As a company they remind me of Eddie Haskell from Leave It To Beaver. Playing the I am too cool for school card after they purloined their cool 1984 GUI from a dumpster diving party at Xerox, is old news. And I could almost forgive their age discriminatory b.s. in total, due to the incredibly hip and versatile iPhone. But then these wolves in sheep’s clothing had to extend their exclusivity deal with AT&T, singularly the worst carrier in the world. But it is such a cool phone that lots of folks I know walk around with the iPhone and something else, like a Blackberry that’s with a better carrier, you know just in case they may actually need to make a phone call.
So now that I have that off my chest, there’s some apps and hardware out that are so incredible, I am actually thinking of getting an iPhone. Although I will keep my Verizon Palm, if I do.
The company is called Six Digital Audio and what they’ve come up with is da bomb.
Let’s start with their AudioTools, which includes a base set of apps and a bunch of optional modules. Included in the base set of apps are an SPL Meter, which also works with their iaudiointerface microphone (more on the mic later). There’s also a full and 1/3 octave spectral analysis, db level and frequency measurement, Audio Scope – A dual-trace audio-band oscilloscope that includes auto- and single-trigger modes, variable sweep rate, and up to 128x gain, Audio signal generator that include sine waves, square waves, white noise, and pink noise. The base set also includes input monitoring software, file export software, graphing and calculating functions and input/ output calibration tools.
Optional modules kick the iPhone up a notch with deep analysis tools, pro SPL meters and Graphs, Speaker Polarity Analyzer, distortion measurement tools and a bunch of other things that I have no idea what they do, but look very impressive nonetheless.
Audio Interface Features
In addition to a great audio test & measurement accessory, with iAudioInterface you also get a professional-grade general-purpose audio interface suitable for recording. It includes a full pro stereo line level input, headphone amp or line out.
But, I have perhaps saved some of the best for last, especially for voice talent and singers, the ipro microphone.
iProMic is a professional-grade microphone for all models of iPhone and iPod touch. It is suitable for acoustic test and measurement, as well as any application where a high-quality, low-noise, wide-frequency response microphone that can handle extended SPL levels is required. See our Specifications page.
iProMic is essentially the microphone component of iAudioInterface, with all of the electronics mounted inside the mic. It connects to the iPhone or iPod touch dock connector with a hard-wired cable, and so bypasses the low-frequency roll-off filters that are present with the internal mic and any mic that is plugged into the headset connector.
Because iProMic connects to the dock connector via a 0.5m black cable, the headphone out connector is not blocked on the iPod Touch. The headphone output is available on both the iPhone and iPod touch while iProMic is in use.
iProMic is a mono mic, but it does present it’s output to both iPhone / iPod touch input channels. This way, it will work with any app that is expecting the normal left-input channel for the microphone, and it will also record into both channels of any recording app. The mic is powered by the iPhone / iPod touch, and is a low-power device.
When used with AudioTools, iProMic gives you a great platform for acoustic analysis. And, the output is still available via the headset connector.
The iProMic is under $150 and the base set of apps is around $20. The interface is priced under $250.
For more info visit www.studiosixdigital.com
Update 4/9/11
Apple’s redesign of the iPhone 4 has caused Studio Six to stop selling their hardware audio interfaces. They are working at a solution which should be released soon (this is as of December 2011). Their apps still work fine.
Apogee has released a mic and guitar interface (12/2011 last updated) http://www.apogeedigital.com/products/mic.php
KV Connections is offering a variety of potential interface solutions and you can find out more at https://www.kvconnection.com/Articles.asp?ID=165
Here’s a review from Bass Player on the Peavy Ampkit interface. http://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2010/08/product-review-with-damian-erskine-peavey-ampkit-link/
The latest version of the Blue Mikey microphone works with the iPhone 4. You can find out more information as well as hear a voice sample recording at http://www.bluemic.com/mikeyforipod/ It’s the Mikey 2 that you want!
Th irig interface is designed to plug a quitar into your iPhone, but we can’t see why putting a little mic level to line level converter in line wouldn’t work. If you wanted to use a phantom powered microphone though you would need to get a hold of a Rolls or some other box that will let you get your juice. info on the irig is here http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/cellphone/e572/?cpg=froogle#tabs
It’s probably just a matter of time before products will be rolling out that will turn iPads, iPhones and other tablets and cell phones into highly capable recording studios. Digidesign already has several apps for the iPhone and iPad.
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