This
adapter allows you to connect a standard microphone with 3.5mm (1/8
inch) connector to the iPhone/iPad/iPod or other compatible device for
quality recording. This adapter incorporates passive components which
provide DC blocking/isolation between the microphone input for device
protection, as well as, impedance matching components for allowing a
wide variety of microphones to be used with the device. This adapter
works with microphones that have a mono or stereo 1/8” (3.5mm)
connector. This adapter also includes a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack which allows you to connect standard headphones. The headphones typically work for playback of recordings and not to monitor the microphone while recording unless you use a recording app with the monitoring feature (see FAQ section below for more details).
Plug
the adapter into the iPhone (or other device) headset jack and then
plug your microphone into the adapter. The iPhone will recognize that an
external mic is connected and turn its internal mic off allowing you to
record using the external microphone. This adapter works with all
audio/video recording apps and other functions just as the internal mic
would.
Plug standard headphones into the headphone jack to listen to recordings. The headphone jack normally works for listening to recorded audio only and not to monitor the microphone input while recording, unless you use a recording app that has a microphone monitoring feature.
Q: Will this adapter work with a stereo mic?
A: The combined
headset jack on the iPhone and other devices only has a mono mic input
so you cannot record in stereo. Most recording apps split the mono
signal into both left/right channels when recording so the audio will
play back in both ears. You can connect a stereo mic to this adapter but
only one side of the mic will be active; if you use a
stereo-to-mono
adapter on your mic then it will make both mics active. There is a new
stereo microphone product available which will allow for stereo
recording using the docking connector; this is currently the only option
available for stereo recording,
Tascam IM2 stereo mic.
Q: Why do I need a different adapter for a lavaliere mic that does not have batteries?
A:
Lavaliere mics, PC mics and headset mics are typically ECM mics
(electret condenser mics) and all ECM mics require power to operate. If
your ECM mic does not have batteries then you need the –ECM version of
the adapter which allows the iPhone (or other device) to power the mic.
Q: Can I connect a microphone with a different style connector if I use an adapter?
A:
Although you can adapt various microphone connectors to work with this
adapter, the XLR connection needs to be hooked up as “Unbalanced” and
most XLR to 3.5mm adapters are balanced connections. You can either use
our
XLR version of this adapter, or you can connect an XLR mic to this
adapter by using an XLR to 3.5mm mono (unbalanced) adapter.
Q: Why can't I use the headphones to hear (monitor) the microphone while recording?
A:
The microphone signal is too weak to be heard in the headphones without being amplified. The mic signal would need to be amplified by the software (App) and played back through the headphones live for you to be able to hear while you are recording. Most recording apps, including the built-in recording apps, do not have a monitoring feature so the headphones will only work for playback of recordings with these apps. If you use a recording app with monitoring, like StudioMini or Fire by AudioFile, then you will be able to monitor while recording.
