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Does anyone have suggestions for external microphones for IPhone that will record tuba well? Looking to stay around or under $100. I’m looking at the Zoom iQ6 as I’ve had great results with Zoom recorders in the past.

I have about a 15 year old Zoom H4 and it has recorded tuba (in a quintet) better than anything else even close to its price range. I know nothing about iPhones.

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Mary Ann wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 11:08 am I have about a 15 year old Zoom H4 and it has recorded tuba (in a quintet) better than anything else even close to its price range. I know nothing about iPhones.

Mine's an H2, and it works well, too. When I need a video synch, I post-process and swap in the Zoom recording.

the elephant wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 11:15 am If by "for iPhone" you mean one that natively connects to a modern, headphone jack-free iPhone via the Lightning connector, the choice is very limited for tuba-range recording.

I use this. It is not perfect, but it beats the heck out of the built-in iPhone mic and it only costs about $80. There is an app that I don't care for that much and have only tried to use a few times, but you don't need it as the mic is plug-and-play.

RØDE is an Australian brand, made locally, and they make good stuff.

https://rode.com/en-us/microphones/mobile/videomic-me-l

This was taped four years ago, but it is still accurate.

Thank you so much for the suggestion!

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Looking around, there are Bluetooth mikes out there by the dozens, but I have no idea of their sound quality. There are also plug-to-Bluetooth adapters for use with all sorts of normally corded mikes. Again, no experience with the quality.

I've got a Shure MV88. It's really good for recording groups in stereo and of all the mics I own, it's the quietest. And it comes with some nice free audio and video apps. Bought it for $80 on ebay and have been very happy with it. The only downside is I have to remove the phone case to make it fit.

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I find the audio when using the video recording on my iPhone to be superior to the voice memo, for whatever reason, I assume some sort of algorithm?. Not great but ok enough to check what I sound like when practicing.

Since nobody has mentioned it yet, for iPhone specifically, the Shure MV88 works well, and it's near your price. Here's one on sale: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ereo.html/

There's an app to adjust the stereo imaging and equalization. You can record from the app, but once the mic handling is set up, you can also record from normal iPhone apps, like video. I got a lightning extension cord (plug on one end, socket on the other), so that the mic wouldn't need to be attached to the phone for everything (though it's handy to plug it right into the phone for video).

jtm wrote: ↑Wed Dec 28, 2022 9:15 pm Since nobody has mentioned it yet, for iPhone specifically, the Shure MV88 works well, and it's near your price. Here's one on sale: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... ereo.html/

There's an app to adjust the stereo imaging and equalization. You can record from the app, but once the mic handling is set up, you can also record from normal iPhone apps, like video. I got a lightning extension cord (plug on one end, socket on the other), so that the mic wouldn't need to be attached to the phone for everything (though it's handy to plug it right into the phone for video).

I mentioned it a few posts ago. Great mic. Bought mine used on eBay for $80.

the elephant wrote: ↑Tue Dec 27, 2022 11:15 am

I use this. It is not perfect, but it beats the heck out of the built-in iPhone mic and it only costs about $80. There is an app that I don't care for that much and have only tried to use a few times, but you don't need it as the mic is plug-and-play.

RØDE is an Australian brand, made locally, and they make good stuff.

Even the cheap Chinese knockoff of that mic is good.

LibraryMark wrote: ↑Thu Dec 29, 2022 7:59 am ...
I mentioned it a few posts ago. Great mic. Bought mine used on eBay for $80.

Oops. Sorry about that!

Okay, so I posted all the above about the RØDE mic having only used it about a dozen times. For some reason, when I used it tonight the quality is crappy now. It was not this way before, so perhaps I dropped it? It is not a good quality to work well and then mysteriously stop working.

I no longer recommend this mic as mine currently (and unexplainedly) sucks for tuba. Go with the SHURE on Amazon. I am sorry if anyone bought one based on my review. It was great for about four months and a dozen uses. Then tonight it produced garbage for me. Distortion, rattles, buzzes, overfeeding, etc. Garbage. I am very disappointed with this product.

If your external microphone isn't working with your iPhone, it can be pretty frustrating, especially if you're trying to record something important or take a call with better audio quality. There are a few things you can try to get it working again.
First, make sure the microphone is properly connected. If you're using a lightning connector, ensure it's securely plugged into the port, and if it’s a headphone jack adapter, double-check that everything’s snug. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of not being fully connected.
Next, consider the possibility of dirt or debris in the lightning port or headphone jack. If there's anything blocking the connection, the microphone might not work. You can gently clean the port with a small brush or a can of compressed air to remove any dust.
Restarting your iPhone can sometimes solve the problem. It’s a simple step, but it often helps clear up any temporary software glitches that might be causing the issue. Just turn off your iPhone, wait a few seconds, and then power it back on.

If none of these solutions work, you can try to follow for details instruction below.
https://thegeekpage.com/external-microp ... ow-to-fix/

I have a couple of professional quality mics that I bought a long time ago when a lot more money was flowing in and things didn't cost as much. I would like to know about some type of adapter whereby a traditional type of microphone can be used with things like phones and computers. I'm pretty ignorant. Is it something like some sort of analog to digital thing? I actually have a pair of really nice mics that recorded my tuba playing well (were it that my tuba playing was just a little bit better )

I have a DAT tape recorder, which proved to be a technology too soon, and I should have waited, but I also have a budget Zoom recorder that people say is plenty good enough.

I wouldn’t get a lightning connector microphone because iPhones now have usb 2 jacks. I second the recommendations for stand alone zoom recorders. I have a zoom Q8n which does ok video and great audio. These days synchronizing separate audio and video tracks is easy via software.

I love AI-generated answers.

I also have a Rode mike from around 25 years ago. That with a Sharp minidisk made the best horn recordings I ever made but that was pre-tuba days. I used the Rode, a Blue something pre-amp and the Zoom for a violin recording that is quite good, but nothing I have done has the obvious pro quality of the recordings a rich guy (tuba player) made of the community orchestra with a $10k mike. That was $10k back then, too. There are very adequate amateur mikes and then there are pro mikes.