Michael is a Creative Editor who covered Apple Retail and design on 9to5Mac. His stories highlighted the work of talented artists, designers, and customers through a unique lens of architecture, creativity, and community. Durability: choose a microphone that is built well and will last a long time. Chances are the microphone, just like your iPhone, will endure some abuse. The MV88 has a joint near the bottom so that the mic can be positioned (pointed) along a 180° angle. This makes it easy to point to the microphone in the correct direction when recording video with the front or rear camera or when we're recording just audio. The iQ7 offers advanced features that allow you to create extraordinary stereo recordings every time. A large front-facing MIC GAIN knob allows you to easily set the optimum input level, and three-segment LED level meters ensure clean, crisp sound with no signal overload.

Am7 | ZOOM Am7 | ZOOM

Zoom's iQ7 is a stereo condenser mic with a twist. Labelled 'mid-side' for its two microphone elements, the directional 'mid' mic captures audio coming from in front, while a bidirectional "side" mic covers the signal all around you. Though this microphone is still good (it made this list), there are problems with it. The main issue I have with this mic is its cheap build. The plastic body and switches are not durable. This microphone is not designed very well for the regular wear and tear of a mic, though it does work very well when taken special care of. If you plan on doing run-and-gun and/or outdoor recording, this mic may not be for you!Additionally, it's worth noting that most “lightning” microphones that are designed to attach to iPhones are designed to do so when the phone is not in a protective case. This is an issue. Personally, I dislike taking my phone out of its protective case at all, especially when recording with it. My first impression was that this is rather cheaply made. Where the speakers attach is pretty flimsy & allows for a bit of give. However after a few uses, I now feel that it was done intentionally & is perfect! The give in the soft plastic could really save the lightning connection from being snapped off. All in all, the Mic 96k is a studio quality USB microphone. It has a clean ADC with a preamp capable of delivering 40dB of gain. Its 19 mm small-diaphragm condenser capsule captures sound in a very natural way and that sound is converted to digital audio all within a small microphone body. Note that the above microphones are my top choices when connecting directly to an iPhone. However, plenty of mics on the market will outperform the above 4 if we properly adapt them to connect to an iPhone. For this article, we'll discuss the 4 best mics designed for use with the iPhone.

Zoom iQ7 MS | Stereo Microphone - GAK

It features a Hi and Low gain setting; omnidirectional and cardioid polar pattern options; and sounds clean. If there's one mic that can connect directly to the iPhone via bluetooth without the need for a separate receiver (and therefore a physical connection between receiver and iPhone), it's the Hey Mic! Hey Mic! Before we get into our top 4 best external iPhone mic, let's go over some criteria that make up a great iPhone mic: All in all, the iQ7 is very functional (when it functions!). It has a headphone output for monitoring, which is awesome. It can also be altered 90° about its base to better suit audio-only recording or audio/video recording. When you're ready to take your iOS audio to the next level, plug in a Zoom iQ7. This compact yet full-featured mid-side stereo condenser mic is perfect for capturing music as well as video with outstanding audio. With the iQ7, you can create great-sounding recordings on your iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch any time, any place.For more information on stereo microphones, please consider reading the My New Microphone articles titled Do Microphones Output Mono Or Stereo Signals? and Top 8 Best Stereo Miking Techniques (With Recommended Mics) . Apogee Electronics is featured in My New Microphone's Top 11 Best Audio Interface Brands In The World. The Rode smartLav+ is an excellent little lavalier microphone and outperforms the aforementioned Boya BY-DM1 in terms of audio quality and durability (though its cable is much shorter).

iQ7 Mid-Side Stereo Microphone for iOS | ZOOM iQ7 Mid-Side Stereo Microphone for iOS | ZOOM

The Shure MV88 design allows for an in-phase clean stereo image, and the digital audio specs are at a professional level at 24-bit 48 kHz. While I’ve been highly impressed with the video capabilities of recent iPhone cameras, the accompanying microphone has always left something to be desired. Recently, I found myself in need of a more professional audio solution for on the go video. Looking for an affordable, compact, and high quality option, I decided to try out the Zoom iQ7 microphone for Lightning-equipped iOS devices.Decent third-party mics for iOS devices come in all shapes and sizes – from clip-on wired lavaliers to fitted stereo condensers - so there's plenty to choose from depending on your needs. The Rode smartLav+ is a step up from the cheaper Movo PM10, but the extra dollar gets you a higher-quality omnidirectional condenser capsule (which improves sound quality) and a Kevlar-reinforced cable to offer a longer lifespan for your microphone. Accessories-wise, you get a foam windshield and a zip carry case, along with the serviceable if clunky Rode Rec recording app.