How to record live music on my iphone 3GS?

July 9, 2009 1:19 PM

What's the best hardware and app to use to record live (loud) music on my iphone 3GS?

I play in a band a like to record our practices and live shows. I currently use a Boss Micro-BR, and while that's acceptable, I'd like to use my iphone if possible.

Ideally, I'd like to use a separate mic with an app like Fourtrack to do this. I specifically need a mic sensitivity adjustment, as anything we've tried to record so far has been WAY too loud and washed out in noise. Multitrack recording isn't necessary so if there's a single track recording app with mic sensitivity controls, that works too.

I've done some research in the app store and ask mefi, but it's far from clear what hardware/app combo would even work, let alone be ideal. Any pointers in the right direction are appreciated!

posted by skechada to Technology (7 answers total)

I don't have any experience recording onto an iPhone, but I can't say enough good things about the Zoom H2. It's built-in mics are amazing, have adjustable gain, and can handle very loud volume. It may interface with your iPhone via the line-out jack, but I don't know for sure.
posted by TurkishGolds at 2:34 PM on July 9, 2009

I followed this with older iPods (self-link), but I think that the extra accessories became unnecessary with the iPhone & the second generation Touch. Recording off a mixer is preferable to recording from mics.

I should check the 3gs; thanks for the reminder.
posted by Pronoiac at 2:45 PM on July 9, 2009

I just bought some software from BIAS, and they've got something called the iProRecorder that looks pretty slick; they suggest pairing with an Alesis protrack...which unfortunately doesn't appear to be available for the iPhone. Ooops. The iProRecorder is only $3, might be worth a try with just that...
posted by Bron at 7:53 PM on July 9, 2009

FourTrack hardware recommendations.
posted by Pronoiac at 8:34 PM on July 9, 2009

Response by poster: Thanks for the replies so far. I saw the hardware recommendations but they're all earbud-mic type things, which isn't really what I'm looking for if I can avoid it. iProRecorder looks like a possibility too but there's no mention of lowering the mic sensitivity.
posted by skechada at 9:39 PM on July 9, 2009

I did a fair amount of Googling after I downloaded FourTrack for my iPhone 3G a few months ago and was disappointed to find that there didn't seem to be a simple adapter that would let you plug in an external mic (other than a headset mic)... so I'm glad this question got asked!

I'm very intrigued by this bit from the FourTrack FAQ:

There are adapters available that break the headset jack out to two mini-jacks, one stereo output for headphones and one mono input for a mic. These are hard to find, but you could plug a guitar into one of these using a 1/4" to mini adapter.

I'm going to email the folks at Sonoma Wireworks and ask if they have any further details about such adapters - I'll follow up here if I hear back from them.
posted by usonian at 6:56 AM on July 10, 2009

Whoops, on closer re-read of the FAQ this will apparently do the trick - the yellow jack acts as a mono audio input rather than video out.
posted by usonian at 7:02 AM on July 10, 2009