Microphone for iPad
May 5, 2022 4:48 AM Subscribe
I need to use an external microphone with an iPad. I have no idea how this works, what microphone I should consider or anything.
For work, I need to use an app on the iPad (yes, must be on an iPad). The basic function of the app is you speak into it and it produces a certain result. A headset won’t work because the app is being used in a in-person group setting. Right now I’m just using the internal iPad microphone but for better accuracy, an external microphone is really recommended.
Questions:
How would I connect a microphone? Are there Bluetooth or iPad-compatible iPads?
I’m not looking for an expensive microphone and I’ll be purchasing this personally.
Any help is great!
For work, I need to use an app on the iPad (yes, must be on an iPad). The basic function of the app is you speak into it and it produces a certain result. A headset won’t work because the app is being used in a in-person group setting. Right now I’m just using the internal iPad microphone but for better accuracy, an external microphone is really recommended.
Questions:
How would I connect a microphone? Are there Bluetooth or iPad-compatible iPads?
I’m not looking for an expensive microphone and I’ll be purchasing this personally.
Any help is great!
When you say "used in an in-person group setting" do you mean multiple people's voices need to be picked up by the microphone? If so, you might want something like an "omnidirectional conference room microphone."
They are often flat thingies that sit in the middle of a table, and usually have USB connections so you would need an adapter to plug it in to the iPad (which type of adapter you need depends on how old the iPad is).
Beyond that I think we would need to know more about your use case to make a recommendation, but a simple conference room mic would probably work in the same kinds of situations where the internal iPad mic would work. Important variables include: how far away are people from the mic, how big is the room, how many people are there?
posted by mskyle at 5:37 AM on May 5, 2022
They are often flat thingies that sit in the middle of a table, and usually have USB connections so you would need an adapter to plug it in to the iPad (which type of adapter you need depends on how old the iPad is).
Beyond that I think we would need to know more about your use case to make a recommendation, but a simple conference room mic would probably work in the same kinds of situations where the internal iPad mic would work. Important variables include: how far away are people from the mic, how big is the room, how many people are there?
posted by mskyle at 5:37 AM on May 5, 2022
They are often flat thingies that sit in the middle of a table, and usually have USB connections and frequently also have Bluetooth, which eliminates the need for an adapter.
Not all are equal and they come at a range of price points. My Jabra 520 plays nicely with all my Apple devices via BT.
posted by koahiatamadl at 5:43 AM on May 5, 2022
Not all are equal and they come at a range of price points. My Jabra 520 plays nicely with all my Apple devices via BT.
posted by koahiatamadl at 5:43 AM on May 5, 2022
Response by poster: Only one person speaking at a time in a small room, 2-3 people. Everyone will be close to the mic.
posted by Aranquis at 5:46 AM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Aranquis at 5:46 AM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Personally, you may have better luck with a "car speakerphone". They are designed to be spoken to from a distance of a few feet. The bad part is they often sound "echo-y".
If you want a closer solution, a wireless Lavalier-style mic is available. Kits on Amazon starts at under $50. Plug one end with lightning connector to the iPad, clip the other device to the speaker after pairing.
posted by kschang at 6:01 AM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you want a closer solution, a wireless Lavalier-style mic is available. Kits on Amazon starts at under $50. Plug one end with lightning connector to the iPad, clip the other device to the speaker after pairing.
posted by kschang at 6:01 AM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
I suggest the Shure MOTIV MV88, a mono/stereo (switchable) mic built for the iPad/iOS devices with a lightning connector.
Here's some used ones at B&H Photo Video starting at $88
B&H has never failed me in the almost two decades and tens of thousands of dollars I have spent there.
Here is a Shure-looking clone for $45 new from Amazon.
posted by bz at 12:49 PM on May 5, 2022
Here's some used ones at B&H Photo Video starting at $88
B&H has never failed me in the almost two decades and tens of thousands of dollars I have spent there.
Here is a Shure-looking clone for $45 new from Amazon.
posted by bz at 12:49 PM on May 5, 2022
You didn't mention the model and year of iPad you have, which makes a difference in this context. Regarding connecting a microphone to an iPad, I think these are the 5 most common options:
1) Direct connection via 3.5mm TRRS plug. Old iPad models have a separate plug-in port for headphone/microphone combinations. In that case, you can use a microphone that has a round 3.5mm plug. These are pretty common and there are a lot of options. An example (totally at random, not an endorsement, just to show an example) is the IK iRig Mic Cast.
2) Lightning connector. There are microphones with lightning connectors built-in, like the RØDE VideoMic Me-L (again chosen at random) and the Shure models mentioned upthread.
3) USB-C. Most (maybe all?) newer iPad models have a USB-C connector instead of a lightning connector. There are some microphones with USB-C connectors, like the JLab Talk GO (again chosen at random), but another option in this case is to get a small USB dock that has a microphone input port for 3.5mm plugs.
4) Wireless via bluetooth. A number of microphones are designed to transmit over bluetooth. Some are designed for conference/meeting situations, which might be good for your scenario but those tend to be more expensive. An example is the eMeet Conference Speaker (Amazon link), but more ordinary/less expensive bluetooth mics are also available.
5) Connection via adapter. There are 3.5mm-to-USB-C connectors available, and there are bluetooth microphones that come with dongles that have USB-C (or sometimes lightning) connectors, so there's the option of mixing and matching devices and adapters to make it all work. I find these options more risky because compatibility is hard to assure. If you're going this route, I would buy several options, try them on your ipad and app, keep the one that works the best, and return the rest.
There may be issues of compatibility with the particular software app you need to use. Usually apps are written such that the sound input/output details are relegated to the iOS operating system, and whatever you choose in the system preferences will be what the app uses. But not all, unfortunately, so that may be another factor.
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:56 AM on May 6, 2022
1) Direct connection via 3.5mm TRRS plug. Old iPad models have a separate plug-in port for headphone/microphone combinations. In that case, you can use a microphone that has a round 3.5mm plug. These are pretty common and there are a lot of options. An example (totally at random, not an endorsement, just to show an example) is the IK iRig Mic Cast.
2) Lightning connector. There are microphones with lightning connectors built-in, like the RØDE VideoMic Me-L (again chosen at random) and the Shure models mentioned upthread.
3) USB-C. Most (maybe all?) newer iPad models have a USB-C connector instead of a lightning connector. There are some microphones with USB-C connectors, like the JLab Talk GO (again chosen at random), but another option in this case is to get a small USB dock that has a microphone input port for 3.5mm plugs.
4) Wireless via bluetooth. A number of microphones are designed to transmit over bluetooth. Some are designed for conference/meeting situations, which might be good for your scenario but those tend to be more expensive. An example is the eMeet Conference Speaker (Amazon link), but more ordinary/less expensive bluetooth mics are also available.
5) Connection via adapter. There are 3.5mm-to-USB-C connectors available, and there are bluetooth microphones that come with dongles that have USB-C (or sometimes lightning) connectors, so there's the option of mixing and matching devices and adapters to make it all work. I find these options more risky because compatibility is hard to assure. If you're going this route, I would buy several options, try them on your ipad and app, keep the one that works the best, and return the rest.
There may be issues of compatibility with the particular software app you need to use. Usually apps are written such that the sound input/output details are relegated to the iOS operating system, and whatever you choose in the system preferences will be what the app uses. But not all, unfortunately, so that may be another factor.
posted by StrawberryPie at 9:56 AM on May 6, 2022
Most (maybe all?) newer iPad models have a USB-C connector instead of a lightning connector.
I believe it is the iPad Pro models that have USB-C connectors...but yes...knowing your iPad model is step #1 in narrowing your choices.
posted by mmascolino at 8:10 AM on May 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
I believe it is the iPad Pro models that have USB-C connectors...but yes...knowing your iPad model is step #1 in narrowing your choices.
posted by mmascolino at 8:10 AM on May 7, 2022 [1 favorite]
In addition to the iPad Pro with USB-C...the newest iPad Air 5th Generation with the M1 chip, also has a USB-C port.
posted by mmascolino at 12:31 PM on May 24, 2022
posted by mmascolino at 12:31 PM on May 24, 2022
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posted by bbqturtle at 5:17 AM on May 5, 2022