Suggestions for iOS field recording app ?

H

hotchkiss

Well-known member
I'm looking for a simple to use recording app for my phone that will allow for manual control, high quality file options and use of an external shotgun mic . I'm looking for something that I can use in a pinch for nat sound without going whole hog on a recorder etc. I've looked around a bit, but the offerings seem hamstrung, overly complicated or oriented for use for voice overs.

Is there an app that is simple and straight forward without the gimmics? Any suggestions?

Your input and experience is appreciated. Thanks
 
I’ve always liked Voice Record Pro for in-a-pinch use.

Use of an external mic is pretty much dependent on what kind of interface you have. Take a look at IK Multimedia iRig interfaces for a couple of great options with lightning connection, phantom power, and headphone monitoring.
 
Considering the cost of apps, adapters etc why not just pick up a handheld? I can see the odd FX recordist using a phone for an unexpected opportunity and radio folks use all kinds of questionable gear (sorry radio folks but when you are recording MP3 as source...), but for a planned gig (I'm assuming you don't carry a shotgun around just in case) Why?

And a shotgun and mono are poor choices for recording ambiences and backgrounds etc.

The cheapest adapter I found with phantom was $40, but then you are going into your headphone jack so you are using the questionable phone mic pre and you can't monitor your recording, and that is a pretty bad scenario. The cheapest that goes into the lightning port was over $100 and that is about $10 more than a slew of small handheld recorders. Plus one you pull out and you are ready to go the other you are fiddling with cables and problematic connections and dealing with a recording app on your phone.

Seems like a lot of expense and effort just to use a phone.
 
Noiz2 said:
Considering the cost of apps, adapters etc why not just pick up a handheld? I can see the odd FX recordist using a phone for an unexpected opportunity and radio folks use all kinds of questionable gear (sorry radio folks but when you are recording MP3 as source...), but for a planned gig (I'm assuming you don't carry a shotgun around just in case) Why?

And a shotgun and mono are poor choices for recording ambiences and backgrounds etc.

The cheapest adapter I found with phantom was $40, but then you are going into your headphone jack so you are using the questionable phone mic pre and you can't monitor your recording, and that is a pretty bad scenario. The cheapest that goes into the lightning port was over $100 and that is about $10 more than a slew of small handheld recorders. Plus one you pull out and you are ready to go the other you are fiddling with cables and problematic connections and dealing with a recording app on your phone.

Seems like a lot of expense and effort just to use a phone.
Click to expand...

Conversely, for my needs it seems like a lot of expense and effort to not use a phone. It is not for planned gigs, it is for the unexpected opportunity to record some sound. Although it was suggested, I would most likely not use an adapter to run a mic, but would use a mic that is designed for plug and play phone use, whether lav or the previously mentioned Deity D3 pro. Convenience is the priority, not ultimate sound quality.
 
hotchkiss said:
Conversely, for my needs it seems like a lot of expense and effort to not use a phone.

...

Convenience is the priority, not ultimate sound quality.
Click to expand...

You did mention high-quality sound files specifically in your original post. Going straight into a phone with the TRRS input pretty much negates any benefits of recording to 24/48 WAV just because the pre-amp in the phone is sketchy with a considerable noise floor. Recording to a phone can be convenient, and it can result in some pretty good quality recording... if you’re using a decent mic and a good interface with pre-amp. Going straight in with TRRS also raises the question of monitoring the recording, something that an interface like the iRig Pro allows.

Scott brings up a great point, though. Compact, handheld recorders can provide both convenience and sound quality in a package about the size of a phone. I have a Tascam DR-22WL (discontinued) that is always in my kit, and always in my luggage when I travel. I can grab sounds wherever I am if I need to, and it’s great when I don’t have room to pack my bigger sound design kit. The DR-07X is about the same size (maybe slightly larger, but not much).

The other option would be to get a stereo mic array made specifically for connection straight into your iPhone’s lightning port. That will give you a bit better of a solution that stays slim and compact. But yeah... a small recorder like the DR-07X might be a better bet.

The other challenge with recording to your iPhone is accessing the files. They have to be transferred by email, DropBox, or other FTP which can be time consuming. A dedicated recorder is a simple matter of popping out the SD or microSD card.
 
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