Using my iphone as a field recorder in conjunction with a Rode Videomic Pro?

J

jrm27

Active member
Hi all,

Perhaps this is a bit of an odd question... but here goes!

I'll be traveling to Kenya in a few weeks to do some humanitarian aide work. I've been asked to bring along some gear to document the work. I'll be bringing a t2i, my 24-70 and a Rode Videomic Pro. I use Magic Lantern and generally mic everyone up with hardwired lav mics into a zoom unit (h1) when I'm not feeding the audio directly into the camera. That wont really be much of an option on this trip. In the past I've thrown my Rode on the hotshoe for a quick run-and-gun situations when there's no other option, which I can do but am not too excited about the audio quality I'll likely get.

Since packing space on this trip is at a premium (all my clothes, cameras, and supplies for a few weeks has to fit in a carryon backpack), I'm wondering if I can pair the Rode up with my iphone and use my phone as a field recorder. Sure, packing the zoom wouldn't take up much more room. But that's room I can use for batteries/memory cards/socks.. and since I'll have my phone anyway, I thought it might be a good option.

Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks!

-jon
 
The 3-conductor connector and wiring scheme on the VideoMic Pro are not a match for the 4-conductor connector and wiring scheme of the iPhone. While there are recording apps for the iPhone (of varying degrees of reliability/stability), in order to use the mic you'd have to get an adapter/interface... that's about the size of your Zoom.

Plus, you'll lose the stereo mic array built into the Zoom (unless you also purchase a stereo mic for iPhone). Not having that limits how much you can do on your trip for ambient sound beds and other very useful wilds that will help in post.
 
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Thanks Alex. That is very useful info. I hadn't thought about the size of the adapter or the loss of the stereo mic array!
 
If you want to spend more money, you could get the Blue Mikey 2.0 and the accompanying app (also, a "dock extender" if you want to have headphones in while you use the mike).

I'd stick with the Zoom H1 though. It's plenty small, and it's a dedicated device, so you won't have to worry about conflicts. If you want redundant back-up and you're sold on the phone idea, I'd recommend the Blue Mikey.

GJ
 
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