Topic: Recording on a phone

[Jonmac]

When watching the news on TV, I often notice that many BBC local radio reporters are recording interviews on phones.

Does anyone know what software they are using, is there a standard app issued by the BBC for the job ?

[DigiGal]

Can't speak for the "Beeb" but there are several iOS recoding apps, one example is Hindenburg Field Recorder.

[df]

I'm using Apogee Meta Recorder for iPhone and Auria with iPad.

[Jonmac]

Thanks for the replies, I have an Android phone with Rec Forge, but it doesn't allow live headphone monitoring, so you can't monitor what the microphone is picking up.

Does anyone know of an Android app that allows monitoring ?

[df]

Thanks for the replies, I have an Android phone with Rec Forge, but it doesn't allow live headphone monitoring, so you can't monitor what the microphone is picking up.

Does anyone know of an Android app that allows monitoring ?

I'm not sure, Auria is more of a 'pro' type app you can record and mix up to 32 or 64 tracks.  You might want to check out something like the Apogee/Sennheiser mini headphone amp?


edit) nevermind, that's an omni clip on mic with a good quality DAC.  Apogee One is the headphone amp/dac.

this article is almost a year old, but might be a good resource for you.

http://www.junauza.com/2014/09/best-android-apps-for-recording-and-editing-music-on-the-go.html

[DigiGal]

Thanks for the replies, I have an Android phone with Rec Forge, but it doesn't allow live headphone monitoring, so you can't monitor what the microphone is picking up.

Does anyone know of an Android app that allows monitoring ?

Hindenburg Field Recorder app for iOS allows for headphone monitoring while recording, don't know if the app is cross platform so no idea if its available for droid.

[Jonmac]

Thanks for the replies, I have an Android phone with Rec Forge, but it doesn't allow live headphone monitoring, so you can't monitor what the microphone is picking up.

Does anyone know of an Android app that allows monitoring ?

Hindenburg Field Recorder app for iOS allows for headphone monitoring while recording, don't know if the app is cross platform so no idea if its available for droid.

I had a look at that but they don't do an Android version.

[dominicperry]

iOS has its own implementation of Core Audio (as used in Mac OS), which is capable of pretty low latency (2-3ms), hence the ability to monitor directly on an iPhone. Android has been behind the curve on this for a while, although I think there were moves to improve things. But that's the main reason why there are so many audio apps for iPhone and iPad - the OS supports audio in a good way.

I still use an Apogee interface for much closer to zero latency (it's a 'digital' zero, rather than my preferred 'analogue zero').

Dominic

[adrianb]

I own the old 30-pin version of the Røde iXY which I have been very impressed with. I use it in conjunction with the Røde Rec App on the iPhone. I have used the App with the iPhone's inbuilt microphone for recording meetings, and I could see this as a convenient way to record interviews.

With the Røde iXY microphone the results can be quite impressive, and I have used this for many an impromptu field recording when I haven't got my Sony with me. I always have my iPhone with me, and I keep the Røde iXY in the glovebox. I like the old 30-pin version because it packs away much smaller than the new version, it can also be picked up really cheap now. I have a lightning to 30-pin adapter squeezed in the case.

I understand that the iPhone's circuitry allows for devices like the iXY to bypass the on-board electronics of the phone and instead transmit high-quality audio in a way that Android devices cannot.

[Gene Poole]

I own the old 30-pin version of the Røde iXY which I have been very impressed with. I use it in conjunction with the Røde Rec App on the iPhone. I have used the App with the iPhone's inbuilt microphone for recording meetings, and I could see this as a convenient way to record interviews.

With the Røde iXY microphone the results can be quite impressive, and I have used this for many an impromptu field recording when I haven't got my Sony with me. I always have my iPhone with me, and I keep the Røde iXY in the glovebox. I like the old 30-pin version because it packs away much smaller than the new version, it can also be picked up really cheap now. I have a lightning to 30-pin adapter squeezed in the case.

I understand that the iPhone's circuitry allows for devices like the iXY to bypass the on-board electronics of the phone and instead transmit high-quality audio in a way that Android devices cannot.

The 30-pin iphone interface has only analog audio capabilities so I would assume that the Røde uses the 30-pin USB interface to bypass analog audio.  In theory, Android supports USB Audio, but in practice, since there are so many different Android form-factors, it would be tough to implement a one-size-fits-all device for Android.  There are generic USB stereo mics that should work with an Android and the appropriate cable, but nothing as compact and aesthetic as the Røde.