I have a newer iPhone without a headphone jack, so I picked up a black Ambeo partly for that reason and partly to add a second recorder to the bag. I have a few questions (see below) that may not have been answered in the thread already. Feedback appreciated.
I made some test recordings to compare the Ambeo's sensitivity to my Naiant X-X omnis. Turns out they are much more sensitive than the X-X, but since they seem designed to record spoken word or other lower SPL sources, that makes sense.
The M10 unity gain has been accepted to be at about rec level 4 which is where I start at most club shows. Recording the stereo in my living room test, rec level 4 only got peak levels to about -24db.
With the same playback source, the Ambeo recording peaked at -12.9 db (Reduce Level). In the Natural Level setting, the Ambeo clipped once and the low end was noticeably distorted.
To get a comparable level from the M10>X-X rig, I had to turn the rec level up to 9.
Naiant X-X > SP-SPSB-1 > M10, rec level at 4 -23.6 db
Naiant X-X > SP-SPSB-1 > M10, rec level at 9 -11.0 db
Ambeo > iPhone XR > Metarecorder (Reduce Level) -12.9 db
Ambeo > iPhone XR > Metarecorder (Natural Level) clipped/brickwalled
Any advice on which settings anyone has found to be best would be appreciated.
Ambeo app settings
Situational Awareness: Off
Recording level: Reduce Level
Smart slider: Launch Apogee Metarecorder
Voice Prompts: Toggled off
Apogee MetaRecorder app
Settings:
Prevent Screen Lock: Toggle off?
Meter over hold: Prefer "infinite" to observe at end of recording? Looks like there is a red line on the Take waveform file showing any overs.
Show intro at start: Toggled off
Scenes:
Can multiple scene folders be created? Seems not.
With the iPhone connected to my Mac mini, I can see the Scene_X folder, but am unable to open the folder in order to select only the audio file to transfer - I must copy the entire folder to my Mac.
Ambeo Headset
Do any of the inline controller buttons have any effect on the recording or settings, or do the apps control it all?
One annoying feature not related to recording is the "play" button skipping from watching a video to the only music I've ever bought from Apple music. Weird.
Might also try to put black nail polish on the chrome screens.