What are the 9 best iPhone Lightning Port Microphones?
With the release of the iPhone 7 in September 2016 Apple decided to remove the 3.5mm headphone port. There were rumours about this for some time so it was not a surprise when Apple announced it was gone. That said, it has caused much controversy on the web and many are unhappy about the decision.
For most iPhone users it means having to use expensive wireless headphones but for iPhone filmmakers and journalists it creates a new set of problems. If you take away the headphone port you also take away the microphone port. I could go on all day about how this was not smart by Apple but what is done is done. They are not going to put it back so let’s look at how to solve the problem.
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iPhone 3.5mm headphone/microphone adaptor
First the iPhone 7 comes with a 3.5mm adaptor to lightning port so you can still plug in 3.5mm headphones. This adaptor supports TRRS so you can still go hands-free with a microphone connected to headphones. If this is the case then microphones with the TRRS plug should work with the supplied adaptor. At the time of writing this has not been tested but I am confident that this should still be the case.
Price: $13.99 £11.00 €12.00
So that’s that then! Well not quite. Any audio technician will tell you the more adaptors you have to use the greater possibilities of something going wrong. There is also the issue of the analogue 3.5mm conversion to digital lightning port. There is no suggestion how good this is or if it is reliable.
Lightning port microphones
If you are not keen in using the supplied iPhone 7 3.5mm adaptor then your next choice is to use a dedicated microphone that uses the iPhone’s lightning port. Luckily there are already a few on the market that should work with the iPhone 7. The problem with these microphones is that they draw power from the iPhone and this can reduce battery power. Also with the lightning port in use for the microphone you can no longer charge the iPhone. So all that considered here is a list of some of the microphones available at the moment that should work with the iPhone 7.
Disclaimer: At the time of writing none of these microphones have been fully tested with the iPhone 7. All the following microphones connect to the iPhone’s lightning port.
Zoom iQ6
The Zoom iQ6 is a unidirectional condenser microphone that plugs into the iPhone’s lightning port. It features two high quality condenser microphones in an x/y configuration and if you are familiar with the Zoom h4n you will recognise that they are the same microphones in use on that device.
You can change the microphone angles from 90 to 120 degrees to get different audio capture angles. There are level controls to adjust input audio gain so you can get the correct levels on your Smartphone. There is also a headphone port for audio monitoring.
Price: $99.00 £80.00 €90.00
SmartRig Di
The Saramonic SmartRig Di is a similar audio adaptor to the iRig Pro. It will allow you to connect any XLR microphone to your iPhone’s lightning port. You can also plug in a musical instrument like a guitar to the ¼” socket if you feel like recording a music session. You control gain from the thumbwheel and this will allow you to set precise levels for your audio recordings.
The SmartRig Di has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 Khz and a signal to noise ratio of 80db at 1KHZ, -30dBu input. The SmartRig Di gets its power from a 9V battery and this will also enable it to provide any microphone with +48 phantom power, if it should need it. You can also switch the phantom power on and off, as you need it. If you want to listen to your audio as you record it, you can plug in you favourite headphones to the included 3.5 mm headphone port.
Price: $60.00 £48.00 €54.00
Boya BY-DM1
If the Sennheiser ClipMic Digital is a little out of your price range then you may want to consider the Boya BY-DM1. This lavalier microphone will give you clear, high-quality sound recordings and it connects direct to your iPhone’s lighting port. There is no need for annoying adaptors. It is about the quarter of the price of the Sennheiser ClipMic Digital so it is a real bargain; just don’t expect the same quality of sound. In fact, if you are familiar with the Boya BY-M1 lavalier microphone you will be fully aware of what this microphone can achieve.
It offers up to 24-bit / 48 kHz resolution with a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It is an omnidirectional microphone, which means it will pick up sounds from all around. This makes it great for doing interviews and documentaries. It has a sensitivity of -42+/-3DB and gets its power from the iPhone. It also has a generous cable about 6 meters, which should be enough to get you far enough away from your subject. If you are looking for a budget lightning port microphone you cannot go to far wrong with this.
Price: $70.00 £56.00 €63.00
IK Multimedia Irig Mic HD 2
The Irig Mic HD 2 is the successor to the IK Multimedia’s Irig Mic HD. Just like that microphone it is a hand-held condenser microphone that is good for interviews, voiceovers or music applications. It is more expensive than the Irig Mic but the quality is much better. It has a metal body to make it more robust and comes in two different colours black and silver which both have a lightning port connector.
It has dial for gain control and a built in pre amp. This is a huge improvement over the cheaper Irig Mic. The pre amp gives improved audio recording and a gain boost to signal.
Price: $129.00 £105.00 €116.00
IK Multimedia Irig Field
The Irig Field microphone has a similar form design to the Irig Mic Cast. It is more expensive than its budget cousin but this extra expense gives you better quality sound recordings. It is a digital stereo microphone that fits into the lightning port of an iPhone or iPad.
This microphone has many uses for video and audio applications and is an excellent replacement for your iPhone’s on-board microphone. It has a built in pre amp which increases the gain and gives better quality audio. It is also small and portable enough for you to carry it with out to much hassle. It has gain control for changing audio levels and indicator lights to warn you if the audio is peaking. The microphone also has a swivel so you can direct the microphone depending on your needs. It also has a headphone port for audio monitoring.
Price: $79.99 £64.00 €72.00
Shure MV88
The Shure MV88 is a direction microphone that plugs in directly to the iPhone’s Lightning Port. It has a 90-degree hinge so you can adjust it to different angles to capture the best sound.
It has a solid metal construction and comes with a windscreen to cut down any unwanted sound in any environment.
Price: $149.00 £121.00 €135.00
IK Multimedia iRig Pro Duo
IK Multimedia’s Irig Pro Duo gives you the ability to add two XLR microphones to your iPhone by the lightning port. This has many advantages. The first is if you are doing an interview with both the interviewer and interviewee they can both have microphones.
The unit has two separate gain controls so each microphone can adjust to the correct level. Added to this is a powerful preamp and phantom power so you can power those microphones that need it.
The iRig Pro Duo gets power from two AA batteries so it does not draw power from the iPhone. If you are doing a long recording session you can also hook it up to the mains power supply.
Also featured is a headphone port for monitoring audio that has its own volume control. And if you want to hook up instruments it has midi control and 1/4” instrument ports.
Price: $129.00 £105.00 €116.00
Rode i-XLR
The Rode i-XLR is an XLR adaptor that plugs into any XLR microphone allowing you to connect it to the lightning port of the iPhone. The cable is about three meters long. This should give you enough length to reach your subject.
On the unit itself is a level control to adjust headphone volume so if your signal is a little hot you can turn it down. What lets it down is a lack of a preamp. There is also no gain control or phantom power.
Price: $149.00 £121.00 €135.00
Conclusion
So if you are an iPhone 7, 8 or X owner it is not all doom and gloom for your choice of microphone. As you can see from this list there are plenty of options. The only problem with these microphones is most draw power from the iPhone and will reduce your battery life. This also means you cannot charge the iPhone while these microphones are attached.
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