Re: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone

[Shashi]

hello raaju,

how i wish that your email had been posted a couple of weeks ago!

i have just finished a field assignment that involved capturing
natural and human sounds occuring in the environment. i used iphone
4s, with inbuilt microphone and without any external device. there
were suggestions on using external microphones that seemed rather
expensive even to hire, let alone purchase. now, the task is to
1. isolate individual sounds from the multiple sounds that co-occur
2. enhance the sounds and suppress noise e.g. human talk when the
focus is on sound of waves
3. transfer the audio files to laptop and other equipments for production

raaju, will you please provide detailed answers on what and how to do !

thanks,
shashi
On 10/31/15, raaju  wrote:
>
>
> It seems like smartphones will do anything.  But do they make effective
> sound recorders?  That depends on what you are looking (listening) for and
> what
>
> type of phone you have.  Below I describe ways to record on your
> smartphone,
> with examples of products that might help.  Most of this discussion is
> about
>
> Android phones and iPhones.
>
>
>
> There are 4 basic ways to use your phone as a recorder:
>
>
>
> 1. The built-in microphone(s).
>
> 2. Using a microphone plugged in through the headset port.
>
> 3. Using a microphone plugged in through the charging port.
>
> 4. Via Bluetooth.
>
>
>
> The built-in microphone
>
>
>
> If you are looking to use your phone as a voice recorder, for recording
> personal notes, meetings, or impromptu sounds around you, then all you need
> is
>
> a recording app.  I would highly recommend getting a third-party app, as
> the
> apps that come with the phone are pretty basic.  Important things to look
>
> for in an app are the ability to: 1) adjust gain levels; 2) change sampling
> rates; 3) display the recording levels on the screen, so you can make any
> adjustments
>
> necessary; and, perhaps not as important, 4) save the files to multiple
> formats (at least .wav and .mp3).  Also very handy is the ability to email
> the
>
> recording, or save it to cloud storage, such as Dropbox.  Some of the most
> highly recommended apps for Android include Easy Voice Recorder Pro,
> RecForge
>
> Pro, Hi-Q mp3 Voice Recorder, Smart Voice Recorder, and Voice Pro. For iOS,
> Audio Memos, Recorder Plus and Quick Record appear to be good apps.
>
>
>
> Microphones on various models of phones vary quite a bit.   Newer phones
> have two or three microphones, but differ quite a bit in their sound
> recording
>
> abilities.  Especially problematic seems to be recording loud sounds, such
> as concerts, although even those capabilities are improving.
>
>
>
> External microphone through the headset port
>
>
>
> Most iPhones and smart phones these days come with a TRRS port for the
> headphones.  If your headphone jack has 3 lines (4 rings) on it, it’s a
> TRRS, which
>
> means it can act as a microphone as well as headphones.   Before you
> attempt
> to connect an external microphone via the headset port, make sure it is a
>
> TRRS port.
>
>
>
> A TRRS plug on the left, TRS on the right
>
>
>
> Note the 3 (white) lines in the plug for the ear buds from my Samsung
> Galaxy
> S3, compared with the 2 (black) lines in the plug for a lavalier
> microphone.
>
>
> The color is irrelevant, but the number of lines is not.
>
>
>
> Because of the differences in jacks, you cannot plug in any old microphone
> with a 3.5mm plug and expect it to work.  Luckily, several manufacturers
> have
>
> developed microphones that plug right into the headphone jack.
>
>
>
> However, there are also differences in the TRRS jacks, in the location of
> the ground and mic connections:
>
>
>
> Schematic of omtp and ctia plugs
>
>
>
> Differences in wiring between the OMTP (Sony, older Android) and CTIA
> (Apple, newer Android) plugs.  CTIA is also called AJH.  Note that there is
> only
>
> one mic input, so all input will be mono.  Right and Left refer to
> headphone
> output.
>
>
>
> This difference is something you need to be aware of, and make sure that
> any
> microphone, headset, or adapter is compatible with your phone.
> Unfortunately,
>
> there is no way to tell from the outside which is the proper jack for your
> device.  However, the CTIA (Apple) version is becoming the norm, so
> Apple-compatible
>
> devices now work on many recent android phones.  Be sure to check the
> descriptions to make sure your device is compatible.  For more information
> on the
>
> wiring of various plugs, see
>
> here.
>
>
>
> Rode Smartlav Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones
>
> MicW iShotgun
>
> Stony-Edge SIMPLE LAV- MOBILE Condenser Lavalier/Lapel Microphone for
> iPhone
> & Android Smartphones
>
> Professional Lapel Microphone with 39″ cable for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch,
> Smartphones and Comptuers
>
> Audio-Technica ATR3350IS Omni Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones
>
>
>
> I have not used any of these, but I would expect them to be 

Re: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone

[Asudani, Rajesh]

I would like to know how best to have good quality audio while recording video 
in an android phone.
Often for getting good video distance is increased and it results in poor audio.
How to balance both?


सादर / With thanks & Regards
राजेश आसुदानी Rajesh Asudani
सहायक महाप्रबन्धक AGM
बाजार आसूचना ईकाई MIU
भारतीय रिजर्व बैंक Reserve Bank of India
नागपुर Nagpur

0712 2806846

President
VIBEWA
Co-Moderator
VIB-India

A-pilll = Action coupled with Positivity, Interest, Love, Logic and laughter.


-Original Message-
From: Mobile.accessindia [mailto:mobile.accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.in] 
On Behalf Of amritpal singh
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2015 4:54 PM
To: 'Dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones 
and Tabs. '
Subject: Re: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone

An article worth treasuring.

-Original Message-
From: Mobile.accessindia [mailto:mobile.accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.
in] On Behalf Of raaju
Sent: 31 October 2015 09:31
To: keyboardus...@googlegroups.com; 'Dedicated AccessIndia list for
discussing accessibility of mobile phones and Tabs. '
Subject: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone



It seems like smartphones will do anything.  But do they make effective
sound recorders?  That depends on what you are looking (listening) for and
what

type of phone you have.  Below I describe ways to record on your smartphone,
with examples of products that might help.  Most of this discussion is about

Android phones and iPhones.



There are 4 basic ways to use your phone as a recorder:



1. The built-in microphone(s).

2. Using a microphone plugged in through the headset port.

3. Using a microphone plugged in through the charging port.

4. Via Bluetooth.



The built-in microphone



If you are looking to use your phone as a voice recorder, for recording
personal notes, meetings, or impromptu sounds around you, then all you need
is

a recording app.  I would highly recommend getting a third-party app, as the
apps that come with the phone are pretty basic.  Important things to look

for in an app are the ability to: 1) adjust gain levels; 2) change sampling
rates; 3) display the recording levels on the screen, so you can make any
adjustments

necessary; and, perhaps not as important, 4) save the files to multiple
formats (at least .wav and .mp3).  Also very handy is the ability to email
the

recording, or save it to cloud storage, such as Dropbox.  Some of the most
highly recommended apps for Android include Easy Voice Recorder Pro,
RecForge

Pro, Hi-Q mp3 Voice Recorder, Smart Voice Recorder, and Voice Pro. For iOS,
Audio Memos, Recorder Plus and Quick Record appear to be good apps.



Microphones on various models of phones vary quite a bit.   Newer phones
have two or three microphones, but differ quite a bit in their sound
recording

abilities.  Especially problematic seems to be recording loud sounds, such
as concerts, although even those capabilities are improving.



External microphone through the headset port



Most iPhones and smart phones these days come with a TRRS port for the
headphones.  If your headphone jack has 3 lines (4 rings) on it, it’s a
TRRS, which

means it can act as a microphone as well as headphones.   Before you attempt
to connect an external microphone via the headset port, make sure it is a

TRRS port.



A TRRS plug on the left, TRS on the right



Note the 3 (white) lines in the plug for the ear buds from my Samsung Galaxy
S3, compared with the 2 (black) lines in the plug for a lavalier microphone.


The color is irrelevant, but the number of lines is not.



Because of the differences in jacks, you cannot plug in any old microphone
with a 3.5mm plug and expect it to work.  Luckily, several manufacturers
have

developed microphones that plug right into the headphone jack.



However, there are also differences in the TRRS jacks, in the location of
the ground and mic connections:



Schematic of omtp and ctia plugs



Differences in wiring between the OMTP (Sony, older Android) and CTIA
(Apple, newer Android) plugs.  CTIA is also called AJH.  Note that there is
only

one mic input, so all input will be mono.  Right and Left refer to headphone
output.



This difference is something you need to be aware of, and make sure that any
microphone, headset, or adapter is compatible with your phone.
Unfortunately,

there is no way to tell from the outside which is the proper jack for your
device.  However, the CTIA (Apple) version is becoming the norm, so
Apple-compatible

devices now work on many recent android phones.  Be sure to check the
descriptions to make sure your device is compatible.  For more information
on the

wiring of various plugs, see

here.



Rode Smartlav Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones

MicW iShotgun

Stony-Edge SIMPLE LAV- MOBILE Condenser Lavalier/Lapel Microphone for iPhone
& Android Smartphones

Professional Lapel Microphone with 39″ cable for iPhone, iPad, iP

Re: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone

[amritpal singh]

An article worth treasuring.

-Original Message-
From: Mobile.accessindia [mailto:mobile.accessindia-boun...@accessindia.org.
in] On Behalf Of raaju
Sent: 31 October 2015 09:31
To: keyboardus...@googlegroups.com; 'Dedicated AccessIndia list for
discussing accessibility of mobile phones and Tabs. '
Subject: [Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone



It seems like smartphones will do anything.  But do they make effective
sound recorders?  That depends on what you are looking (listening) for and
what

type of phone you have.  Below I describe ways to record on your smartphone,
with examples of products that might help.  Most of this discussion is about

Android phones and iPhones.



There are 4 basic ways to use your phone as a recorder:



1. The built-in microphone(s).

2. Using a microphone plugged in through the headset port.

3. Using a microphone plugged in through the charging port.

4. Via Bluetooth.



The built-in microphone



If you are looking to use your phone as a voice recorder, for recording
personal notes, meetings, or impromptu sounds around you, then all you need
is

a recording app.  I would highly recommend getting a third-party app, as the
apps that come with the phone are pretty basic.  Important things to look

for in an app are the ability to: 1) adjust gain levels; 2) change sampling
rates; 3) display the recording levels on the screen, so you can make any
adjustments

necessary; and, perhaps not as important, 4) save the files to multiple
formats (at least .wav and .mp3).  Also very handy is the ability to email
the

recording, or save it to cloud storage, such as Dropbox.  Some of the most
highly recommended apps for Android include Easy Voice Recorder Pro,
RecForge

Pro, Hi-Q mp3 Voice Recorder, Smart Voice Recorder, and Voice Pro. For iOS,
Audio Memos, Recorder Plus and Quick Record appear to be good apps.



Microphones on various models of phones vary quite a bit.   Newer phones
have two or three microphones, but differ quite a bit in their sound
recording

abilities.  Especially problematic seems to be recording loud sounds, such
as concerts, although even those capabilities are improving.



External microphone through the headset port



Most iPhones and smart phones these days come with a TRRS port for the
headphones.  If your headphone jack has 3 lines (4 rings) on it, it’s a
TRRS, which

means it can act as a microphone as well as headphones.   Before you attempt
to connect an external microphone via the headset port, make sure it is a

TRRS port.



A TRRS plug on the left, TRS on the right



Note the 3 (white) lines in the plug for the ear buds from my Samsung Galaxy
S3, compared with the 2 (black) lines in the plug for a lavalier microphone.


The color is irrelevant, but the number of lines is not.



Because of the differences in jacks, you cannot plug in any old microphone
with a 3.5mm plug and expect it to work.  Luckily, several manufacturers
have

developed microphones that plug right into the headphone jack.



However, there are also differences in the TRRS jacks, in the location of
the ground and mic connections:



Schematic of omtp and ctia plugs



Differences in wiring between the OMTP (Sony, older Android) and CTIA
(Apple, newer Android) plugs.  CTIA is also called AJH.  Note that there is
only

one mic input, so all input will be mono.  Right and Left refer to headphone
output.



This difference is something you need to be aware of, and make sure that any
microphone, headset, or adapter is compatible with your phone.
Unfortunately,

there is no way to tell from the outside which is the proper jack for your
device.  However, the CTIA (Apple) version is becoming the norm, so
Apple-compatible

devices now work on many recent android phones.  Be sure to check the
descriptions to make sure your device is compatible.  For more information
on the

wiring of various plugs, see

here.



Rode Smartlav Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones

MicW iShotgun

Stony-Edge SIMPLE LAV- MOBILE Condenser Lavalier/Lapel Microphone for iPhone
& Android Smartphones

Professional Lapel Microphone with 39″ cable for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch,
Smartphones and Comptuers

Audio-Technica ATR3350IS Omni Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones



I have not used any of these, but I would expect them to be substantially
better than the built-in microphone on the phone.  You might want to review
my

page on “

Choosing Microphones

” if you don’t know the difference between a lav and a shotgun.  See “

Comparing recording on a smartphone to a dedicated recorder

” for a video on how the iRig Mic Cast works on Android and iPhones.



If you already have a microphone with a 3.5mm jack or an XLR microphone
(with power supplied - the phone can’t supply 48v phantom power), you can
buy an

adapter that allows you to plug it into the TRRS port.   Make sure that the
adapter is compatible with your phone.  My Samsung Galaxy S3 is now using
the

Apple standard, so I 

[Mobile.AI] Audio Recording With a Smartphone

[raaju]

It seems like smartphones will do anything.  But do they make effective
sound recorders?  That depends on what you are looking (listening) for and
what

type of phone you have.  Below I describe ways to record on your smartphone,
with examples of products that might help.  Most of this discussion is about

Android phones and iPhones.



There are 4 basic ways to use your phone as a recorder:



1. The built-in microphone(s).

2. Using a microphone plugged in through the headset port.

3. Using a microphone plugged in through the charging port.

4. Via Bluetooth.



The built-in microphone



If you are looking to use your phone as a voice recorder, for recording
personal notes, meetings, or impromptu sounds around you, then all you need
is

a recording app.  I would highly recommend getting a third-party app, as the
apps that come with the phone are pretty basic.  Important things to look

for in an app are the ability to: 1) adjust gain levels; 2) change sampling
rates; 3) display the recording levels on the screen, so you can make any
adjustments

necessary; and, perhaps not as important, 4) save the files to multiple
formats (at least .wav and .mp3).  Also very handy is the ability to email
the

recording, or save it to cloud storage, such as Dropbox.  Some of the most
highly recommended apps for Android include Easy Voice Recorder Pro,
RecForge

Pro, Hi-Q mp3 Voice Recorder, Smart Voice Recorder, and Voice Pro. For iOS,
Audio Memos, Recorder Plus and Quick Record appear to be good apps.



Microphones on various models of phones vary quite a bit.   Newer phones
have two or three microphones, but differ quite a bit in their sound
recording

abilities.  Especially problematic seems to be recording loud sounds, such
as concerts, although even those capabilities are improving.



External microphone through the headset port



Most iPhones and smart phones these days come with a TRRS port for the
headphones.  If your headphone jack has 3 lines (4 rings) on it, it’s a
TRRS, which

means it can act as a microphone as well as headphones.   Before you attempt
to connect an external microphone via the headset port, make sure it is a

TRRS port.



A TRRS plug on the left, TRS on the right



Note the 3 (white) lines in the plug for the ear buds from my Samsung Galaxy
S3, compared with the 2 (black) lines in the plug for a lavalier microphone.


The color is irrelevant, but the number of lines is not.



Because of the differences in jacks, you cannot plug in any old microphone
with a 3.5mm plug and expect it to work.  Luckily, several manufacturers
have

developed microphones that plug right into the headphone jack.



However, there are also differences in the TRRS jacks, in the location of
the ground and mic connections:



Schematic of omtp and ctia plugs



Differences in wiring between the OMTP (Sony, older Android) and CTIA
(Apple, newer Android) plugs.  CTIA is also called AJH.  Note that there is
only

one mic input, so all input will be mono.  Right and Left refer to headphone
output.



This difference is something you need to be aware of, and make sure that any
microphone, headset, or adapter is compatible with your phone.
Unfortunately,

there is no way to tell from the outside which is the proper jack for your
device.  However, the CTIA (Apple) version is becoming the norm, so
Apple-compatible

devices now work on many recent android phones.  Be sure to check the
descriptions to make sure your device is compatible.  For more information
on the

wiring of various plugs, see

here.



Rode Smartlav Lavalier Microphone for iPhone and Smartphones

MicW iShotgun

Stony-Edge SIMPLE LAV- MOBILE Condenser Lavalier/Lapel Microphone for iPhone
& Android Smartphones

Professional Lapel Microphone with 39″ cable for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch,
Smartphones and Comptuers

Audio-Technica ATR3350IS Omni Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones



I have not used any of these, but I would expect them to be substantially
better than the built-in microphone on the phone.  You might want to review
my

page on “

Choosing Microphones

” if you don’t know the difference between a lav and a shotgun.  See “

Comparing recording on a smartphone to a dedicated recorder

” for a video on how the iRig Mic Cast works on Android and iPhones.



If you already have a microphone with a 3.5mm jack or an XLR microphone
(with power supplied - the phone can’t supply 48v phantom power), you can
buy an

adapter that allows you to plug it into the TRRS port.   Make sure that the
adapter is compatible with your phone.  My Samsung Galaxy S3 is now using
the

Apple standard, so I need iPhone compatible adapters.



StarTech.com Headset adapter for headsets with separate headphone /
microphone plugs - 3.5mm 4 position to 2x 3 position 3.5mm M/F

Sescom iPhone/iPod/iPad 3.5mm TRRS to 3.5mm Mic Jack & 3.5mm Monitor Jack,
1′

Professional iPhone, iPad2, iPod Touch XLR Cable for XLR Microphones to be
Plugged In to the iPhone with a 3.5mm Mini Jack