Like Mikey, I found a new piece of hardware that I can say “I like it”. I expect it will become a good friend in the months ahead. A new product from Blue Microphones called Mikey Digital is a high-quality microphone to capture meetings, conference calls, business meetings or even to make your own voice recordings in high-quality. The genius of Mikey Digital is that it plugs into your iPhone or iPad and easily replaces any other recorder and/or microphone that you have been packing.
Many of you that read Fill the Funnel are road warriors, or at least work outside of an office or cube much of the time. Working out of your briefcase or laptop bag is a way of life, squeezing everything you might need into that small space. Combining equipment or replacing existing tools with smaller and/or lighter alternatives is always a relief. Blue Microphone’s new Mikey Digital microphone for iPhone/iPad will serve you well.
Mikey Digital directly connects to iPhone or iPad and is instantly recognized for use with any audio or video application. Whether shooting video, recording a keynote at a conference or capturing your next team meeting, Mikey Digital captures truly professional recordings on-the-go with a stereo pair of Blue’s premium condenser capsules and built-in sensitivity control. For the non-techies, it simply means that you are using a professional-grade tool that gives you stunning results.
Mikey Digital also features a multi-source input jack that allows for direct connection of an iPod or a lavaliere mic and other sound sources to record with the highest possible fidelity to get that track into your audio recording.
If you are experimenting with the use of online meetings, webinars, Skype and Google+ Hangouts, the investment in a quality microphone should be top of your list. I not only help clients figure out the best web tools for their needs, but also the hardware. The number one item on my list for those applications is a good quality microphone. The last thing you need is to sound like you are talking through a tin can on a string with your prospects and customers, yet I hear it every week. Listen to the sound quality of the speakers on your next webinar. A quality microphone will make all the difference in the world.
Some things to consider before you purchase:
- Make sure you get the right model-the newest one is the Blue Microphones Mikey Digital Recording Microphone for Apple iPhone 4/4S, iPad and iPad 2 and new iPad (Amazon)
- Invest in an upgraded recording app- I recommend either the FiRe 2.0 Field Recorder or Multitrack DAW or even GarageBand
- Will not take advantage of the quality or the stereo capability if you use simple recording apps like Voice Memo.
- Older models will work with the iPhone 3GS or earlier but will NOT work on iPhone 4 or later devices or iPad.
A little bit about the company. Blue Microphones has been around for some time, and manufacturers and entire range of microphones from Desktop USB through Studio Mic’s. Many podcasters online today are using Blue’s Snowball USB microphones. You just have to like a company that names its products Snowball, Yeti, Tiki or Woodpecker. If you are serious about sound quality, give these guys a look. By the way, the Tiki listed above is a really strong product if you are working from your laptop rather than an iPhone or iPad.
Might be a good time to thin out that laptop bag and lighten your load, while improving the sound quality in everything you record. If you know someone who lives this lifestyle, it is not to early to grab one of these for a holiday gift.