IK Multimedia

I
K Multimedia must love the iOS
music scene pretty bad, what with
the Amplitube guitar apps, the iRig
guitar interface, the iKlip iPad mic
stand adaptor, and now, the iRig Mic
and VocaLive app.
The iRig Mic is a condenser electret
microphone, with a nice solid metal
shell and grille, and built-in windshield.
It comes across as a ‘real’ microphone,
although the hard-wired cable ends in a
jack plug for the iOS device headphone
socket, and minijack stereo out for
headphones. VocaLive is a voice
processing app that works with the iRig
Mic, but you’re not forced to use them
together – the mic works with any
compatible app, and VocaLive works
with any compatible microphone.
Mic and the mechanics
VocaLive’s setup panel covers input and
output levels, feedback protection,
latency, and a noise filter. Twelve effects
are included – some are vocal-specific,
like pitch correction, others are more
‘universal’, like EQ. VocaLive imports up
to 50 songs from your device’s iTunes
library, so they can be played at
different speeds for practice sessions.
The audio recorder handles just one
track unless you purchase the four-track
upgrade – the examples on the DVD
were recorded using this.
The mic’s solid construction pays off
– it’s reassuringly resistant to handling
noise. There’s a three-way sensitivity
switch, which covers a lot of ground
– we used the ‘Mid’ one to record
Sarah’s vocals. There was some hiss
evident – the noise filter dealt with this,
at the cost of losing some edge, however
the damage was minimised by adjusting
the filter sensitivity.
The workaday effects, like delay and
reverb, are very usable, and the more
out-there pitch effects are pretty
impressive, especially for a mobile
device. Presets are stored in banks
(each preset stores up to three effects),
and names like Xtreme Pitch Correction
and Electro Vocals should tell you what
to expect. You can save and name your
own banks and presets, and use the
four ‘favourite’ buttons as shortcuts.
Background audio
With background audio enabled,
VocaLive runs behind other apps. You
could use this for presentations, with
Keynote for iPad, or at live shows, using
an autocue app like iPrompt Pro.
Having said that, an integrated
autocue function would be a good
option, and the effect controls need to
visually highlight the last one selected,
so you can tell what the touch strip at
the right is going to do next – that
caught us out a few times. We went on
to try the mic with other apps, including
FiRe, which is a very good iPhone
recorder, with more practical presets –
this would be a good pairing for
interviews or sample collection.
iRig Mic and VocaLive don’t create a
studio-quality experience, but as long as
you have realistic expectations about
what an iApp-based setup can deliver
(with a fifty-quid mic), you won’t be
disappointed. This will be a great tool
for practice, small gigs, and especially
awesome for speech and presentation
use. iOS continues to prove its place
alongside serious music tools.
IK Multimedia
iRig Mic | £50
The list of what musicians can’t do on their iPhone
gets shorter by the minute. Martin Delaney
experiences mobile vocal processing
VERDICT
BUILD
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VALUE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
EASE OF USE
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
VERSATILITY
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
RESULTS
❚❚❚❚❚❚❚❚
Singers, presenters, and the merely
pitch-correction-curious will all get
something out of the iRig Mic.
pRICIng
VocaLive app
£Free – £12
(depending on version and
in-app purchases)
spECs
Type: Condenser electret
Polar pattern:
Unidirectional/cardioid
Frequency Response:
100Hz - 15kHz, -3dB
Maximum sound pressure
(at three sensitivity levels):
120dB/90dB/75dB
Distortion: 3% THD at
120dB, 1kHz
Works with iPhone, iPod
Touch, or iPad (separate
iPad version of VocaLive
coming)
Mac or PC with iTunes
required to purchase or
backup iOS device content
WHAT Is IT?
Microphone, and vocal
processing app combo for
iOS devices
ConTACT
Who: IK Multimedia
Tel: [phone]
Web: ikmultimedia.com
HIgHLIgHTs
1 A dedicated mic and voice
processor for iOS is just
inherently cool and useful
2 The iRig Mic will work
with any compatible iOS
app, not just VocaLive
3 Voice processing works
surprisingly well, given it’s
a mobile device
Reviews | IK Multimedia iRig Mic
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FMU238.rev_ikmulti 90 3/2/11 4:58:06 PM