iPod Touch MityMic Review and Audio Samples
This post provides a review and audio samples for the TouchMic.com MityMic microphone, which plugs into the 2nd Generation iPod Touch or the iPhone 3G, and can be used for quality field recording for interviews and podcasts.
I first introduced the MityMic in my March post entitled Record Field Podcasts on your iPhone / iPod Touch. As a very brief recap of that post, the MityMic plugs into the headphone socket of the 2nd Generation iPod Touch or the 3G iPhone, and works with recording applications such as Voxie Pro. TouchMic.com have specifically developed the microphone for high quality field recording for interviews and podcasts. At US$34 for the microphone plus a couple of dollars for the recording application, MityMic is a great value way to extend your Touch or iPhone to become a quality recording device.
TouchMic.com MityMic for iPod Touch 2nd Gen or 3G iPhone
MityMic Audio Samples
The following MityMic audio samples were recorded using the MityMic microphone, my iPod Touch 2nd Generation, and the Voxie Pro audio recording application. I edited the files using Audacity, but only to manage the sample lengths and to convert the files into .mp3 format. To maintain the quality of the recordings I used Voxie Pro set to the highest quality setting (CD Quality 44kHz) and the files were converted into .mp3 format at 128 kbits/s bit rate.
Sample 1: Chelsea’s favourite food (37 sec, 587KB)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Sample 2: Elspeth plays ‘Pokarekare Ana’ (traditional New Zealand love song) on the piano (39 secs, 621KB)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Sample 3: Rosanne explains her PhD Thesis on Roman period textiles (44 secs, 696KB)
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Review
I have used the MityMic for a few days and I love it. I take my iPod Touch with me everywhere. Now with this small, well priced microphone, I will always have a high quality field recorder with me.
For me, the sound quality recorded in the samples was excellent. For sample 1 and 3 I did keep the microphone close to the person talking which further helped with sound quality. If the speaker was further away (for example, recording a presentation or a meeting) you may not achieve the same level of sound quality.
As mentioned, for all of the samples I did have Voxie Pro set to the highest quality recording setting. It may not be feasible to use this setting for longer interviews as the file size may become too large. So for longer interviews you may need to use a lower quality recording setting and this may reduce the quality.
At the time of writing I am not aware of any other microphones that work with the iPod Touch 2nd Generation or iPhone 3G, that are specifically designed for recording quality field interviews or podcasts. The MityMic was just what I needed. Well done TouchMic.com for spotting this need and delivering a great product at a great price.
Disclaimer: TouchMic.com provided the MityMic microphone for the purpose of recording the samples in this post. I have not paid for this microphone. Brendon
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Comments
Many thanks for your comment. I did look into plugging other mics into the iPhone or iPod Touch before I came across TouchMic.com.
Most mics will not work in the iPhone or Touch, even if they have a 3.5mm jack. The 3.5mm socket on the iPhone or iPod Touch uses 4 terminals (1 for the mic, 2 for the stereo headphones, and 1 for ground). If you look closely at the picture of the MityMic above you will see that it has four terminal rings. So a standard 3.5mm jack mic will generally have the wrong jack configuration to plug into the iPhone or Touch, and will not work.
Note also that computer mics that you plug into your computer soundcard do receive power from the soundcard, which I do not believe they will get from the iPhone or Touch.
So, in summary you may be able to get other mics to work in the iPhone or Touch, but you will need to buy a new plug and do some re-wiring and depending on the mic you may need to add in a battery power source and a resistor (at which point it gets well beyond my knowledge). To me the MityMic seemed easier than duct taping together a homemade workaround.
Graham Scharf left a comment on my March 1 blog entry about the MityMic, which I wanted to respond to in this entry, since this entry is getting more traffic.
Graham records podcasts and asked about the quality of recordings through the MityMic, when the iPhone or Touch is further away for the from the speaker, e.g. set on the table in an interview situation rather than being passed back and forth between the speakers.
Certainly sample 1 and 3 in this entry were recorded with the mic about 3 or 4 inches from the person speaking. If the person speaking is further away then I have found that the background noise compared to the speaker’s voice will be higher that if the mic is closer, which is probably the case with most mics.
Graham – I’ll endeavor to get out another post out and include further sample with my Touch and MityMic on the table – more representative of how you would like to use the mic.
Hi Craig – thanks for your comment.
If you go to the FAQs at TouchMic.com (http://touchmic.com/faqs/) the comment from the TouchMic.com team dated May 1st, 2009 states “The MityMic will work on an iPhone 3G…”.
I have iPod Touch 2nd Gen so I haven’t tried the MityMic with an iPhone 3G for myself, but I have heard the TouchMic.com team refer to it working with the 3G a number of times, so I think you will be fine.
Hello and thanks for the great article and using our Voxie Pro Recorder for your test case. Here’s a link to our blog that has more helpful information about Touchmic.com’s products as well as a great “guide” to helping people with iPhones and iPods to determine what mics they can use:
Mity Mic
http://www.bottlerocketapps.com/blog/excellent-new-mic-pairs-perfectly-with-voxie/
Help with Mic selection
http://www.bottlerocketapps.com/blog/do-you-need-a-mic-to-record-on-your-iphone-or-ipod-touch/
About the 1G iPod and what mics you can use
http://www.bottlerocketapps.com/blog/power-to-the-ipod-first-geners-voxie-goes-old-school/
Again, thank you and look for a new update to Voxie (2.5) which has been tested on the 3.0 software, adds more features including voice to SMS optional service.
Thanks for your comment Bottle Rocket Apps – the creators of the Voxie Pro Recorder, which I used for the audio samples on this post. The resources you point to look very useful. I’ll await the new Voxie version!
Hi Asger, many thanks for your questions. I have just tried both of these sets of apps out with the MityMic and both work.
I installed the free guitar tuner ‘Tyro Tuner’ and plugged in the MityMic – it picked up the sound fine (I no longer have a guitar but used my daughter’s ukulele as a substitute).
I also loaded Shazam onto my iPod Touch. Plugged in the MityMic, played a CD on the stereo and was able to use the Touch with MityMic to ID the song.
So in short – yes MityMic does work with these apps.
how well does this mike work for recording lectures? i couldn’t find anything on your review site (nor any others for that matter) that described how well this mike performs.
thank you.
hi. this is just to clarify from my last message that i want to know how this mike performs specifically for recording lectures, since your examples were of near-field environments like podcasts or interviews. i’m not sure that was clear from my other message.
also, if this mike does not perform satisfactorily for recording lectures, then is there a mike that you would recommend specifically for this application? i have an ipod touch 2g.
thank you and looking forward to your response.
Hi David, thanks for your question. I have not actually tried the MityMic myself in a lecture setting, but I have had an email exchange with someone who did. He stated:
“I tried out the MityMic in a lecture hall this week, and the audio quality was great… the MM (w/Voxie) had no trouble picking up the sound even though the Touch was sitting in my bag with MM sticking out. Also, I used the “CD quality” mode.”
One note on the above quote – the CD quality mode on Voxie makes very large files, I would pick a lower quality if you are just using the recording for your personal study.
My experience from playing around with the mic is that the sound level and quality does drop the further away it is from the speaker – which is the case with most mics. It may depend how far back you are sitting in the lecture room. If you need to record the sound for your own studies it appears that it should work fine. If you want to make a quality podcast or similar from the speaker’s presentation you may want to get the mic closer (if it is a man – sticking our of his shirt pocket?).
Brendon
Lectures, Lectures, Lectures…I’m a theology student who needed a digital voice recorder for university lectures. I was going to purchase a Sony Digital Voice recorder but my wife told me these recorders eat batteries like crazy. They also sell for about one hundred on the low side plus all the batteries they go through.
Then I found the all mic’s on the net for the iPod touch 2nd gen. I did the research and went with MityMic and couldn’t be happier. I use the Voxie Pro Recorder app (available from itunes) from bottle rocket. I can easily record on the fly when my might mic is plugged in. MityMic works well in a lecture setting. I sit about twenty to thirty feet away from the professor and it picks up very well. There is four settings the Voxie Pro app offers, I use High 22Khz, and this mic picks up extremely well.
So well that if people close by are shuffling papers, turning over their desk tops, or books are slamming down it will some times pick that up. This MityMic works extremely well and I would recommend it for any application on the iPod touch 2nd gen. The only thing is I wished it came with a case. I cut the plastic container it comes in, in half and use this as a case. Not only that but the iPod is rechargeable and no batteries to be purchased.
I spent a little more for the MityMic but the other mics, as I researched, did not perform as well as the MityMic performed. I love this for lectures and it saves me from having to write all the notes out. If you purchase the Mic and are not sure how well it will work, do a test recording and play it back thru your headphones to see where to position the Mic and your iPod. Depending on where the professor is lecturing or where the speakers are located.
I found that the free app that comes with the iPod called Voice Memos, doesn’t record as crisp and clear as the Voxie Pro app does. Probably because there is no choices for record settings. Voxie Pro on runs $1.99 and well worth it. Couple that with the MityMic and say good by to Digital voice recorders. I can also play my iPod in my SUV and listen to the lectures on the way home just as clear as day.
Happy recording,
Jason
Sorry for the miss spellings, I meant to say that Voxie Pro app. only runs $1.99. Also I place my iPod touch 2nd gen. on my desk table during class, out in the open. However, I am about 20ft away and can hear what is being said pretty clearly. I’m sure it would be much better if I sat closer. The professors don’t seem to mind, if they do you could easily hide the iPod so the MityMic is the only thing sticking out. If you are unsure about your class setting, show up to class early, depending on how fast the class fills up, then get a seat early, set up your MityMic and see what happens.
Fantastic information – thanks Jason. It looks like quite a few people are exploring the MityMic for recording lectures, so it is brilliant to have your comments on the experience you have had with the mic in a lecture setting. Best of luck with you studies.
Hello Brendon,
Could you help out a newbie? I ordered the MityMic on your rec just now, but I’m a little fuzzy on the flow from recording on my iPod Touch, into Audacity on my windows PC. Where does the sound file get created, where does it sit on the iPod? After sync, does it show up in my iTunes lib. on the PC? Do I just open that file thru Audacity, pointing to the file using the file path into my iTunes lib? And what role does that iPod app “Voxie” play? I actually downloaded it, synced the pod, but don’t know where the app is on the pod or what it does. Sorry for the newbie questions. I’m new to iPod and iTunes, but not to Audacity. Thanks for any help!
Hi Longanswer
Good questions. I’m not sure that I can answer all of them, but will do my best.
Let’s start with Voxie. Voxie is one option of many software apps for the iPod Touch or iPhone for recording audio. The MityMic is just the microphone, it has no recording software, so that is what I use Voxie for. So once you have the MityMic, plug it in, click on Voxie on the iPod Touch or iPhone, and select to create a new recording. Once competed, Voxie will create an audio file which to the best of my knowledge is stored within Voxie itself until you transfer it to your PC.
One point to note is that I have a wireless ADSL modem in my house that I use to connect our home PC, my work laptop, and my iPod Touch to broadband internet. It is pretty useful for the iPod Touch so that you can check email, download apps etc using the Touch. So when I installed Voxie on my iPod Touch, I actually did it through the Apps Store on my Touch directly connected to the internet and it loaded itself on. You may be able to do it through iTunes and sync it too, but unfortunately I can’t advise on this.
I also use the wireless modem connection to transfer files from the Touch to my PC. To help out I have just written a post on how to do this at http://www.unexpectedidea.com/how-transfer-audio-files-from-voxie-pro-to-your-pc
So I don’t actually sync the audio files through iTunes, but through a sync facility in Voxie, which seems to work well assuming you have wireless connection between your Touch and PC. Hope this helps.
Brendon,
Thanks so much for responding to my somewhat garbled question. In in the interim, I discoverd that if I touched the app store on the ipod, tried to buy voxie again this time to the pod, it already knew I had purchased it previously, and prompted me to load it to the pod. So now it’s there, and yes rereading the Voxie stuff on their site, it seems that the Pro Recording app handles transfering the audio file to my laptop. So now, I’ll just wait for the MityMic to arrive and start recording. Thanks!!
Yes the MityMic microphone does work with the iPod Touch 3G, as confirmed by TouchMic.com (who make the MityMic) on their webpage http://touchmic.com/products-page/iphone–ipod-touch-microphones–lapel-mics/touchmic-mitymic—voice-recording-and-interview-mic/ .
To my knowledge none of the iPod Touches come with a built in microphone. The MityMic microphone can be purchased from http://www.touchmic.com. TouchMic.com also have other microphones that will work with the iPod Touch.
FYI – While none of the previous generation iPod touch models had a microphone included, the latest (3rd generation) 32GB and 64GB models come with the same combination earbuds/mic as the iPhone. Unfortunately, as 3 Gen points out above, the 3rd gen 8GB iPod touch doesn’t include the mic, probably as a cost saver for Apple.
I have received a couple of questions lately on where people can purchase the MityMic microphone. Your local Apple dealer will not stock the MityMic! To my knowledge the only place that it can be purchased is online from TouchMic.com at http://touchmic.com/
I am looking for a lapel/lavelier style mic which would work in high wind applications (20-30+ mph, up to 50 kph!). I am trying to put the mic on a professional cyclist and record an interview while he/she is training for 2 – 4 hours. Do you know if the MightyMic could be extended via a normally available cable in order to attach it under the rider’s jersey? Likewise, would the TouchMic Handsfree Lapel Microphone work, or would the wind noise level be obtrusive? The recording would be edited and excerpts would be used on TV, so sound quality is important. Any ideas for wind suppression or shielding would be appreciated!
Hi Todd
Many apologies I have been on holiday / vacation so have been slow to respond to your comment. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that I can fully answer this question. The extension cord for the MityMic would need to be configured correctly with a four ring 3.5mm jack and socket – note this would be different from a standard three ring extension cord. I have noticed that the MityMic with foam will still pick up some wind noise when recording outside (I live in windy Wellington NZ), so the wind may be an issue recording a cyclist. My recommendation is to put the question to TouchMic.com on their FAQ section. http://touchmic.com/faqs/. I have found them pretty good at answering questions in the past. Sorry I couldn’t help further.
Brendan, thank you so much for providing such detailed info about this mic. I’m also grateful to Jason for confirming it will work in a lecture situation. That’s all my questions answered, I’ll be buying it. Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate you taking the time to share information. (PS I am a long way from home, it’s nice to hear the kiwi voice and tunes
cheers
Rachel
Hi Rachel
Great to hear from you. I’m glad the information was useful. I’m pleased the kiwi touch struck a chord. Good luck with the MityMic.
Brendon
Hi,
I have a ipod classic 160 GB and was wondering if the MityMic will work on it? I’m looking for something to record lectures with and is having no luck.. 
I’m a bird-watcher and would like to hear an example of a recording of someone’s voice at say 40 feet. The reason, to record bird song in the field.
Thanks for the information on Mity Mic. I seeking to purchase a voice recorder to record lectures on my I pod touch 8 gb.
Thanks for the information on the Voxie Pro Recorder and Mity Mic. I seeking to purchase a voice recorder to record lectures for my iPod touch 8
I wonder if it would work to plug an external microphone like the LEM DO21B or the SONY ECM-MS907 into the headphone socket of the iphone 3G ? I’m using the Newpea audio recorder app and I really, really would like to get to know if those kind of microphones is compatible with the iphone’s headphone socket. Does anyone could tell ?