Tag: Microphone »

The mic pre-amp from IK Multimedia has arrived, allowing you to use any professional XLR microphone you want with your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. You can use it to record vocals, of course, but instruments also benefit from a clean pre-amp mic sound.

There's more to see on the iRig Pre website, and look for our review next week.

iRig PRE has the essential features found in professional studio microphone preamps like an adjustable gain control, 48-volt phantom power and an audio/headphone output jack for real-time monitoring.

The iRig PRE is ideal for capturing live performances on the go with professional stage or studio microphones. It’s also great for songwriters who want to capture demos of their compositions at the moment of inspiration.

IK Multimedia, creators of the iRig guitar interface allowing guitarists to play their guitar on iOS devices, are back with the iRig Mic, a handheld condenser microphone with multiple gain settings designed to work with iOS devices. Similar to the iRig, it comes with an adapter that plugs into your iPhone/iPod touch/iPad's headphone/mic jack, and the adapter has a sound output for monitoring your sound with headphones or plugging into a sound system. The microphone will work with any app that supports sound input, including the new GarageBand app for iPad, but several apps from IK Multimedia are available that will utilize the iRig Mic: VocaLive, which offers real-time vocal processing effects; AmpliTube, so guitarists can add vocals to their guitar playing with the app; and finally, iRig Recorder, a free audio recording app that is coming soon. The iRig Mic is available from IK Multimedia for $59.99.

IK Multimedia has announced that VocaLive, a professional performing and recording vocal processor app, is now available on the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The software serves as a recording solution for iOS users, whether they want to use their device's built-in microphone or purchase the iRig Microphone.

VocaLive provides vocalists with 12 real-time professional vocal effects and the capability to record studio quality sound on their portable device. The company describes its app as an "easy to use" but "extremely powerful" tool that produces the professional results one would normally have to use expensive hardware and software to achieve.

The software includes 5 vocal effects: "Pitch Fix (for tuning correction or stylized quantization FX), Choir (a 3-part harmonizer), Morph (an X-Y pitch and formant shifter that changes the tonal quality of the voice from subtle deepening to radical gender bending), De-Esser and Double (Double effect gets unlocked by registering)," according to the company.

What's more, it also features 7 Studio Effects: Reverb, Delay, Parametric EQ, Compressor, Chorus, Phazer and Envelope Filter. The individual effects can be combined into a chain of up to three and then saved as a preset. And to get you started, there are 50 presets included out of the box.

VocaLive allows you to record vocals or instruments with added effects, but it also allows you to sing along with your favorite songs in your iPod collection. Using the Voice Cancel option, you can remove lyrics from songs, allowing you to provide the vocals entirely by yourself. You can also use Vocal Tools and a metronome to warm up your voice before beginning.

VocaLive is now available on the iTunes App Store for $19.99. There is also a free version of the app, which doesn't come with as many effects or presets but can be expanded. You're able to individually purchase desired effects as you choose. While you can use the app with the built-in microphone, it also supports the iRig Mic, sold separately for $59.99.