Used Rode Microphones SmartLav Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones

2014-02-25T19:00:00

Out of the box this thing will record speech that sounds like a bullhorn and you'll think you wasted your money. I worked with it and discovered that great speech can be gotten by doing two things: -Buy the $5.99 app, the freebie is worthless. The paid app has a HUGE amount of options plus higher bit rate options. -Cut 450hz with a Parametric or multiband EQ (and I'm talking 12-20 db!). The 450-500hz range is always a lapel mic's downfall of over-emphasized frequency, and it must be cut to remove the honky bullhorn tone. BTW, the paid app has a Parametric filter, and it allows you to cut that frequency range by 12db, not a bad start for decent out-of-the-box sound. I had to record a speaker who was preaching in a small room during a break-out session of a conference, and there was no sound system at all in there (wasn't needed for a 40-person classroom). I switched my iPhone to Airplane mode, connected this lapel and sent him on his way with it already recording. When he got back to the main conference room where the sound system was, I disconnected him, pulled the WAV file off, notched out 450hz and had a great recording. How convenient is THAT??

James D.

2013-12-16T19:00:00

Plugged Rode SmartLav into my iPhone and it worked just fine. I used the Rode Rec LE free app on my iPhone. I had to bump up the gain due to soft voices of my talent. The only minor problem I had is trying to slide the cable into the plastic slot meant to keep the cable from flopping around. The slot was too tight. I felt like I was cramming the cable and might damage the cable.

CHRIS A.