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This article is from November 7, 2014, and is no longer current.

Review: AmpRidge iPhone Shotgun Video Microphone MightyMic S

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I was happy to receive the AmpRidge iPhone Shotgun Video Microphone MightyMicS for a critical review, courtesy of the folks at Photojojo. AmpRidge bills it as a shotgun microphone that works with the iPhone, iPad, and other similar devices. I assume that the company is thinking of this product being used to capture better sound when shooting video, hence the name “Video Microphone.”

 

The estimated $70 street price is not a lot if it will improve the audio over the built-in microphone on your chosen device (not a high bar), but keep in mind that professional shotgun microphones can cost over a thousand dollars, so let’s keep expectations reasonable. Contrary to popular belief, even professional shotgun microphones do not pick up good sound from six feet away.

First, I grabbed my iPad, and using a free recording app from Yamaha I ran some simple comparative tests with the built-in iPad microphone and the AmpRidge mic. First, I tried my voice from close-up (about 6 inches) and then from about 18 inches away. Since they call this microphone a shotgun, I would expect it to pick up sound reasonably well from 18 inches straight ahead, and reduce the sound coming in from other directions. I used my voice rather than music or other complicated sounds, because a simple voice recording will reveal more about the overall sonic qualities of a microphone. Here’s what I heard:

From 6 inches, the built-in microphone sounded quite poor. It was thin and harsh sounding. There was a very noticeable hissing sound, like an old cassette (this is not from the sound of the room, but rather a high “noise-floor,” which is generated internally from the electronics). The sound was essentially unusable, except for audio note taking purposes. From the same distance, the AmpRidge was a little better in terms of sonic quality (still quite harsh), but did have a somewhat more pleasing overall sound. Importantly, the hiss was significantly reduced. I did notice a very light “buzz” in the AmpRidge recordings, however, so I tested different audio apps to verify it. It was still there, but very small—not a deal-killer for the likely users of this microphone.

From 18 inches, all of the above was still in force, but the built-in mic sounded like I was sitting too far away. The AmpRidge did a somewhat better job of keeping the audio sounding close and present, showing that it does have some shotgun microphone pickup-pattern qualities. It also did reduce, in a subtle way, sounds from other directions.

Interestingly, on the AmpRidge website they offer a video/audio sample of how the microphone sounds. Two people are singing while a guitar is played, and the sound is clear enough and somewhat pleasing, but the mic is too far away from the players to sound warm and full. Ever the skeptic, watching that video made me suspicious of the manufacturer’s audio sensibilities, but I digress.

Next, I borrowed my wife’s phone (an Apple 5S—I don’t own a smartphone due to unreasonable rebelliousness). With the iPhone, I ran the same close-up and distance tests with my voice, and I found much the same results. From 6 and 18 inches, the AmpRidge sounded better overall but was still rather harsh, and in this case, removed the noise floor hiss entirely, and there was no buzz at all on the iPhone.

The mic has a nifty built-in headphone jack, which, since it uses the same jack as the headphones on your device, allows you to avoid having to unplug the mic to listen. It also comes with a windscreen, which will certainly help cut down on wind noise when you are recording outside (a critical issue). You also get a case with the logo.

In conclusion, it’s not a professional microphone, but you do get a significant upgrade with the $69 (street) AmpRidge. This product is squarely aimed at non-critical recording, but that’s not a bad thing as long as you know in advance (and now you do). It would be great for recording a band rehearsal, voice or musical note taking, typical iPhone video capture, and so on. It’s better than what you have built-in, easy to carry and use, and if you do a lot of video-with-sound or audio recording on your device, you’ll notice the difference.

 

Jacoby practices sound and radio art, audio for video, directing, producing, writing, performing, and podcasting. Jeff serves as Professor of Media Arts in the Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts Department (BECA) at San Francisco State University. Jeff founded Living Sound Productions (1980), where for thirty-five years he produced radio, video, and film projects, music (from jug band to rap), live concerts and various events. He taught media production at Quinnipiac University, Real Art Ways, and the Media Arts Center in Connecticut, and hosted radio programs at KAOS (Olympia, WA), KBOO (Portland, OR), KMUN (Astoria, OR), WPKN (Bridgeport, CT), and WLNV (Derby, CT). Current projects include Sonic Dark Rides (immersive sound art), the podcasts Sonic Space with Professor Noize, and The Traveling Radio Show, and enjoys collaborations with artists working in a variety of mediums. Jeff is also a published author at Linkedin Learning, Creative Pro, and the Journal of Radio & Audio media. He has been recognized with an Emmy Award and two Emmy nominations, two Crystal Radios, five Broadcast Education Association Awards, and two CINÉ Golden Eagles, among other honors. His work has been heard on PBS, NPR, commercial and community radio, and at art festivals such as South by Southwest, Black Maria, Festival du Film de Paris, and ASIFA-East. Jeff lives in San Francisco with his most frequent collaborator and partner, visual artist Sharon Steuer. In 2005 they formed the Freedom Fries Art Collective, recruited sixty artists, and mounted a large-scale, participatory political art installation (more of this is under way). For more information, visit www.jeffjacoby.net.
  • Gail says:

    Thanks Jeff. This is a great review, really useful to me as i consider what mic to buy. Cheers!

  • Hey would be nice if you actually had some video / audio footage to see it as a user.

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