There's a reason that — on many people's devices — Apple's Voice Memos app lives in a folder called "Unused" way back on your last home screen. Despite its many talents, the reality is that the mono mic in your iPhone or iPad just isn't that great at capturing audio. Blue's Mikey Digital brings high-quality portable recording to your pocket, via a 2.9-ounce stereo microphone.
Mikey Digital plugs into the 30-pin connector on your device, and works with nearly any app that can capture audio. Of course, late-model iOS devices feature Apple's new Lightning connector. Blue assures us that there is a Lightning version coming down the pipe soon, but in the meantime, the existing Mikey Digital works just fine with Apple's $29 Lightning to 30-pin Adapter.
Mikey Digital offers three gain settings to optimize recording. Loud and quiet environments get their own settings via the small switch on the back of Mikey. There's also a third setting, Auto, which engages a gain control circuit to adjust recording levels according to the volume of your source. For even better sound capture, the head on Mikey pivots to direct the mic toward your source, however your iOS device is positioned.
Recordings made with Mikey were noticeably better than with the integrated mics on our test devices, an iPad mini and iPhone 5. Of course, if you only listen back to those recordings with the speaker on your iOS device, you probably won't notice the difference. But if you regularly import recorded audio for use on your Mac (or listen with headphones), the value of Mikey Digital quickly becomes clear.
Musicians will also appreciate the 1/8-inch input, which will also allow you to record instruments or other sources directly to your device. For longer recording sessions, Mikey Digital features a mini USB port, which will allow you to power the Mikey and your device, although you can't sync via the same connection.
The only sour notes are minor quibbles. Mikey Digital is built for handheld devices, but it's sensitive enough to pick up minor bumps and movement. Do yourself a favor and put the iPhone down on a stable surface while recording. Since it's meant to be portable, it's also light. That's a good thing when it's in your pocket, but frankly, Mikey Digital lacks the substantial feel of Blue's desktop products that many Mac users are familiar with. But again, that's mostly what you want from a portable product.
The bottom line. Mikey Digital boosts the quality of your handheld recording, but early adopters may want to wait for a native Lightning version.
Mikey Digital
iPhone 4 or later, fourth-gen iPod touch or later, or any iPad. Lightning-equipped iOS devices require Apple’s Lightning to 30-pin Adapter
Better-sounding stereo recordings. Input for an external source.
Current-gen iOS devices require an adapter for now. Feels a bit flimsy for the money.
2stepbay
February 14, 2013 at 7:32pm
From the Mikey's 1st version, Blue Mic has been notoriously slow upgrading the Mikey to match Apple's internal electronic changes to their IOS devices. e.g. When the 30 pin connectors were changed for the iPhone 4, many months passed before Mikey 2 made its debut. Digital intro was just as slow for the 5th generation+ models. If this pattern continues, I suspect Mikey Digital sporting a lightning connector won't be to market until late 2013, early 2014.
With that said, I'm using the digital version via the Apple adapter on my 5g Touch for consultation session recordings. Works really well, especially with AudioFile's Fire 2 app. Excellent sound capture.
