Finally! An external microphone for the iPhone 4, 4S and iPad

[Breeze]

Well, I'm still having no joy getting this to work

This mic will only work with the iPod Touch 4G. And did you download the Tascam App? Sometimes hardware has to be initialized by an app for iOS to start working with it. It's the free TASCAM PCM Recorder. BTW it works with the internal mic too if anyone wants to try it.

I'm beginning to doubt this is the case though, as I read that iOS devices read the iM2 as a USB audio device. As far as I was aware, this option has always been disabled on the ipod.

Actually it's always been active and the only way to input a stereo signal into the iPod Touch 4G. The reason many of the accessories that should work with it don't has more to do with Apple's desire to let them work or not for reasons only they know.

[knockman]

Well, I'm still having no joy getting this to work

This mic will only work with the iPod Touch 4G. And did you download the Tascam App? Sometimes hardware has to be initialized by an app for iOS to start working with it. It's the free TASCAM PCM Recorder. BTW it works with the internal mic too if anyone wants to try it.

Yes - I have the iPod Touch 4G and the Tascam app installed. Also using the latest iOS - I wonder if anything's changed there? Anyway, I sent Tascam all this info in my support request, hopefully it's something that can be resolved.

[knockman]

Just an update for anyone still interested in the iM2.

I finally got it to work, but I hope my case is not what others will experience. I had a few email exchanges with Tascam support, which suggested trying a few things I'd already done and which met with no success in my case.

This made me suspect I had a physical problem with my dock connector. I was on the verge of giving up, but as a last resort I bought a cheap dock extension cable (male to female) to see if that would do anything. When I connected the iM2 via the extension - Hey presto! It worked! Lovely pristine stereo recordings

However, it still won't work when connected directly to my iPod, which I'm frankly perplexed about. It's not ideal with the mic dangling at the end of a half metre cable but I have a work around at least.

[Breeze]

Thanks for the update, Knockman. I wonder if there's something different about the iPT-4G vs the iPhone 4-4s? I wonder if that has anything to do with why so many iPhone 4 audio accessories aren't compatible with the iPT-4G.

Or maybe there's something wonky about version one of the iM2. Did Tascam offer to replace it? It would be telling to try your iM2 on another iPT-4G to rule out any problem with yours.

[Brian @ IK Multimedia]

IK Multimedia has had the iRig Mic - an external electret condenser mic for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - for nearly a year, and it works with all versions of the iPhone, including the 4S.

[uspino]

Brian, I love IK Multimedia products but you really can't compare the limited sound range of a mono microphone input through the headset connector to a dedicated stereo device connected though an A/D converter on the dock connector. It's apples and oranges.

That said, the iM2 is finally available in some stores here in the US...

[Breeze]

Brian, I love IK Multimedia products but you really can't compare the limited sound range of a mono microphone input through the headset connector to a dedicated stereo device connected though an A/D converter on the dock connector. It's apples and oranges.

+1. The promo post wasn't appropriate to this discussion. But if IKM has a stereo mic with A/D converter that works with the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch 4G in the works, I'd be all ears...

[DrApostropheX]

And just in case you're curious about the TASCAM app's pedigree, it was developed by none other than Audio Damage's Chris Randall: http://www.analogindustries.com/blog/en ... 2926769768

[Lotuzia]

Thanks for the update, Knockman. I wonder if there's something different about the iPT-4G vs the iPhone 4-4s? I wonder if that has anything to do with why so many iPhone 4 audio accessories aren't compatible with the iPT-4G.

Or maybe there's something wonky about version one of the iM2. Did Tascam offer to replace it? It would be telling to try your iM2 on another iPT-4G to rule out any problem with yours.

Thanks 4 the info

[Breeze]

Thanks for the update, Knockman. I wonder if there's something different about the iPT-4G vs the iPhone 4-4s? I wonder if that has anything to do with why so many iPhone 4 audio accessories aren't compatible with the iPT-4G.

Or maybe there's something wonky about version one of the iM2. Did Tascam offer to replace it? It would be telling to try your iM2 on another iPT-4G to rule out any problem with yours.

Thanks 4 the info

More like speculation, really...

[Breeze]

Found this pic posted as a connection solution for the iPod Touch 4G in an AKAI Synthstation 25. Might this be a solution for the problem when connecting the IM2 directly to the iPod Touch 4G?

[knockman]

Thanks for that Breeze. I tried it but to no avail - perhaps I could try some different thicknesses of plastic? but I'm worried about damage to the dock connector - they are not the most robust of sockets.

I can only guess there is already some physical issue with my dock, perhaps the very slightest damage - the connector on the extension cable and the iM2 appear identical - they are the same length and are flush with the iPod when fully inserted, yet the iM2 will only work when plugged in via the extension. I have a Line 6 Midi Mobilizer that works without issue. So far I've had no opportunity to test it on another iOS device (I don't really want to ask people in the office to install apps on their iPhones just so I can test it).

Anyway, the extension cable set up is actually suiting my immediate purposes, since I'm primarily using it for video and therefore need the mics aligned to landscape.

Cheers