10 Sep Rode USB Microphones
In this article you’re going to learn how to dramatically improve your social media audio quality, particularly if you like to sing or play the guitar.
This method will also work with any instrument that can plug into an audio interface via a USB or audio jack cable.
Improve your social media audio
Are you frustrated with your recordings on social media? Does it not quite sound how you’d like?
This blog post will help you to connect your favourite mic and audio interface into your iPhone using a lightning adaptor.
Rode NT1 5th Gen
I’m going to use the rode NT1 5th Gen as an example, but this method will work with any XLR microphone or guitar jack.
Although the Rode NT1 5th Generation microphone has a USB C port which can connect straight into your laptop, to connect to your iPhone to any microphone with your audio interface you’re going to need the Apple Lightning Adaptor USB 3.
An audio interface
The chances are that you already have an audio interface. If not you can purchase one from here and if you don’t want to be extravagant I’d recommend the Focusrite 2i2.
Apple Lightning adaptor USB 3
You’re also going to need an Apple branded lightening adaptor which provides power for your phone / microphone/ audio interface.
There are similar adaptors elsewhere, but you’ll get also hear a lot of white noise on the recordings.
Lightning Apple Power Supply
You’re also going to need an apple power supply as some microphones require phantom power. You’ll also be charging your phone at the same time.
There are different power supplies that produce different amount of watts . The higher the wattage the faster the charging time will be.
In our case, we want a high enough wattage that can produce enough power to cope with a phone and a microphone.
Assuming you have a lightning port:
USB Cable type A to type 2.0
You’re also going to need a type A USB to what ever connects to your audio interface which is usually a USB 2.0. This USB cable connects from the audio interface to your lightning adaptor.
Works for Acoustic / Electric / classical
This method works great should you be playing acoustic, electric, classical guitar and or singing at the same time.
This audio solution also works for classical guitars to but you’ll need to think about how the microphone is placed and what microphone you’ll be using.
Here’s an example of what you can expect when recording with this method.
Online or face to face guitar tuition
If you’d like to book an online or face to face guitar lesson, you can do so by getting in touch. You can also learn music theory with the ABRSM exam board either with tuition or using my audio books for grades 1,2, and 3.