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Sennheiser's new ClipMic Digital and MKE 2 Digital lavalier microphones are powered with an Apogee preamp and connect directly to iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad through the Lightning port.
Both mics work with the Apogee MetaRecorder app for iOS. This free recording app contains professional features for recording in high quality, adding markers, splitting recordings into scenes, tagging metadata for professional editing software, and uploading to Dropbox. Connect the ClipMic Digital or MKE 2 Digital and MetaRecorder will unlock the full version for free.
MetaRecorder can also be controlled remotely with an Apple Watch. Monitor the audio levels, increase or decrease gain, add markers, and start and stop the recording all from your wrist!
Apogee's free Maestro app gives full control over these digital lav mic when you choose to use other recording apps.
The ClipMic Digital contains the highly popular ME2 mic capsule, which is commonly found in their wireless lav kits. The MKE 2 Digital, as its name suggests, uses the same higher-quality capsule as the MKE 2 broadcast-quality lav mic.
The built-in Apogee preamp and Lightning connector allow you to monitor audio through your device with your preferred headphones. Plus, you get the added convenience of a single device to connect without adapters.
The ClipMic Digital will be available in June, 2015 for $199 retail. The broadcast-quality MKE 2 Digital will be available in July, 2015 for $499 retail.
This is just the beginning of amazing things to come from the partnership between Sennheiser and Apogee!
Get more videos from New Media Expo / NAB Show 2015 by subscribing in iTunes or subscribing on YouTube.
Special thanks to the following people for making this coverage possible!
- Neil Kristianson—cameraman Follow @the_nak
- Melvin Rivera—provided the Sennheiser MD46 interview mic and Zoom H5 recorder Follow @MelvinRiveraV
- John Bukenas—video editor Follow @JohnBukenas
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Have you tried both and could you find any perceptible difference between the two? At 2x+ the price, I’d hope for something substantive in terms of audio quality from the MKE2 digital. Thanks!
Hi, Jordan!
I haven’t recorded my comparison, yet. But Sennheiser is loaning me both mics to test. The MKE2 Digital is definitely better, with a lower noise floor and better sound.
But for their high prices, I really wish we had the option of disconnecting the mics from the Lightning connectors and using them in regular audio equipment.
yeah I’m worried about dropping hundreds on mics only to find out the iphone 7/7s has the new “turbo power-hurricane” input plug and now I’ve got a piece of really expensive costume jewelry…
I have a Verizon iPhone, and I’ve found that the analog alternatives pick up interference, even with the phone in airplane mode. But I think others have had good results on non-Verizon iPhones.
The Røde SmartLav+ would be good for an iPhone, or look at getting a decent lav and digital recorder, like the Zoom H1.
I’ve heard not-so-good things about the Røde. I’m recording video and not using this for audio, so I need something that can do audio into the camera, otherwise I’d simply use my Zoom.
Also thinking about grabbing this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0148JMEEI?colid=M2IKOPMOL2TK&coliid=IYYAA7S4TORVG&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl
I figure I plug in a couple of lav mics and film short video interviews on the go.
No lav mic will sound good directly into a camera, because of the poor preamps.
I think your best choice for video would be the RødeLink Filmmaker Kit: http://amzn.to/1N0yA8w
Oh I’m filming on the iPhone. Video is fine, but the audio has to be solid as well. I already have a nice studio camera but needed something portable that wasn’t $3,500 🙂
Ah, yes.
On the SmartLav, keep in mind there are two: SmartLav and SmartLav+. The SmartLav+ was a significant improvement. But I’ve never seen someone try it on a Verizon iPhone like I have, but the Shure MVL (similar kind of mic) does not do well on my Verizon iPhone 5.
ah didn’t know that.
I hope/suppose that now with the wireless gear you’ve sent over there won’t be much/any interference. If there is, huge bummer. The lightning sound quality on the Sennheiser is great. I’ll prob keep it on my bag at all times for impromptu stuff.
Wow I just checked that out. That is SUPER cool man. I’m absolutely getting this. I hate that the wire I have is between me and the camera. Badass.
You could try to get a TRRS extension cable.
SmartLav+: http://amzn.to/1SnNzr5
2 m TRRS extension cable: http://amzn.to/1kRds7K
When I can get my hands on a SmartLav+, I’ll do a simple comparison video.
Yeah with the wireless thing I just bought (thanks) I can simply use the included lav, mic packs and then route that audio into the iphone and even my studio gear with a Røde XLR adapter (which I also just grabbed)
Oh! I didn’t realize which comment you replied to.