Description
MIC W i436 MINIATURE MICROPHONE - PC - Laptop - Mobile Phone
The i436 is a miniature omni-directional microphone originally designed for use with the Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. It offers a high-quality alternative to the internal microphones in these devices, either for recording, or as a measuring microphone. It may also be used with many other portable devices as well as computer sound-cards and laptops. When the i436 is used in with an application running on a mobile phone, interviews can be recorded without the journalist having to carry a second device.
i436
Fitted with a 4-pole, 3.5mm jack plug, the microphone is simply plugged into the headset socket and is ready for use. Alternatively, when obtained as the i436 Kit, it may be used on the 3-metre extension cable. Calibrated and complying with IEC616672 Class 2 and ANSI S 1.4 standards (See Note 1, below) it may be used for acoustic measurements in professional applications with the software available from the Apple App store (See Note 2, below) as well as other programs running on devices fitted with suitable interfaces. With a 'very flat' frequency response, the i436 is tested for long-term stability against humidity and temperature. The solidly designed body uses a stainless steel housing, and weighs only 8 grams.
Transducer: Electret condenser. Capsule diameter: 7.0mm. Sensitivity: -35 dB +/- 4 dB, 0dB=1V/pa, 1kHz. Response: 20Hz - 20kHz. Noise: Better than 62dB S/N. Impedance: Less than 2.2k ohms. Power source: From host device headset interface. Weight: 8g. Operating temperature: -20 to +50 degrees C.
Included accessories: Clear presentation box, manual.
i436 Kit
This contains the i436 microphone, as described above, with, in addition, a black foam windshield, a 'tie' or 'collar-clip' microphone clamp, a 3-metre extension cable and a Y-lead for simultaneous use of headphones and the microphone.
Technical Notes:
The microphone itself meets the standards quoted, but there are caveats:
1: The performance of the combination of the microphone and computing device will often not be limited by the microphone, particularly if the device is optimised for communication purposes. For example, the Mic W web site gives figures of 34dBA and 102dB for the minimum and maximum sound pressure levels which can be measured by an 'iPhone or iPad'. The maximum SPL that can be measured by the microphone itself is given as 130dB.
2: It is not at all unusual for manufacturers of consumer grade devices, particularly when the function of the device is primarily communications, to introduce circuitry to 'enhance' the overall perceived performance. Often this includes filters to remove the effects of unwanted low-frequency energy. Clearly such a filter will also affect the accuracy of an absolute measurement of a sound field. As a result, applications used on such computing devices will require software correction to take into account the frequency response of the input circuitry of the specific device.
While high-end sound cards may be capable of the performance necessary to achieve accuracy without correction, it is perhaps intuitive that the performance of a professional-grade measuring instrument is unlikely to be emulated by simply plugging a Class 2 microphone into a phone.