Microphone for android to amplify sound (1 Viewer)

[neilsumner123]

Can anyone please recommend a mic that I can plug-in to an android phone to amplify bird-song for use with Merlin? Not looking for anything too clever - just sound amplification to catch a slightly bigger range of bird song. Thnks

 

[Elkhornsun]

Micrófono parabólico BIRDMIC - Birdfox S.L.

Micrófono Parabólico BirdMic para la escucha de aves. Ligero y multifuncional. Acopla una grabadora de campo un smartphone. Ideal para videocámaras.

www.birdfox.tech

They are based in Spain and ship anywhere, including the USA. A parabolic dish will increase the sound reaching the mic and no signal amplification needed. They sell a kit that has the parabolic dish, microphone, and connectors for smartphones.

I have tried very good self-powered shotgun microphones and they did not improve the sound recording or bird song detection with Merlin one bit.

 

[Raptorama]

Thank you for this - I have been looking for the exact same thing (microphone for Android for using with Merlin). The BIRDMIC looks pretty serious!

 

[WRL]

Can anyone please recommend a mic that I can plug-in to an android phone to amplify bird-song for use with Merlin? Not looking for anything too clever - just sound amplification to catch a slightly bigger range of bird song. Thnks

As discussed before elsewhere here in this forum: The dish (25 cm) is too small to be reasonably effective below 3 to 4 kHz. It needs a dish diameter of SEVERAL wavelenghts (and not only one, as stated by BirdMic: 25 cm wavelenght are equivalent to roughly 1500Hz) to work as intended (i.e.reflection of sound). That is simply the physics of acoustics.

 

[neilsumner123]

Micrófono parabólico BIRDMIC - Birdfox S.L.

Micrófono Parabólico BirdMic para la escucha de aves. Ligero y multifuncional. Acopla una grabadora de campo un smartphone. Ideal para videocámaras.

www.birdfox.tech

They are based in Spain and ship anywhere, including the USA. A parabolic dish will increase the sound reaching the mic and no signal amplification needed. They sell a kit that has the parabolic dish, microphone, and connectors for smartphones.

I have tried very good self-powered shotgun microphones and they did not improve the sound recording or bird song detection with Merlin one bit.

Thank you!

 

[Robinson]

I’d like to buy a sound amplifier for my father, who loves photographing and listening to birds. He is already stone deaf and wears fancy digital hearing aids. Would a sound amplifier be able to connect to his headphones? He can already connect his hearing aids to his iPhone. Many thanks for any guidance.

 

[Elkhornsun]

The dish and mic only need to be good enough for Merlin to ID the bird.

What bird calls do you actually record that are at 3 kHz?

I bought the Spanish kit even though I have two Telinga parabolic dishes and their stereo mic but they do not work with my iphone.

 

[freedude]

I'm looking for a recommendation as well but not the parabolic dish? Is there a suitable and simpler usb-c plug in mic I can get that is proven to work with Merlin! Thanks!

 

[Ruff-Leg]

I'm looking for a recommendation as well but not the parabolic dish? Is there a suitable and simpler usb-c plug in mic I can get that is proven to work with Merlin! Thanks!

A Røde VideoMic Me-C will plug in to your phone, but will not amplify. Only give you better directionality. You amplify - normalize it's called - in post processing. Follow Merlin's (Cornell's) guidance on preparing your media for upload. I do it all the time, and once you have the workflow down, it's no more difficult than editing a photo.

 

[kb57]

A Røde VideoMic Me-C will plug in to your phone, but will not amplify. Only give you better directionality. You amplify - normalize it's called - in post processing. Follow Merlin's (Cornell's) guidance on preparing your media for upload. I do it all the time, and once you have the workflow down, it's no more difficult than editing a photo.

Interesting, I was thinking of getting the lightning connector version for my iPhone if I can track one down.

Veering off topic somewhat, but the same company that @Elkhornsun recommended for parabolic mics also does a torch that attaches to your binoculars or to the flash connector for your camera. Looks interesting as it does away with the extra pair of hands needed for a torch + binoculars or camera.

BirdLight archivos - Birdfox S.L.

 

[Brad Hacker]

I am very happy with my Røde VideoMic Me, and I'm generally not easily impressed. Although this mic does not have an amplifier, the sound is vastly improved because the dead cat/wind muff kills the wind/footstep noise, and the mic is directional. I can easily carry it and my phone with one hand when using it, and the whole thing fits nicely into my pocket when not in use. Recommended for its functionality, size, and price. Look elsewhere if you want something bigger, fancier, or more $$$/£££

 

[Ruff-Leg]

Interesting, I was thinking of getting the lightning connector version for my iPhone if I can track one down.

Veering off topic somewhat, but the same company that @Elkhornsun recommended for parabolic mics also does a torch that attaches to your binoculars or to the flash connector for your camera. Looks interesting as it does away with the extra pair of hands needed for a torch + binoculars or camera.

BirdLight archivos - Birdfox S.L.

Røde makes an iPhone compatible version of the VideoMicMe as well. Sorry, that may have been what you were referring to.

 

[kb57]

Røde makes an iPhone compatible version of the VideoMicMe as well. Sorry, that may have been what you were referring to.

It was, but it wasn't available on the Apple Store last time I looked, probably because lightning connectors are being phased out in favour of USB-C connection (the VideoMic Me-C+ I think) compatible with later-model phones (mine is a 13 Mini). I've just checked though and can see the lightning version (Me-L) is still available from Røde. I guess I should buy soon though as they'll most likely stop production of the L version eventually.