Microphone

Companies have tried just about everything to come up with different themes for the ubiquitous iPod dock, whether they be inspired by Legos or bathtub suds. But unlike so many others, Alesis has come up with a combo function that may actually be useful.

Its "ProTrack" is a handheld dock with two built-in condenser microphones that record directly to the media player. Rather than a separate unit that might pull the iPod off the table by an attached plug, the ProTrack is designed to secure the player firmly in its grasp no matter how carried away you might … Read more

At first glance the "Snowflake" looked more like something you'd find on a kitchen counter than the desktop, maybe a small strainer or cheese grater. But it's actually a plug-and-play USB microphone that's touted as having professional quality.

Its most noticeable feature, however, is a tiny size that makes it extremely portable. The mic can be unfolded and clipped onto a laptop like a portable Webcam, according to Coolest-Gadgets, then retract back into its compact case when not in use.

We're exactly not sure who would need something like this unless it's used … Read more

Talk about a bad case of cell phone addiction. Chinavasion describes this as the ultimate hands-free device, and for good reason: It's a tiny microphone designed to be embedded in the teeth.

If we weren't told otherwise, we'd swear this was an April Fool's prank. But the "Bluetooth Dentacom" is apparently for real, a "composite resin filling" that will "pick up sound and vibrations from your mouth to produce incredibly clear sound," according to GeekAlerts.

But take note of the distributor's advice: "All dental work should be performed … Read more

This is one of those gadgets that has Maxwell Smart written all over it. With all the mouse phones available today--or even keyboard phones, for that matter--it's beyond us why anyone would want this silly-looking model with a microphone sticking out of it like a mutant appendage. Its saving grace, if it can be called that, is that it costs only $16, according to SlashGear. But we'd just as soon use the money to make a regular cell call.

Last week I had the opportunity to watch an experienced producer do the initial miking to record a traditional rock band in a more-or-less live setting--two guitars, bass, and drums, recorded simultaneously. (Vocals are almost always overdubbed later, even in this kind of set-up. This band was also adding keyboards later.) I've been on the other side many times as a bass player, but this is the first time the producer asked me for my opinions, then explained why he was placing the mikes where he was.

Now, entire books could be (and have been) filled with advice on … Read more

Last night, my audio production class took a field trip to local studio Glenn Sound for a brief introduction to miking technique: which microhpones to use for a particular sound, where and how to place them, and so on. It wasn't completely foreign to me--I've recorded in probably a dozen studios, but always on the clock and paying by the hour, and audio engineers tend to shrug off poorly-phrased technical questions in favor of showing you the end result.

One of the demonstrations showed us how different distances between microphone and source can give you different sounds. Most … Read more

Pro-audio manufacturer M-Audio has unveiled a new $99 vocal recording package called Session Music Producer. Unlike their previous podcaster-targeted product, Podcast Factory, the Session Music Producer bundle consolidates the microphone and computer audio card into a single, idiot-proof USB microphone appropriately named the Producer USB. If nothing else, the sheer magnitude of M-Audio's 16mm cardioid capsule Producer microphone (see photo) will intimidate rival podcasters into submission.

Beyond its monolithic size and inexpensive price, there are two factors to the Session Music Producer bundle that are worth noting. First off, it comes bundled with M-Audio's capable Session multitrack recording … Read more

One of the little-mentioned aspects of the iPhone is its recessed headphone plug, liable to render some earphones incompatible. If you've invested in a sweet pair of high-end headphones or earphones for your iPod, and you're feeling a little iffy about the iPhone sending you back to the stock Apple "mug me" earbuds, then Shure's new Music Phone Adapter might be just the thing. It's a cable adapter with a built-in microphone and a control button, allowing your existing set of earphones to be adapted for the iPhone. The product, to retail for $39.… Read more