Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

I had a small non-paying gig the other day and had a need for a wireless microphone solution but had no wireless microphone, so as I thought things out I realized I had a solution with me already. I realize this is not the ultimate solution for every need but in a pinch it did quite will and all needs were satisfied. Here's my little video explanation with a small touch of sarcasm for added measure. All in good fun , So i hope this helps someone without a wireless mic and maybe those with no budget.

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Well done..... It's often the simplest of solutions that get overlooked. AAA+++

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Great idea!

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Valid solution, often tough to strap a cell phone into someone's chest though ;)
I have debated running a headphone amp and a cheap wired lav into my iphone in someone's pocket, maybe I'll film that testl tomorrow...

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Yes, that is one of the options I covered in my summary of different audio techniques,
including their advantages and disadvantages..

Audio for Video Options

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

There have been so many weather catastrophes in the last couple of years, so I am not sure which event it was, but it was after a cyclone hit the Queensland coast north of Brisbane, and the area was all but inaccessible to news teams. The front line team was chasing the worst of it with a live link to the studio using an iPhone via Skype. The cameraman was obviously holding the iPhone, but the talent had a mic hardwired to the iPhone.

Picture quality was not the best, but the sound quality was really quite acceptable, and they were the only team getting live footage at that time.

I’ve often wondered how well an iPhone iPod etc. would do as an off camera recorder connected to a half decent microphone. Way better than trying to use the built in mic on a DSLR, that’s for damn sure.

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

I love the dry humor....great job! I must have missed an ash falling off the cigarette but I was waiting for it?

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Did I miss it in the video? What recorder app are you using, Martin?

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Here's a good one for Android, search
Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (Full) Yuku

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

As a side note I just made up some cables to allow me to use my i-phone 4S as a four wire device or plug a mic into it for recording etc:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psfb69b3cb.jpg
I bought a 1 metre 4-pin to 4-pin cable for $2.50 and cut it in half, I then soldered a couple of XLR's on each end giving me two interface cables, note the IFB is the headphone outputs in mono!

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Gary, can you remember the pin connections? Got to make one for my news / live link kit.

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

Yes as it's all unbalanced it's pin 3 earth -ve and pin 2 hot +ve on the XLR's.

3.5mm jack is:

1 (tip): audio out right
2:(ring1) audio out left
3:(ring2) earth
4:(ring3) mic in

Hope this helps.

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

I have a couple of the android apps, the one I used was Hi-Q MP3 the free version If I remember allows 10 minutes recording, but no worry there are lots more free apps that do well, I just wanted a audio file that I could import into vegas afterwards, some of them allow you to Email the mp3 to yourself then you can get access very quickly once ack you your computer rather than some tricky file transfer from phone to computer.

Re: Wireless Microphone Solution on the cheap.
 

First thing I did after reading Gary's post was go looking for the pinouts. This site seems to cover a bunch of options:

Universal Headset/Earphone 3.5mm Jack pinout and wiring @ pinoutsguide.com