How to Get Best Sound Quality From iPhone Microphone
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If purchasing an external microphone for your iPhone is out of the picture, then it’s still possible for you to record high-quality audio using your iPhone microphone. In this guide, we will explain how you can the best sound quality from your iPhone microphone and improve your audio recordings.
Why Does My iPhone Microphone’s Audio Quality Sound Bad?
One of the fears of iPhone users is to have their Apple devices broken and in need of replacement. One reason that would push a user to purchase a new iPhone is due to a faulty microphone after hearing the quality of their audio recordings. Before deciding to replace or get your iPhone repaired, first check out these possible reasons why the audio on your iPhone sounds poor.
Blocked Microphone
If the audio recording of your iPhone sounds muffled or muted, then there may be an external object blocking the microphone. If you’re using a protective case for your iPhone device, then make sure that it is not blocking the microphone. This can cause your audio recordings to sound muted.
If you place your iPhone on a stand while you record audio or videos, then make sure that the stand is also not blocking the microphone. Check as well if the mic of your iPhone is positioned properly in such a way that no other external objective can block it.
If you tend to hold on to your iPhone device while recording a video or audio, then see to it that your hand is not blocking the mic. This is a common issue, especially when one is in the middle of FaceTime video calls or phone calls.
Dirty Microphone
Similar to how your mic can be blocked by an external object, it can also be dirty enough to make the audio on your iPhone sound poor. Check if your iPhone’s mic is clean and free of any dirt. Pieces of dust, dander, or sand can affect the quality of your audio recording.
If this happens, simply give the mic a good clean. You can blow on it, use a piece of cloth, or give it a swipe using a cue tip. Giving it a clean will make a huge difference in both the sound quality of your iPhone’s audio recordings and overall cleanliness. While you’re at it, you can also clean out the speakers and switch buttons of your iPhone.
Connected to Another Device
There are times when a user is not aware that the iPhone is connected to another main sound source or Bluetooth device. This happens since an iPhone would sometimes automatically connect to the speakers or when a lightning connector is plugged into another device.
When this happens, the audio recording of the iPhone will sound poor or you may not be able to start recording at all. At the receiving end, a person may not be able to hear you properly. To avoid this from happening, check if you’re connected to any Bluetooth device by opening your Settings and going to Control Center. If you are connected to another device, then simply toggle it off.
Blocked Microphone Permissions
If you plan on using a recording app or opening an app wherein voice functions are needed, then make sure that you granted permission for your mic to be connected. There are times that a user will forget that they have declined permission for the app to use the iPhone mic. When this happens, then you will not be able to record at all.
To remedy this, open the Settings of your iPhone and look for the app you plan on using. Open that app’s settings and enable the mic option. Once you have fixed the settings of your app, then you should be able to record audio and your voice using it.
Damaged Microphone
If none of the aforementioned reasons apply to you, then perhaps your iPhone’s mic is damaged. iPhone microphones can be damaged if the device has been dropped, submerged in water for long (without it getting dried), or if nicked. You will also know if your iPhone’s mic is damaged if the audio recordings sound distorted. If this happens, then it’s best to get your iPhone repaired by a professional rather than performing DIY hacks so as not to damage it further.
How Can I Make My iPhone Record High-Quality Audio?
To set expectations straight, using an external microphone is still the best way to ensure high-quality sound recordings using your iPhone. External microphones are designed and built to help you record studio-quality sound recordings as they have more features that will allow you to do so. Plus these external microphones will give you more control on how to enhance recordings with or without third-party apps.
However, when used and optimized properly, an iPhone can still give you pretty decent audio quality. Here are some iPhone tips for better-quality audio recordings.
Optimal Placement and Position
Point your iPhone’s microphone toward the sound source you want it to record. Your iPhone is like a voice recorder wherein you will need to direct the mic to the speaker or source. The microphone of an iPhone can be found at the bottom of your iPhone so direct it accordingly when recording audio.
Make sure to also give the iPhone ample distance from the source. Otherwise, the voice or audio recorded can sound too loud. Having the mic too close to the speaker or sound source can also in a recording wherein noise can be heard. Monitor your recorded audio by using headphones while listening to the playback. If the recorded audio is less than desirable, then adjust accordingly.
Lastly, make sure that the place where you record audio is free of background noise. Choose a quiet space where you do your recording so your voice can be heard clearly.
Mute iPhone
To prevent any interruptions from happening while recording, then you should mute your iPhone or turn on airplane mode during a session. By doing so, you are assured that no phone notifications will pop out while you’re recording a video or audio.
You can put your iPhone on silent mode by toggling the switch found on the side of the phone. You will know it’s on mute if you see a slightly orange strip when the switch is pushed down.
In case you want to completely block out any notifications and phone calls while you’re in the middle of a recording session, then you can opt to go on airplane mode. You can turn this on by accessing your iPhone’s control center from your home screen and tapping on the Airplane Mode icon. You will know it’s activated when the icon becomes orange. Alternatively, you can also swipe your phone’s screen from the top right corner to access the control center.
Use an App
One sure way to enhance recording one’s voice, music, or audio is by using another app. If you do not want to download an app, then you can make use of your iPhone’s built-in Voice Memos App. While it may not give you studio recording quality, it will still help you reduce any echo and background noise to its best capacity.
The Voice Memos App of Apple has a feature conveniently called ‘Enhance Recording’, which will help you improve the sound quality of your recordings. Here’s how to apply this feature:
- Select Voice Memos in your list of apps.
- In Voice Memos, tap on ‘Recording’.
- Open the ‘Options’ button.
- Toggle on ‘Enhance Recording’.
However, the Voice Memos app will still have its limitations as an audio editor and enhancer. With that said, you can try using another audio app aside from Voice Memos for good audio, voice, and music recording.
There are plenty of apps to choose from such as the Voice Record Pro and Dolby On. With plenty of features that allow you to apply and adjust noise reduction, volume maximization, and more, these apps can act as your very own portable microphone all within the confines of your iPhone.
Invest in Phone Audio Recording Accessories
Maximize your iPhone and change the way you record audio by investing in a few recording accessories.
If you tend to hear a bit of wind noise in your recording, then you may consider purchasing a windscreen or pop filter for your mic. A smartphone windscreen or pop filter will look like a sponge or fluffy cover that will be placed on the base of your iPhone. These accessories can lessen the plosives you hear coming from your voice when the mouth is too near the mic. For convenience, look for accessories that can be plugged straight into the lightning port of your iPhone.
You can also purchase headphones with a mic. This will lessen the unwanted sounds and background noise that can be picked up in your recording. There are also headphone mics that are Apple MFI certified and are USB-C to lightning port and cable compatible, which will make it more convenient for you to use and plug in directly.
How Do I Change the Microphone Settings On My iPhone?
Changing the mic settings of your iPhone can also help in enhancing the quality of your sound recordings. The Lossless audio feature of an iPhone can help in avoiding file compression from happening. This feature will also help prevent your recording to take up valuable space on your iPhone’s storage while retaining high-quality recordings.
Only iPhones with the latest iOS update will have the Lossless feature. Once you are sure that your iPhone’s iOS is updated, you can do the following steps to activate the Lossless feature in your Voice Memo:
- Open ‘Settings’.
- Select ‘Voice Memos’.
- Select ‘Audio Quality.
- Tap on ‘Lossless’.
Final Note
Using your iPhone is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to record any audio and voice recordings. Thanks to modern technologies, a good mic is already built-in on your iPhone making it possible to carry an ‘external microphone’ with you no matter where you go. However, one cannot expect studio-recording quality. By following these tips and steps, the quality of your recordings can make all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the frequency response of an iPhone microphone?
A typical smartphone mic operates at a frequency response of 300Hz to 3.4kHz.
