IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2

There are more than one type of microphone available on the market, which can create high fidelity recordings in sound recording. Apart from the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2, however, most microphones have been designed for use with a complex assortment of audio equipment.

The ideal is to find a professional microphone that can work from a mobile device . This portability should not, however, be delivered at the expense of poor performance in recordings. The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 has been designed to meet both of these requirements, as will be highlighted throughout this detailed guide.

History of the IK Multimedia brand

audio technology company that was founded in Modena, Italy in 1996. The company's first product was a loop station software package called GrooveMaker, which was released in 1998. IK Multimedia released a mastering machine a year later under the name T-RackS.

IK Multimedia stood out from its competitors by creating the first audio interface for electric guitars and basses. This revolutionary product launched in 2010 was called iRig . The march continued its momentum by developing the first amplification and effects system for iOS. The latter was called AmpliTube and was offered for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Designers at IK Multimedia released a portable microphone for iOS devices the following year and called it iRig Mic . The latter benefited from its own application called VocaLive , which was also the first professional voice application for iOS. It also came with a built-in plugin store called AmpliTube Custom Shop.

By the way, you can also check out our review of the t.bone RB 500 . Discover in this guide the overview of the microphone, its directivity, its sound quality, as well as its technical characteristics and our opinion on this microphone.

Introducing the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 Microphone

The iRig Mic HD 2 succeeds the first generation of microphone that IK Multimedia designed for mobile devices . These are more specifically microphones intended for iPhone , iPad and iPod touch . The first model of the iRig Mic HD was itself a successful product in terms of its formula.

Users liked the idea of ​​having professional equipment with which to make quality recordings from their phones. This convenience was provided both by the lightweight design of the device and its optimization for iOS and iPad OS systems.

The concept of the iRig Mic HD first attracted vlog creators and then won the affection of podcast creators . This seems legitimate considering that they could carry out sound recordings at any time without the hassle of additional equipment.

Applications have also been developed around the iRig Mic HD to expand its possibilities in terms of audio processing . The latter was no longer a simple microphone intended for vlogs or interviews. It could indeed be used for quality musical productions.

The engineers at IK Multimedia established a great innovation with this product, but they understood that they could still do better. They have taken the qualities of the original microphone and added them to a more robust model capable of delivering better quality sound . It is with this model that is presented here under the name of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2.

IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 Microphone Overview

It's not uncommon for types of mics with a USB port to not feel like condenser mics at all. Like for example, the Blue microphone Snowball . Its spherical head and very thin body make it look more like a golf ball on a tee than a stereo microphone. This error was not made with the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2.

The elegant and sober design of this microphone from IK Multimedia removes any doubt that it is indeed a condenser microphone model . Its housing is made of sturdy aluminum, which reinforces the impression of solidity when using it. The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 also weighs 325 g for 188 mm long and 49 mm wide, which gives it a pleasant heaviness once in hand.

The microphone controls offered by the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 are quite classic. It has a rotary knob for gain adjustment . Its case also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack which is also associated with a rotary knob to control the volume.

The controls are anchored into the case to give a cleaner design to the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2. It can be difficult to make adjustments on the fly without having long fingernails, however.

Setup can be a major concern when it comes to using a mic in a home studio or recording studio. The iRig Mic HD 2 studio microphone from IK Multimedia has nevertheless been designed for optimal flexibility in installation. This is possible thanks to the tabletop tripod, stand adapter and pop filter that are supplied with this microphone.

The best studio microphone is often designed for monitoring or mixing a sound source with computer software. The iRig Mic HD 2 pro microphone from IK Multimedia has been designed to also support IOS smartphones in processing recordings.

This is possible thanks to the Lightning-type USB cable that comes with it. One end of the cable will plug into a micro-USB port while the other end will connect to the USB port of a PC or Mac.

The USB input is slightly recessed into the body of the mic to give it a firmer look. The technology offered here is not USB-C. The iRig Mic HD 2, however, does not need the speed gain in data transfer that USB-C can provide. We can then understand that the designers equipped it with a basic version of USB technology.

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 can also be connected like any other USB microphone to a computer. In this case, it is recommended to use a USB sound card with the computer. The audio quality is indeed better and the connection possibilities are more extensive.

It should be noted that this microphone works with Windows XP and later versions. Mac users can also use it with a computer equipped with at least Max OSX 10.6 .

This USB microphone from IK Multimedia also has its own preamplifier to boost the electrical signal to the receiving device. However, it is more advantageous to use an external preamp like the DPA-200-USB with this microphone, and especially for connecting to a speaker.

The technology behind the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 microphone

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 is designed with studio equipment in mind. This starts with the fact that it is designed as a condenser microphone and not a dynamic microphone.

Condenser or condenser microphones have a diaphragm like dynamic microphones . This is often made from a layer of very thin metal combined with a metal rear seat. Electricity is injected onto these metal parts to create a static charge .

It is important to point out here that a condenser microphone like the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 therefore requires electricity to operate. The load required for this is between 9 and 48 volts , which can be obtained with batteries or phantom power.

Phantom power can be described as the minimum amount of power the microphone needs to operate. It is common to get this power from an audio interface . A switch button will, if necessary, be activated to deliver phantom power.

Dynamic mics are more advantageous in comparison, as they do not need an external power supply. They operate on the basis of electromagnetic induction. Most dynamic microphones, however, do not have a preamp to reinforce their signal .

It is also difficult not to have noisy recordings when using a dynamic mic. The acoustic pressure exerted on the diaphragm membrane favors sounds at high volume . However, recording at low volume can be useful for capturing vocals or guitar sound.

All condenser mics are best suited for precise capture in a studio . They can indeed record the most delicate or high-pitched sounds.

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2, however, goes further in its design since it is an electret microphone . This is a variation of the electrostatic condenser microphone that does not require a bias power supply to operate. Its membrane is in fact permanently charged.

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 microphone is a unidirectional model with a cardioid polar pattern . This means that sounds are captured towards the front of the mic. This design has the advantage of reducing the occurrence of feedback when using the microphone. A bidirectional design, however, would have been more practical for recording two at a time.

Phone microphones, in comparison, have an omnidirectional polar pattern, meaning they pick up sound from all directions. The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 microphone therefore remains a good choice for protecting the recording from background noise .

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 is additionally equipped with an and D/A converter , as is the case with other USB microphones. This component transforms recorded sounds into a data stream that can be transmitted over a USB cable to a computer. The availability of a Lightning cable also means that information can be transmitted to an iOS device.

Zoom on the sound quality of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2

The unidirectional design of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 means that it changes its low frequency response depending on its distance from a sound source. Recorded sounds are warmer when speaking or singing a few centimeters from the microphone . This proximity is also required to emphasize bass with this microphone.

The sound becomes both clearer and lighter as the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 moves away from the sound source. The ideal in this case is to place the microphone more than 25 centimeters from the source of the sound to be recorded . This requirement, however, only applies to voice. The response of the microphone does not tend to change with musical instruments or other sound sources.

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 reveals all its effectiveness in recording voice and speech. The proximity effect provides more freedom in sound modeling . It is observed in this respect that the voice becomes more present when the microphone is at a distance of 10 to 15 cm from the user. The microphone's internal windscreen also prevents plosives at this distance.

However, the configuration of the acoustic environment cannot be neglected in the success of the recordings . Voice reverberations are reduced more when the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 is used in a room with carpet and curtains. The recording then appears drier, which simplifies its modification on a mixing desk or audio processing software.

Natural reverb can also be achieved by using the mic in a room with glass surfaces , wooden or tiled floors. The resulting sound is pleasant to the ear, but the recording becomes more difficult to process for later mixing.

The technical characteristics of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 delivers a frequency response of 20 Hz for the lowest sounds to 20 kHz for the highest. The frequency response of a microphone indicates its degree of sensitivity to varying frequency values. The most linear form of a frequency response possible is considered the most neutral representation of the original signal.

A shotgun mic like the Rode NTG3 , or a lavalier mic are good examples of microphones with a very linear frequency response . They are often used in a controlled environment such as a small studio. It is also very common to use microphones with a very linear frequency response for streaming or gaming. The goal is to obtain as pure a signal as possible .

It is, however, more desirable to increase the frequency of certain zones to give character to the human voice or musical instrument. This type of modification is possible by using an equalizer with the microphone. Another more conclusive solution is to immediately choose a microphone with the required frequency response value such as the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2.

Bandwidth is not to be considered in this context. It represents the frequency range in which its sensitivity does not fall below 3 dB for 1 kHz . The frequency range should indicate in what frequency width the microphone delivers quality sound.

However, the measurement of the transmission range is carried out in the plane sound wave . There are no reflections or proximity effects. In this case we also speak of a free sound field.

These measurements are thus carried out under the conditions of a controlled laboratory, which is not relevant for practice. It is then more judicious to refer to the frequency response diagram of the microphone. The typical transmission range of a microphone is between 40 Hz and 18,000 Hz .

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 microphone completes its wide frequency response band with a sensitivity of -40 dB at 10 mV/Pa . The sensitivity of a microphone is not only due to the design of the transducer. It is also defined by the size of the membrane of this microphone. Sensitivity increases as the membrane is larger.

The typical sensitivity value of a condenser microphone is 21 mV/Pa for a frequency of 1 kHz , as on the Sennheiser MKE 600. Dynamic microphones tend to have an average sensitivity of 2 mV/Pa .

The maximum sound pressure of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 has been set at 125 dB . The sound pressure limit is the sound pressure level above which the harmonic distortion of a microphone is greater than 0.5% . It is measured on a sound of 1 kHz at 1 m distance .

The sound pressure limit for condenser microphones is often between 130 and 150 dB SPL . However, it is important to look at the reference values ​​provided by the manufacturer here. Many manufacturers do not assume a harmonic distortion of 0.5%, but rather 1%. Sound pressure levels are then higher than they are supposed to be.

The indication of a sound pressure limit is also more relevant for condenser microphones than dynamic microphones. Dynamic mics have a heavier diaphragm and lower sensitivity than condenser mics. They can then withstand sound pressure values ​​so high that they are no longer indicated in practice.

The impedance of the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 is not listed in its specifications. However, it is a recurring factor in the performance of a microphone. Impedance is measured in ohms like resistance. It is also defined as the resistance of an electrical circuit to alternating current.

Audio signals constitute alternating current since they have negative and positive voltages. The latter correspond respectively to the positive and negative amplitude of the signal . The impedance of a microphone controls the flow of alternating current in an audio circuit when a voltage is applied to the signal. All microphones therefore have an output impedance.

A microphone generates an electrical circuit with the preamplifier or other audio circuit to which it is connected. The receiving device has an input impedance or load impedance of the microphone. The microphone output impedance must match a fraction of the preamplifier input impedance for the circuit to work.

The higher the impedance of a microphone, the more susceptible it is to interference and signal loss in the cable . A few extra decibels of volume can also be lost in the mix depending on the preamplifier input. The volume lost during mixing can reach 6 dB if the microphone impedance is as high as the preamplifier input.

Most modern microphones are low impedance (as in the case of the Royer Labs R-122 MkII microphone ), which corresponds to a value of 50 and 600 ohms . Microphone preamplifiers have an input impedance defined around 2000 ohms . The impedance of the microphone should always be lower than that of the preamplifier so that signal losses are minimal.

Digital microphones may , however, be an exception to the common impedance rules. It is not uncommon to see impedance values ​​above 2000 ohms in specifications for USB powered microphones. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless and Corsair Virtuosos are good examples with output impedances of 2200 ohms .

The fact that these microphones have such high impedance values ​​does not mean that they are of poor quality. Digital microphones often have their own preamp, as is the case with IK Multimedia's iRig Mic HD 2. These preamps can set a higher impedance value . It is much more alarming to find such values ​​in an analog microphone.

Our opinion on the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 microphone

The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD2 overall presents itself as the ideal choice for those who want to buy a mic suitable for a mobile device. It's rare to find a microphone that is optimized to work with iOS through a Lightning cable connection.

The conveniences provided by this USB microphone from IK Multimedia do not come at the expense of poor recording performance. Electret technology combined with gain and volume control allows the microphone to deliver optimal sound for demanding audiophiles.

USB power supply and the integrated preamplifier also allow the IK Multimedia iRig HD 2 to establish itself as a worthy competitor to the best USB microphones on the market. This includes the Rode NT USB, the Blue Yeti, the SE Electronics SEE-X1 or the Neumann TLM 102.

IK Multimedia has also been very generous with the array of accessories that come with the iRig Mic HD 2. The mic can be installed right out of the box due to all the mounts it comes with. It also comes with its own bag for easy transport. Its price is certainly a little high, but it is always possible to get special offers from IK Multimedia.

IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 Demo

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