audio – Tech Raman

Sennheiser ClipMic digital Review | For the iPeople

Lakshmi Rajan — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 09:50:32 +0000

The Clip Mic Digital was created in conjunction with Apogee technology. Apogee delivers technology into this product that coverts the signal for the tiny microphone. Its sampling frequency is 96 kHz with a 24-bit resolution, which surpasses CD quality and most mobile recording technologies.

What’s included

ClipMic digital (Sennheiser ME 2 microphone)
Windscreen
Clip
Carrying pouch
Quick Start guide

Hardware

First thing I would suggest upon unboxing is to add the small wind screen to the head of the microphone, trust me its a must do. This minuscule wind screen reduces wind noise up to 20 dB and it makes a good difference to the audio quality especially when shooting outdoor. The clip of course has to be added too to work as a proper lavalier mic. The clip can attach to your shirt, I prefer to route the cable underneath your shirt unless you are interviewing someone in that case obviously you would be holding it on hand. That’s it connect the ClipMic’s lighting connector to your iPhone and you are good to go. I had always liked the Sennheiser ME 2 Lavalier microphone, its a classic product and ClipMic actually uses it. Being custom made for iPhone, it’s relieved of the 3.5mm jack and goes in for the lightning connector which makes this product non-compatible outside apple eco system. The cable is pretty long which works well for most use. The build quality is good too.

APP – Getting Connected

Before you start firing your recordings, you need to download the free MetaRecorder app by Apogee. Of course, it works with just about any iOS app and replaces the built-in microphone of your device once connected but the MetaRecorder app makes a difference. It’s custom build for iPhone and has tons of features to bring out the best of the audio and also easy to use. Highlights of the Apogee app:

Mono or Stereo audio recording, WAV. or CAF format, up to 96kHz 24-bit resolution
Intuitive multi-Take recording and audition
Master-Satellite Link of up to 4 iOS devices, all controlled from a single Master device
Integration with Apogee audio interfaces, Sennheiser ClipMic digital and MKE 2 digital
Metadata capture and export to Final Cut Pro XML format
Share via Dropbox, AirDrop, Email, Message and iTunes File Sharing
Offers Apple Watch App
Unlimited Single-device and Multi-Device recording in-app purchases available. For a limited time, unlock Single-device unlimited recording by connecting a compatible Apogee or Sennheiser interface

It also has Apple Watch remote control to start and end the recording which makes it really a breeze to use the mic plus multi-device synchronization. There are also extra bits like tweaking the sound of the clipMic, hiss reduction etc. Even though the Clip Mic Digital works seamlessly with iOS technology, you must still download an app to enable the microphone. Apogee Maestro and Apogee MetaRecorder are both free to download and they both instantly recognize the microphone.

Performance

I tried the mic in mix scenarios and the results were impressive. It’s easy to use and sound quality is great. The app integration is neat and user-friendly. The ClipMic is great for interviews on the go, vlogging. It’s compact and can be sneaked easily in your pockets.

Verdict

If you are tied up with an iPhone, the Sennheiser ClipMic digital is a great accompaniment for your audio recordings.]]>

Zebronics adds 4 new models to its 5.1 Sound Monsters, aimed at party lovers

Lakshmi Rajan — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 10:03:24 +0000

ZEB-SW8590RUCF, ZEB-SW8580RUCF, ZEB-SW8570RUCF and ZEB-SW8530RUCF. All these new models are designed with down-firing subwoofers. In case you wonder what those are? Here is a quick brief. The subwoofer are designed to reproduce the lowest of audible frequencies. They can be either mounted on on the system as front-firing or down-firing. Down-firing radiates the sound frequency downward, towards the floor. When the speakers are kept on concrete floor or wooden base, they give a better bass effect. Well, at least technically it is supposed to but then there are various other variables and factors that determine the acoustics of your room. Coming back to Zebronics, these new speakers come with 5 satellite units and 1 sub woofer of 100W RMS. The speakers are attractively designed for home decor and gives a rich surround sound. The speakers support SD memory card and USB drives and also has FM Radio. There is a LED Display and the speaker system comes with a remote control. [gallery link="file" columns="4" ids="6721,6720,6719,6718"]

Zebronics 5.1 Sound Monsters specifications

Output Power : 40W+12W x 5
Voltage : AC220V -240V 50/60Hz
Frequency response : 40Hz-20KHz
S/N ratio : ≥80dB
Separation : ≥45dB
Subwoofer driver unit : 6.5″
Satellite driver unit : 3″ x 5
Woofer size :170 x 318 x 355 mm
Satellite size :110 x 200 x 122 mm

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Personalise your audio with Samsung Galaxy S4 Adapt sound – review

Lakshmi Rajan — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:05:41 +0000

Frankly I though Adapt Sound would be a nothing else but a gimmick feature in the latest flagship Galaxy, Samung Galaxy S4. I was surprised after testing it out.. The little feature sitting unassumingly at the bottom of the sound setting is brilliant stuff. Not everyone hears the same nuances of audio. Each one’s sensory ability varies but your headset probably doesn’t know it. Audio headset manufacturers factory fit the head-gears adjust the audio signals receiver and balance as per the median consumer data. Some devices do allow to manually adjust the audio balance for each ear but again not all phones allow that and even if your phone does chances are you can’t get the correct setting on your own. Enter Samsung with it’s Adapt Sound for SGS4 and you get customized-for-you audio quality based on your hearing and the headset you use and all done automatically. Sounds music to ears, agree? To access the feature, head to Settings > My Device > Sound > Adapt Sound Now look out for a quiet room to run the test. It is very important you run this test in a room with no external disturbance. Once you are settled in the room, plugin your headset, hit start. Once you press start, you will be exposed to various beeps played at different frequencies. If you hear the beep even faintest, press ‘yes’ else tap ‘no’, if you don’t hear anything. Don’t fret, if you don’t hear some of the beep, it’s quiet natural. The result depends on your own hearing and on the headphones being used. The test also takes into account the left and right ears by playing test tones separately with the respective audio channels. At the fag end of the test you will be asked to choose which ear you most use while attending calls to enhance the in-call audio quality. Sweet surprise here. The Adapt Sound feature not just adapts the music tailor-made for you but also works on enhancing the quality of in-call audio. Tap ‘done’ and your personalized music is served for you. You can test it too by hearing the original and the personalised music. Trust me you can make out the subtle differences. Don’t forget to run the test again through when you change to a new headset. Adapt Sound is an interesting, cool feature that seem to deliver what it claims that is giving you a personlised music experience. If you own a Galaxy S4 and a music lover, I strongly recommend to run this test.]]>