I want to improve audio recording on my cell phone

[Tazim Duvalle]

Greetings to each one. I'm new here. I'm from Brazil, I used Google Translate. I don't play professionally. I have a YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@tazimduvalle?si=g2AcNN7Cokj51EGx) where I post sacred hymns and only use my cell phone to capture the sound. I would like a low-cost suggestion to improve audio capture. Thank you in advance!

 

[debra]

The lowest cost solution is to turn off AGC on the phone. (AGC = automatic gain control)
Almost everyone who posts videos or audio recorded with a phone generates sound that is 1) way too loud (i.e. clipping) and 2) has both pianissimo and forte and everything in between sound equally loud. When you turn off AGC the sound suddenly becomes a lot better, but you have to set the recording volume manually.

 

[Tom]

Olá Tazim! Nice channel, parabéns. Are you using an external microphone for your recordings? If not, it’s a solution that might help. I know that using a microphone with my computer improves the sound, and may help with your cellphone also. Also, there may be a dedicated recording app that will help. An app may give you more control than just your phone. Anyway, I think your sound is pretty good. Good luck!

 

[JerryPH]

There is one way to REALLY improve your audio and take it to the next level, and that is to add a cheap audio adapter and some external mics and pipe that in to your cell phone, the differences can be astounding and take it up several levels.

Here is an example of what you can expect:


Now, in this setup, I use wireless, and this may or may not be something that you want, but the rest of the ideas here can really take your sound quality and raise it a lot.

I've since changed the Apple connector to a simple wire that does the same thing and it works really well. And, there are many new VERY low cost audio interfaces available now LIKE THIS ONE, for example. Throw in some cables and affordable mics and you have an excellent audio setup that you can pretty much do some really good things with.

Cell phones have really improved the video side, but the one thing that they cannot improve much on is audio quality, but using this setup you can do some amazing things!

 

[saundersbp]

There is one way to REALLY improve your audio and take it to the next level, and that is to add a cheap audio adapter and some external mics and pipe that in to your cell phone, the differences can be astounding and take it up several levels.

Thanks Jerry, that is really interesting. Would all the bits of kit you have linked work for an android phone please as I have an i-allergy?

 

[Ffingers]

Thanks Jerry, that is really interesting. Would all the bits of kit you have linked work for an android phone please as I have an i-allergy?

i-allergy?
Or simply the Yorkie’s traditional short arms with deep pockets?

 

[JerryPH]

Thanks Jerry, that is really interesting. Would all the bits of kit you have linked work for an android phone please as I have an i-allergy?

Quick answer... yes.

Extended answer: I like iPads simply because there is no equal on the Apple side, however I am not a fan of iPhones (been there done that), I am a Samsung S21 Ultra user. I think I even mention that in the video at least 1-2 times. And you do NOT really need the Apple adapter. I can now connect my Galaxy S21 Ultra to the audio interface using a simple USB-C to mini-USB connector.

 

[saundersbp]

Quick answer... yes.

Thank you very much. I think I'll give it a try if you can get those specific Amazon bits in the UK

 

[JerryPH]

Thank you very much. I think I'll give it a try if you can get those specific Amazon bits in the UK

Really all you need is a USB powered audio interface... make sure you can get it to record to at least 48k. If you want to spend a bit more getting one that gets to 96k would be a little improvement. Lower end mics CAN and WILL do the job but you will need to spend more time in post process to make it sound good.

Now if you want to get excellent quality without breaking the bank look for Neewer NW-410 mics. They come in matched pairs and also come with 3 different head capsules (Cardioid, Hyper Cardioid and Omni), and those are around $100 (I see a set for $97 CAN, which is around $75US, an amazing deal for what they are!).

With a 96k recording capabilities and these mics, honestly, you would need to have the ears of a trained dog audio engineer to tell the differences between a home and studio recording in the right circumstances!

 

[saundersbp]

With a 96k recording capabilities and these mics, honestly, you would need to have the ears of a trained dog audio engineer to tell the differences between a home and studio recording in the right circumstances!

Thanks again Jerry, that's really helpful and something I will get around to sorting as soon as work calms down. I have a window for myself in July 2028 but hopefully before then!

 

[JerryPH]

Thanks again Jerry, that's really helpful and something I will get around to sorting as soon as work calms down. I have a window for myself in July 2028 but hopefully before then!

I know EXACTLY what you mean. Fortunately, my window is a little earlier (I think!), as I *plan* to retire in 2026.

 

[Ric46]

There is one way to REALLY improve your audio and take it to the next level, and that is to add a cheap audio adapter and some external mics and pipe that in to your cell phone, the differences can be astounding and take it up several levels.

Here is an example of what you can expect:


Now, in this setup, I use wireless, and this may or may not be something that you want, but the rest of the ideas here can really take your sound quality and raise it a lot.

I've since changed the Apple connector to a simple wire that does the same thing and it works really well. And, there are many new VERY low cost audio interfaces available now LIKE THIS ONE, for example. Throw in some cables and affordable mics and you have an excellent audio setup that you can pretty much do some really good things with.

Cell phones have really improved the video side, but the one thing that they cannot improve much on is audio quality, but using this setup you can do some amazing things!

as I have already written in the other post in my experience a Zoom H1 eventually costs less, or the same, and works better. Reliable, easy to adjust, records stereo (2microphones) .wav format, no searching for apps etc.

 

[JerryPH]

as I have already written in the other post in my experience a Zoom H1 eventually costs less, or the same, and works better. Reliable, easy to adjust, records stereo (2microphones) .wav format, no searching for apps etc.

Like onions there are different layers to everything.
It all depends on one's goals and of course the budget.

The biggest advantage of the Zoom H1 is cost, but the compromise is the lower quality preamps and singular limitation to where you can place the fixed microphones, no ability to use external XLR microphones and no 48-volt phantom power.

 

[Rosie C]

as I have already written in the other post in my experience a Zoom H1 eventually costs less, or the same, and works better. Reliable, easy to adjust, records stereo (2microphones) .wav format, no searching for apps etc.

& an added bonus of using a recorder is the phone is free for playing a click track for multi-tracking.

The biggest advantage of the Zoom H1 is cost, but the compromise is the lower quality preamps and singular limitation to where you can place the fixed microphones, no ability to use external XLR microphones and no 48-volt phantom power.

I have a Tascam DR40X, it was a little more expensive, but as you say it has the stereo built-in mics and powered XLR sockets. I've recorded our community music group a couple of times with the Tascam in the centre on a tripod, and external mics to the far left and far right of the group. The only quibble I'd have is it isn't really 4-track, but lays down two stereo .wav files.

 

[JerryPH]

& an added bonus of using a recorder is the phone is free for playing a click track for multi-tracking.

Ahh... multitracking... THAT is totally another layer of that musical onion!
That can be split up in to 3 categories in and of itself:

1. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks
2. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks and a single video compilation
3. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks and multiple videos (multicam) compilation

Every time we peel off a layer, it usually gets more complex and generally more expensive hardware/software is required to accomplish.

 

[Rosie C]

Ahh... multitracking... THAT is totally another layer of that musical onion!
That can be split up in to 3 categories in and of itself:

1. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks
2. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks and a single video compilation
3. A singular music file compiled of multiple tracks and multiple videos (multicam) compilation

Every time we peel off a layer, it usually gets more complex and generally more expensive hardware/software is required to accomplish.

So far we've tended to do option #1, recording with my Tascam or my desktop Mac. We struggled until a friend who plays in a worship band shared how their click tracks work - not just a click but also a disembodied voice announcing and counting in each section of the song e.g. "Chorus in 2, 3, 4..." etc. so easy to keep your place.

I have taken video with my iPad but some of the songs we do are covers and I've not worked through the legalities for that on YouTube. But it would be good to do sometime.

 

[JerryPH]

I have taken video with my iPad but some of the songs we do are covers and I've not worked through the legalities for that on YouTube. But it would be good to do sometime.

That one is fairly easy. If it is a recent song with a copyright and the owner of the copyright sees it on YouTube (during the verification process, YouTube does the initial checking/verification/alerting), they have 2 choices, stamp it with a copyright hit and grant permission for it to stay or stamp it with a copyright hit and demand it be removed or move to legal action and request that YouTube remove the video from public view after they have proven their claim is legit to YouTube.

 

[Rosie C]

That one is fairly easy. If it is a recent song with a copyright and the owner of the copyright sees it on YouTube (during the verification process, YouTube does the initial checking/verification/alerting), they have 2 choices, stamp it with a copyright hit and grant permission for it to stay or stamp it with a copyright hit and demand it be removed or move to legal action and request that YouTube remove the video from public view after they have proven their claim is legit to YouTube.

I watched a video by Mary Spender - she did a cover of Dire Straits "Sultan's of Swing" - and she said when you upload there was an option to declare it was someone else's copyright up front and then you have a fair chance of getting a "revenue share". But other people (including you) have said differently. Yet her video is up and she claims to have received a lot of shared revenue from it. I also see David Bennett skirting around copyright having Beatles songs re-recorded by a session band, but then Rick Beato's channel nearly being deleted because he played someone's song and they didn't like it. It all sounds like a lot of hassle!

 

[Ventura]

and that, sort of but waaaaaay back, was a reason for the original "Real book"
jazz fake book in which pretty much every song is a Jazz version of something
that is coyrighted but looooosened up to the progression with a jazzy lead line
and named something way out that has no suggestion or connection to the
actual song under copyright that y'all are jazzing up

 

[Ric46]

Like onions there are different layers to everything.
It all depends on one's goals and of course the budget.

I play, and record, drums, which is a very different instrument both in volume and in wider reproduced frequencies. Certainly there are "different layers" but if I want to record something at a "higher" layer I use instruments on purpose. However, I would be curious to compare a recording between the cell phone method and a recorder like Zoom basic level.