Movo DoubleMic-DI Dual Capsule Microphone for iPhone

Eleven

August 7, 2022

Works but is limiting...

I've been playing around with this mic for a little while now and testing it on both my iPhone 13 Pro Max and iPad 11 Pro (2nd Gen) and in different environments to see how it performs and I don't hate it, but I wouldn't say I love it either. Disclaimer: I am not an audio professional. I have tried a few different types of mics but I mainly use them for vlogging purposes.

Pros -

- Compact/Easy to Travel with. Everything you need for the mic comes in a hard shell carrying case that isn't heavy or takes up a lot of room in a bag.

- The microphone feels sturdy and reliable/high-quality. I dropped my phone with the mic attached and the mic did not break or chip and it still works perfectly fine.

- Easy and quick to use, ideal set-up for beginners. You literally just plug it in and it's ready to go.

- Does not require a dongle to use or an external power source. No prior charging required.

- Comes with both a foam and furry windscreen for each side of the mic so you can use in various indoor and outdoor conditions. All 4 windscreens fit nicely in the carrying case along with the mic.

- Does not require you to download or use through an app.

- Convenient/non-invasive to your interviewee. This mic eliminates you having to place a lavalier mic on their person or asking them hold a mic for any period of time.

Cons -

- Even with the windscreens on the mic picks up a lot of background noise in both directions.

- To avoid a lot of background noise AND to get clear/crisp audio in both directions, you have to be closer to the mic but not TOO close bc you don't want the sound to be extorted either. It takes some time to find the right distance or positioning of the mic/phone/iPad and the person(s) which could be problematic in some settings/situations.

- No matter how I used the mic or what environment I was in, I still had to edit the audio in post-production (which is NOT fun IMO).

- Even though the mic doesn't require an external power source or a charge prior to use, because your iPhone/iPad will be in use and recording for X amount of time, it is likely that you will need to charge them at some point and with the mic using the same port you need to charge the device, you could find yourself in quite the pickle. If you have an iPhone 12-13, you can use a MagSafe charger but that's not an option for the iPad (that I know of). If you're recording on an iPad and you start to lose battery, you might have to stop the interview or whatever you're doing which is certainly not ideal.

- The price point is on the higher side compared to other mics on the market.

Overall, I think the mic is simply OK. I like that it is easy to travel with and has convenient capabilities, but I don't like the price point, especially with the problems you could run into if/when using for a long period of time. I think it will ultimately depend on if you are a beginner vs. expert at recording/audio knowledge, what you are using the mic for, what types of environments you will be using it in, and if you are going to be traveling (flying specifically) that will determine if this mic will work for you.

Amy G.

June 30, 2022

Works Well if You Stand Close Enough

I make spokesperson videos, and bought this mic to try to improve the audio quality.

Some features I like about it are that you can use headphones to hear the audio quality and changes in real time, you can add or reduce 5db of level, it comes with furry and regular covers/pop filters, and it has front and back mic.

I found that if I stand very close to the microphone it does make a difference in audio quality compared to the iPhone, however if I stand a couple feet away, I prefer the iPhone mic, which is a little louder. I ended up getting a lapel mic for my videos which picked up my voice better and reduced the background noise of my room more.

I do like that this mic doesn’t require Bluetooth or apps. You can just plug it in and use it! It also has a nice carrying case. I think whether or not to get it depends on what you need it for. If you will close to the mic and need the front and back option, it could be a good choice.

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Gary Zenker

May 20, 2022

A solution for recording in two directions but a bit too much background sound

Sound quality has a lot to do with the type of microphone(s) you use, their placement, noise reduction built-in, and your environment. Many people just use the microphone built into their iPhones or iPads...not a bad solution but not always the best for different situations.

Cardioid microphones focus the recordings on the sound on the front and sides of the capsule. That provides a basic noise reduction for sounds coming from other areas. And that's beneficial....unless what you really want is to have a conversation with someone while videoing them: you on one side and the other person on the other side of the device. Hmmm... a challenge for the built-in mics and for typical cartioids, as well.

IN THE BOX: Dual Capsule Microphone with Lightning connector, zipper case, 2 furry windscreens, 2 foam windscreens.

PERFORMANCE: The unit requires no batteries or external power. Plugged in, it sits perpendicular to the device, offering microphones pointing front and back, allowing someone to use either the front or back camera on a device and capture video simultaneously. You can also choose to activate only one of the microphones, and there is a standard audio miniplug for headphones to monitor the sound.

Both microphones picked up sound well (check the sample I posted). in fact, I was so close that I was overmodulated on the microphone facing me.

Looking at the resulting sound waves, it appears that the sound from the one microphone appears on the left channel and the other on the right when they are both activated. When only one microphone (front or back) is selected for recording, that sound is placed on both the left and right channels.

I guess in the end I was a bit disappointed with the level of the background noise, compared to a number of other solutions I've tried. Still, what it does offer - two-capsule cartioid recording and the ability to choose one or both in recording, is different from a lot of other microphones, and that makes it unique and easily gives it a place in your audio tool box.

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