Rode iXY | Sound vs Sight
Over the years, I've gotten into making field recordings. It started one afternoon when I decided to stick a couple of condenser mics in the front garden. I trailed a pair of long XLR cables out of the window and set the mics up on small stands with their elastic suspension mounts and wind filters. I closed the blinds and sat back to listen. The world outside was transformed. Minute mostly inaudible details became clear and present: conversations in the distance, bird song, passing cars, school kids in the playground, all rendered in exquisite detail. I'd happily sit and listen for an hour or more while recording.
Personally, I find sound to be more evocative of time and place than photographs, and consequently I try to record days out, holidays and important events by using mobile equipment such as a minidisc recorder and a small battery powered stereo condenser mic. The main problem is remembering to carry the equipment with me. On many occasions, I've kicked myself for forgetting and missing out on great opportunities to make a recording or had to do the best I could with the built-in mic on my phone.
Then I found the iXY by Rode!
The Rode iXY is a small coincidentally mounted pair of Rode condenser mic capsuals with a really neat lightning connector for iPhone. The mounting fits over the home button, which maintains the button’s functionality, and within a few seconds, the iPhone is transformed into a high-quality mobile recording unit!
The built-in AD converter is capable of sample rates of up to 96 kHz, and a downloadable app controls the recording parameters. It also comes with a convenient pop shield and carry case that clips onto a key ring, so you're never in the position of forgetting to bring it. As I always have my phone with me, I now don't have to worry about being without the means to record interesting sounds.
I took a trip to the British museum recently and recorded the sounds of the massive atrium and some of the exhibition rooms.
When I listen back to the recordings, I can remember details about the museum that I may have forgotten without the recording.
However, these masks deserved a photograph as they're really quite amazing!
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Over the years I've gotten into making field recordings. I think it started one afternoon when I decided to stick a couple of condenser mics in the front garden.