Smartphones have quickly replaced digital cameras as the preferred method of capturing images, but they've also become great video recorders. The problem is, the microphones embedded in a smartphone are always going to be some distance away from what's being recorded, which can lead to poor audio accompanying your crisp HD videos. Sennheiser has a solution, though.
It's called the Sennheiser Memory Mic and it takes the form of a wireless microphone that connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. So while you stand back recording with your phone, the Memory Mic can be placed right next to the subject matter capturing the audio. Alternatively, when recording yourself the Memory Mic can be clipped on to clothing to ensure clear audio is captured.
The Memory Mic doesn't just stream audio to your phone over Bluetooth. It can record up to four hours of audio independently of your phone. That's important because as you are recording you may move your phone out of range of the Memory Mic. This way the portable microphone continues to record uninterrupted. Afterwards, you can use the Memory Mic app to synchronize the audio with the captured video.
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Measuring just 51-by-37-by-16mm and weighing only 30 grams, the Memory Mic is easy to slip into a bag or pocket. The built-in battery takes two hours to charge fully, or reaches 70 percent charge in one hour. It will work with any smartphone that supports Bluetooth 4.1 or higher, and the app is available for iOS or Android.
At $199.95, the Memory Mic certainly isn't cheap, but you're getting a microphone that's completely free of wires (except for the USB charging cable it includes), promises no audio drop outs, and automatically handles audio synchronization using a free app. If you record a lot of video using a phone and would appreciate better audio to go along with it, the Memory Mic could be worth the cost.