Gizmodo: Microphone

iPhone Heart Monitor Tracks Your Heartbeat Unless You Are Dead

Jesus Diaz — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:20:00 EDT

Here's a really cool application for the iPhone: Heart Monitor uses the iPhone microphone—especially the one built into your headphones—to record and track your heartbeat from your chest, wrist or neck. Watching the video, it looks like it will be a perfect application for both sports people and hypochondriacs, even while it comes with a couple of disclaimers:

Before buying Heart Monitor please make sure you can find your own pulse in your neck (directly below your jaw) or wrist, click arrows below the pictures for pulse locations. If you cannot find your pulse you may have difficultly using Heart Monitor.

If you cannot find your pulse, you may also be dead, but that's another story. It also says that the iPhone Heart Monitor shouldn't be used for medical applications, but it looks good enough for me. I'm planning to use it for resting, after going to the gym, and drinking five pints of Guinness while eating a greasy burger. OK, maybe just the first and third one there. The application looks like a winner for just $4.99. [Heart Monitor]

Memorex SingStand Might Actually Make Karaoke Cool Again

Wilson Rothman — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EDT

The galaxy of gimmicky karaoke machines was starting to fade before Memorex's SingStand came along. This baby organically melds mic stand and iPod dock, and at $70 doesn't even put you into debt to do so. The base is where the brains are—vox effects like reverb plus "Auto Voice Control" for removing original song vocals—along with two 4-watt "full-range" speakers. There's even a second mic input for Sonny-and-Cher-Pre-Divorce moments. The catch is that there's no 30-pin connector for charging or enhanced iPod control, but at least a 3.5mm miniplug means you can pop in your Zune or Sansa too. [Memorex via Electronista]

Apple Multi-Touch Data Fusion Adds Camera, Voice, Force Sensors

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:53:00 EDT

Apple has been working in new multi-touch technology that combines touch interfaces with input from the camera and the microphone. For example: this will allow you to select text in the iPhone, say "copy," go to another application and say "paste" to make this task really easy. The most intriguing part, however, is the use of a camera in laptops and desktops.

This will require two cameras, one for video chat and the other for the "hand reading," but it opens a lot of possibilities. To start with, the entire keyboard can become a gesture control pad without even having to touch the surface. In addition to that, it can be combined with actual touch technology to identify single fingers on the surface, with the possibility of assigning specific functions to them.

The system even contemplates combining all this with accelerometers and force sensors, so the touch action can generate secondary data. One example of this may be applying a deformation effect to an image or a sound effect to a music track, giving it more or less strength depending on the force you use in your action. [USPTO via Unwired View]

Orator's Briefcase PA System For Impromptu Speeches

Sean Fallon — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:20:00 EDT

With the Orator's Briefcase, you never know when a speech might break out unexpectedly. This relatively normal looking briefcase opens up to reveal a lectern, a microphone on a gooseneck arm and a PA system with two 4-inch speakers and a 20-watt amplifier. If you are delivering your crazy propaganda to uninterested crowds on the go, the whole system can be powered with eight C batteries for up to four hours. It can also be connected to AC power for more long-winded speeches. Plus, exercising your First Amendment rights anytime, anywhere only sets you back $350. [Hammacher Schlemmer via Neatorama via Dvice]

Xbox 360's "Lips" Karaoke Game Microphone Has Motion Sensing, Vegas Lounge Lights

Jason Chen — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EDT

Could the rumored upcoming "Lips" accessory + game to the Xbox 360 have the most advanced karaoke microphone for a game yet? Quite possibly. The game's made by iNiS, a team that's no stranger to music games, and features the accessory that pulses in time with your singing, plus detects how you swing it around when crooning in order to score extra points. It seems fantastic, but no amount of peripheral distractions will distract from how really awful your singing is. I mean seriously, vocal lessons aren't that expensive. [Gamekyo via Kotaku]

Gross Binaural Microphone is Clearly Missing a Face

John Herrman — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:10:57 EDT

Binaural sound recordings can be creepy enough, but knowing that they may have originated at this Otokinoko ear-mic might just make them unbearable. The concept of binaural microphones is elegantly simple: record sounds from the positions of human ears, creating the illusion of 3D sound at playback. This blue beast makes that concept very explicit, and like the binaural head mic before it, will rarely be able to record anything but people screaming "OH GOD WHAT IS THAT?" in glorious 3D. If that seems like something you might be interested in, the Otokinoko Binaural Mic is available now for $3,899.

If this is all foreign to you, try out a few binaural recordings here, including the famous Virtual Haircut. They only work with headphones, but are definitely worth a listen.

[Japantrend via Engadget via BoingBoing]

A River Runs Through It: Bladder Microphone Hears Your Prostate

Jack Loftus — Sat, 17 May 2008 18:30:00 EDT

Catheters suck, but they're a necessary evil for men who want to know if they have benign prostatic hyperplasia (quickie Giz diagnosis: you're cancer-free, but pee six times an hour). And in addition to excruciating tube-down-your-johnson pain, the catheter also carries with it the potential for infection. The process could be changing soon, however, thanks to researcher Tim Idzenga. Basically, the Dutchman will diagnose BPH by listening to your business with a microphone.

Idzenga's process uses a microphone attached to perineum, which is fancy pants doctorspeak for the patch of skin we layman and immature Gizmodo writers call "the taint." From there, he listens to changes in the sound of flowing urine—specifically for the tell-tale hissing of BPH. More scientifically, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) reports that the "frequency spectrum of the sound was found to correlate with the narrowing of the urethra. The degree of narrowing can therefore be determined from the recorded urinary sound." Idzenga has since filed a patent for the invention and hopes to have a commercial offering from IQ+ Medical BV out to urologists fairly soon.

So, in the future, if the doctor hears hissing, you have BPH, but you found out without having had a tube shoved into your urethra. Time to pop a few Flowmax for that long distance convertible car ride with your best mates.

Lightning Review: Olympus TP-7 Cellphone Recording Mike

Brian Lam — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:46:57 EDT

The Gadget: This olympus microphone plugs into a recorder and your ear, recording whatever you hear. That makes it perfect for recording cellphone interviews, which traditional telephone voice recorder setups meant for landlines can't.

The Price: $18

The Verdict: Perfect for journalists, lawyers and students. Comes with different soft earpieces and jack adapters. I love it. Sound quality of the recordings is as you hear it, which is to say as good as your cellphone delivers. If you're recording by cellphone using a native app, that's going to be better, though.

[Amazon]

Narae Inter Recorder Mini, Tiny Mobile Mic

Mark Wilson — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A laptop microphone can be pretty handy, but not all computers have them built in. Narae Inter's Recorder Mini is a tiny microphone that will fit in any standard mini jack microphone port and pick up sounds within a 30-foot radius. Released only in Korea at the moment, we're not certain about the price, but the magic of the internet could surely make the product part of your mobile arsenal. Like your USB hub. And your gun. [AVING via TechFresh]

The Neumann Microphone: Approved By the Beatles and Hitler

Brian Lam — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:26:31 EDT

NPR has this fascinating piece on the custom microphone building threaded with history of Neumann Microphones. Neumann made the smooth-sounding U47 that the Beatles recorded on almost exclusively on from 1962 to 1970, as did Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and others. When I say others, I mean Hitler.

Before its glorious post war role as a tool for musicians, a Neumann bottle mic was used in 1936 Berlin Olympics as German Chancellor Adolf Hitler opened ceremonies on. Soon the Third Reich used the then groundbreaking clarity of the mikes to "not only transport the words and information, but...emotion." And so often was it used, it gained the nickname Hitlerflasche, or the Hitler Bottle.

Neumann took the old carbon-grain broadcast microphone, which uses bits of carbon sandwiched between two plates, and turned it into a mass-produced "condenser" microphone, which has one fixed plate and another that forms a diaphragm moved by sound waves.

How soon we forget the power of the microphone, in a world where it's been largely perfected for all practical uses. [NPR]

Talent Show Kit Lends Some Old-Tech Chic to Your Karaoke Warblings

Kit Eaton — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 05:56:00 EDT

I'll admit it, some karaoke singers are worth listening to—from a distance—but even then my inner sound-technician always cries at their awkward mike-handling: and that's where this freestanding microphone would be great. The Crosley CR25 Talent Show Kit may even add a little old-time radio show class to karaoke with its retro looks, inspired by a 1956 Sears Wishbook. It probably can't turn you into the next Nat King Cole, but it does have microphone, amp and feedback/distortion suppression built in so at least it should sound good. Available soon for $79.95. [Crosley radio via Red ferret]

Hands-Free Bolo Tie Lets You Chat, Be a Crazy Texan

Jason Chen — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:30:03 EST

If you're going to wear one of those wired handsfree headsets for your phone, why not go all out and make it a fashion accessory? This Hands-free Tie does just that, with an embedded mic on the "tie" part and convenient gestures for you to answer your phone. We say "convenient," but they're actually kind of awkward, what with pulling up or down being accepting or declining the call and swinging the tie left or right to adjust the volume. It's a good idea in theory, but kinda screws up those Rodney Dangerfield comedic/nervous tie adjustments we enjoy doing at parties. [Yanko Design]

$16 USBFever Mouse Has Built-In Speaker and Microphone For...?

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 11:41:51 EST

OK, at first it sounds nifty: USBFever is selling a wired mouse with a built-in mono speaker and a detachable wired microphone, ostensibly for the purposes of convenient VOIP calling. But after pondering the details of this admittedly affordable contraption for a few moments, the entire scheme seems to unravel.

First of all, what PC doesn't come with speakers these days? Even the crappiest Wal-Mart special has a cheap speaker bundle or offer of some kind. Microphones are a little harder to come by in the desktop realm, for sure, but no laptop worth a damn has anything short of an integrated VGA cam with noise-canceling microphone and speakers these days.

If you do happen to find a good use for this 3-in-1 mouse, keep this in mind, too: it doesn't juggle audio in and out through USB like pricier tech, but rather uses the less elegant but more straightforward 35mm pink and green speaker and mic plugs, as you can see in the helpful explanatory illustration below. [Product Page via SlashGear]

Marshall MXL USB.009 is First 24-bit USB Microphone

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:27:41 EST

Marshall says that their new MXL USB.009 USB microphone is the first in the world to record at 24-bit/96 kHz without needing some expensive A/D convertor. The 24-bit sampling gives your tracks very high-resolution detail for your mixing, capturing every single detail of your off-key singing. The mike has a gold sputtered diaphragm, with a high dynamic range of 114 dB; it also has a headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring and comes with a stand and flight case. Compatible with Macs and PCs, it's out later in the Spring for $400. [Futuremusic and Yahoo]

Crapgadget Column Actually Full of Cool Stuff

Brian Lam — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:30:30 EST

Engadget's got a new column called Crapgadget meant to take the piss out of goofy electronics, but I think the examples they've picked are gadget-weirdness at its finest and deserve some defense. There's something inherently entertaining about a USB Microphone disguised as a rose, a rechargeable speaker cube the size of a golf ball; they're original, test new boundaries in gadget usage, and they're the epitome of the softer side of usually sterile technology. Plus, like a building block, they take creativity to use. That Rose would be a great gag in a singing video podcast, and that speaker could end up dangling from an iPod Shuffle as a little boombox. Maybe I'm wrong, but you know, like double-oh-negative, I'm just Goony like that. [Rose Mic USB Cube via Engadget]

Analogue Ring Doubles as a Microphone

Sean Fallon — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:50:43 EST

This handmade, sterling silver ring from Analogue Aesthetics features a built-in microphone and a standard 3.5mm plug. Surely you can imagine the sort of fun that can be had with a device like this—plus, if a verbal jousting match with a heckler turned ugly, you have the satisfaction of knowing that a punch to the face with this baby on would be devastating. Available for $105. [Product Page via Boing Boing Gadgets]

M-Audio Session Music Producer USB Mic With On-Board Headphone Jack

Jason Chen — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:50:37 EDT

M-Audio's latest Session Music Producer USB Microphone for Windows supposedly has a slight edge over similar mics, embedding an on-board headphone jack, bypassing your computer so you can get feedback latency down to just about zero. The USB Mic is undoubtedly compatible with other M-Audio products, and bundles Session recording and production software, 16-bit recording, and the ability to record two audio tracks and one instrument track simultaneously. The price: $99, which is a small price to pay to give your camwhore videos that professional touch. [M-Audio]

Look Semi-Professional With Revolabs' xTag Wireless Mic

kthompson — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 22:57:59 EDT

Attention Podcasters, VoIPers, shoutcasters and general microphone enthusiasts: Revolabs' new xTag system could be for you! The USB base station connects a full duplex wireless lapel-style mic and earbud to your PC/Mac and pulls double duty as a charger and wireless relay. With 66 feet of range, you can feel free to get animated. The mic does come with a lanyard if you swing that way. $249.
[Revolabs xTag Wireless Microphone System via Everything USB]

Sony Clock Radio has Integrated Spy Cam

Travis Hudson — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:00:42 EDT

Got the voyeur itch? Scratch it with this Sony-branded clock radio that has been modified to include a full-color camera and microphone. The camera and microphone are attached to a wireless transmitter that can shoot the information to a receiver up to 100 meters away for viewing and listening. The clock radio itself isn't too shabby, with an AM/FM, a CD player and shuffle function. Don't be too paranoid—this spy device comes with a hefty $2,000-plus price tag. –Travis Hudson

Product Page [Via uberreview]

Japanese Shameful Confessions Microphone

www.gizmodo.com — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:44:20 EST

Did you get caught taking sneak peeks at your Christmas presents? Or putting a mirror under a school girls' skirt on your commute to work? If so, it's time to make a confession! Just bust out the Mosaic Show— a digital voice changing mic with a clear panel attached to censor our your eyes—and tell the world what a scumbag you are while preserving anonymity. It even makes beeping and moaning sound effects in case you want to block out swear words or reenact that sexy moment you had with your (married) secretary.

–Lisa Katayama

Shameful Confession Microphone [TokyoMango]

Retro USB Radio Confuses People Who Think It's a Mic

Jason Chen — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 17:15:52 EDT

Live from Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip—was I the only one that watched that show this week? In any case, this USB Retro Radio is a radio and not a microphone, despite being shaped like a microphone. Blows your mind, we're sure, but this thing receives AM and FM, and stands 202mm tall (7.9 inches), and is powered via USB.

You can get one for $19, then pretend you're Ryan Seacrest doing whatever he does on the radio. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Brando via i4u]

MXL.006 USB/Cardioid Condenser Mic Looks Like it Means Business

Charlie White — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:10:41 EDT

The MXL.006 USB is a pretty fancy-looking microphone, but it keeps things simple by plugging into the USB port of a Mac or PC. Usually if you want to use a cardioid condenser microphone, you'll need to hook it up to all sorts of sophisticated electronics, preamps and such, but nothing doing with this baby. Cardiod? That's right, it has that heart-shaped pickup pattern so coveted by pro audio recording studios.

It's plug-and-play all the way, but doesn't skimp on the pro-level specs, with a large gold diaphragm and 20Hz-20kHz frequency response. Even though it looks like it costs a lot more, it'll run you $169.95, available by the end of September. Now if it sounds as good as it looks, it will have our undivided attention. – Charlie White

MXL's USB/Cardioid Condenser Microphone [Bios Magazine]

FlashMic: Broadcast Mic with Flash Recording

Charlie White — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 09:56:44 EDT

Flash memory is turning up in all kinds of unusual places, and here it finds a home in the base of a high-quality Sennheiser omnidirectional microphone. Powered by two AA batteries, the FlashMic can run for eight hours, and its gig of flash memory can store 18 hours of broadcast quality audio. Although the memory card isn't removable, the resulting files can be downloaded to a Mac or PC via USB 2.0.

This is a professional device, recording linear PCM MPEG audio at 192kbps at up to 48KHz, which is not the highest of high-end audio but certainly is good enough for broadcast. Might be a good tool for well-heeled podcasters with an extra $1300 lying around. – Charlie White

Product Page [HHB Communications Ltd., via über gizmo]

Belkin TuneTalk Stereo

Travis Hudson — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 14:41:51 EDT

Belkin has added this little dandy to its massive line of iPod accessories. The TuneTalk is a full stereo microphone for the iPod video. It has a nice, compact design that can slide easily into shirt pockets or hide in rooms for a little ~~homeland security~~ spying. It also has a 3.5mm auxiliary port for external microphone use. Of course, you can transfer recorded audio to a computer for editing and blackmail. The TuneTalk Stereo is available for $69.99. – Travis Hudson

Press Release [Belkin]

Wii Remote To Have Microphone, Do VoIP?

Jason Chen — Thu, 25 May 2006 16:20:24 EDT

We love being able to chat online during Xbox 360 games, but that headset is a pain on our oversized noggins. Imagine our glee when we heard that Nintendo's going to add a microphone to go along with the speaker in their Wii remote. What's the logical extension of their sensuous tech-mating ritual? VoIP.

And Nintendo's new patents describe exactly that, plus even using the remote/phone as part of a video call. No details were provided on a camera addon, though.

What does this mean to you? Well, most likely chatting while playing games over the Nintendo gaming service, and not, say, using Skype on the Wii. Though that would definitely be something. Other applications could be a Karaoke Revolution-type game or other games where you have to talk or make noises. – Jason Chen

Nintendo Surprises Keep Coming [Megagames]

American Idol Shower Radio Microphone

Jason Chen — Tue, 23 May 2006 15:34:45 EDT

We may be the only people on the planet that don't like American Idol—us and the middlebrow snobs who say they "don't even own a television"—but this thing seems pretty cool. Combining a shower radio with a microphone so you can sing along just like Reuben, there's only one question left to ask: When will you have time to wash yourself?

The $11.99 price makes this a winner. ♫ My endless, loooooooooooove! ♫

American Idol Shower Radio [Target via i4u]

Classic Microphone

Jason Chen — Wed, 17 May 2006 15:48:28 EDT

Put on a suit and pretend to be George Clooney with this classic looking microphone from Brando. Nine dollars will buy you a touch of class no longer seen in the extravagant womanizing lifestyle of podcasters. Compatible with all PCs and Notebooks with mic in.

Classic Microphone [via Red Ferret]

Onkyo Wireless Karaoke Mic

Noah R — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 14:30:40 EST

Hey hey, my my, karaoke will never die. Not in Japan, at least. Especially not when there is the Wireless Karaoke MKW-50 microphone from Onkyo. It holds 600 songs, includes videos and can be connected to a TV to be enjoyed as a full karaoke station. Tempo, echo, etc. can be adjusted. The mic even includes 3 games. With 16-foot wireless transmission, there's no need to worry about cables or jumping from table to table and acting like a drunken cabaret idol. Not cheap at US$375 plus US$135 for an extra microphone. But so worth it.

Seesaa
Product page

New Video iPod is Stereo Friendly

Travis Hudson — Fri, 14 Oct 2005 11:53:34 EDT

The new iPod has a dandy of a feature that isn't being too publicized. I'm not too sure if Jobs mentioned it in his keynote the other day (Nicole?) but it was hard as hell to find on the iPod spec page. The new iPod can now record in 44.1khz stereo sound. Team this new iPod up with a matching cute white microphone, which we can assume will be released, for some pretty solid recording on-the-go.

The new iPod does proper stereo recording [Music Thing]

HHB FlashMic Digital Recording Mic

Travis Hudson — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 07:46:38 EDT

Here it is folks-drumroll please-the world's first digital recording microphone is finally available for the Karaoke enthusiasts in all of us. Oh, and it is probably pretty cool for the professional musicians too. This microphone uses Sennheiser omni-directional condenser capsule and is also loaded with one gigabyte of flash memory. A pair of AA's will power this microphone for up to six hours and a LCD on the unit itself gives plenty of warning when batteries are getting low. Leave this gadget to the professionals, you drunken karaoke enthusiasts. No need to record your butchered Journey song, it will only pain others more.

New HHB FlashMic [HHB]