At IBC in Amsterdam, RØDE announced its new i-XLR plug-in preamp/A-to-D converter for iOS devices like the more recent iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, which all use the Lightning connector. Like many other devices I have reviewed, i-XLR takes a balanced (or unbalanced) microphone source, amplifies it, digitizes it, and sends it via the Lightning connector to the iOS device. That way, we completely bypass the iOS device’s inferior preamp and A-to-D. What is so different about the i-XLR is that it plugs-in and hangs off of the end of the microphone, as do many wireless transmitters, and even a tiny plug-in Tascam recorder I will review very soon. At first, I was quite concerned when I saw i-XLR’s initial specs. I’m glad I inquired before writing this. Ahead are the 6 questions and answers I received from RØDE in Australia.
At IBC in Amsterdam, RØDE announced its new i-XLR plug-in preamp/A-to-D converter for iOS devices like the more recent iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, which all use the Lightning connector. Like many other devices I have reviewed, i-XLR takes a balanced (or unbalanced) microphone source, amplifies it, digitizes it, and sends it via the Lightning connector to the iOS device. That way, we completely bypass the iOS device’s inferior preamp and A-to-D. What is so different about the i-XLR is that it plugs-in and hangs off of the end of the microphone, as do many wireless transmitters, and even a tiny plug-in Tascam recorder I will review very soon. At first, I was quite concerned when I saw i-XLR’s initial specs. I’m glad I inquired before writing this. Ahead are the 6 questions and answers I received from RØDE in Australia.
My 6 questions, and 6 answers from RØDE
Tépper: Does the i-XLR really offer only +20 dB gain for dynamic microphones? Most preamps offer at least +60 db for dynamic microphones, and the DR–60DmkII Tascam recorder I reviewed last year in ProVideo Coalition magazine has +65 dB in its preamps. That’s why I get the impression that the +20 dB is likely to be a boost over the basic gain in the i-XLR, and perhaps the RØDE website is missing the normal or total gain available. Please let me know, and if I am correct, please give me the precise total maximum gain to indicate it in the first look article.
RØDE: We have a set 20 dB gain at the front end for all inputs, then an additional 20 dB switchable in hardware. Finally 40 dB at the A/D stage that is software controlled from within the app. Giving us a total gain available of 80 dB, with 60 dB of that variable.
Tépper: Fantastic! Is the headphone jack in the i-XLR latency-free (directly from the preamp), or is it a return from the software in the iOS device?
RØDE: Yes it is direct, so zero-latency.
Tépper: What sampling frequencies are available with the i-XLR’s A-to-D converter? In other words, is it fixed at 48 kHz, or adjustable to other sampling frequencies too?
RØDE: The i-XLR uses a lot of the platform of the i-XY mic (reviewed here), and can achieve the same sampling rates of up to 96kHz with supporting apps.
Tépper: What is the resolution of the i-XLR’s A-to-D converter? In other words, is it 16-bit, 24-bit, etc.?
RØDE: Can be set at up to 24-bit.
Tépper: Is the new RØDE Reporter app going to replace the current RØDE Rec app (reviewed here), or will they both continue to be offered?
RØDE: We haven’t finalised the strategy for the app at this point but it is likely the Reporter app will be a separate app that provides the basic (yet robust) functionality for recording in the field. RØDE Rec will continue to be a fully-featured field recording app.
Tépper: Will the new RØDE Reporter app be available before the i-XLR ships, for use with existing digital microphones and preamp/A-to-D converters? If so, do you have an ETA for the app?
RØDE: No ETA at the moment, but it will need to ship no later than the i-XLR (currently slated for Nov.) as it is required for the one-touch recording and LED functionality.
Initial conclusions
The i-XLR sounds great on (virtual) paper, and I look forward to reviewing it in November. Much sooner than that, I’ll be reviewing the RØDE Reporter microphone and the tiny plug-in recorder from Tascam.
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