by For those who capture audio out in the field — reporters, podcasters, musicians, etc. — a nice recorder is a must. It’s important that the audio comes through loud and clear, and isn’t drowned out by background noise. One of the most trusted brands in the audio-recorder world is Zoom, whose H4n is the go-to gadget for podcasters such as Marc Maron and Chris Hardwick. Recognizing that folks may not want to carry a bulky recorder with them in addition to their iOS devices, Zoom has released the iQ5.
The iQ5 is a stereo condenser microphone that can fit easily in your pocket, yet has a lot of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a Zoom product. You can adjust the gain, for example, or alter the range of the recording area (90 or 120 degrees). The iQ5 is plugged into the Lightning port, but it has to sit flush against the bottom of your iPhone/iPad, which often means removing any cases you might have. Once it’s connected, though, it works as advertised with the default Voice Memos and Camera apps. You get the most out of the mic by using the free HandyRecorder app—the combination of the iQ5 and the app basically turns your iOS device into a full-fledged Zoom recorder.
My only slight qualm with the iQ5 is its build quality. It never broke on me during my time with it, but it felt a tad fragile due to its lightweight plastic construction — it’s a double-edged sword as the lightness is what helps make it so portable.
The bottom line. Despite its minor issues, the Zoom iQ5 is a good option for those who don’t want to carry a bulky audio recorder out into the field.
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