External microphones for Nokia N95

Everything you need to know about adapters and microphones for improving the audio into your Nokia N95 or similar N-series device. Corrects a mistake in an earlier video by Bloggerguy and goes into more detail. Example of cutting ambient noise.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• nokia
• n95
• microphone
• mobile
• citizen
• journalism

[cobadrummer]

Shelbinator, I am interested in the adaptor that converts from the stereo minijack (the mic) to the mono input at the yellow phono jack.

How does it "merge" the left and right audio channels?

Merging audio channels is not something that one can do with wiring / adaptors - you really need a mixer (I have some audio hardware knowledge)- or do you know something I don't?

Reason I ask is that I'd really like to use my faithful Sony ECM-MS907 with my N95...

[shelbinatorTV]

Beats the heck out of me, but it does. I just tested it again to make sure, using a binaural mic set with separated left and right pickups and a single stereo mini plug. Both channels are recorded in the mono video on the N95.

[gagabobo]

cool! another question, how do you configure the n95 for a wireless mic?

any alternatives other than bluetooth headset because bluetooth headset quality sucks

[shelbinatorTV]

Each bluetooth headset will come with its own instructions for pairing with the phone. But once you have the device paired, the phone automatically defaults to the headset as audio input if it's turned on and connected to the phone (with phone bluetooth on). As for non-headset bluetooth, I don't know (i.e., studio quality mic over bluetooth, I just don't know if it's out there). If you want better quality you need an FM wireless transmitter/receiver package. See Bloggerguy's video.

[Bloggerguy]

This is "SORRY BLOGGERGUY" commenting. The reason why my and your solution is different is because you are using the original NOKIA cable. This cable is not made the same way as my standard (DV-camera)3,5mm A/V cable. The Nokia video signal (yellow) is put where dv-camera red, right channel audio is put. But you might see I have made a very short version for fm-receiver. In that case I used, and destroyed, a I-pod cabel. The Apple I-pod cabel used the same connection as Nokia ..yellow.

[shelbinatorTV]

Hey Bloggerguy! Hope you didn't misunderstand: I wasn't CALLING you "sorry," I was saying sorry TO you. As in, Sorry, that video didn't work for us on this side of the pond. But obviously you got us 99% of the way there. I just can't believe that the external mic connection was still an open question among so many people here -- all they had to do was try another plug! So I made this long, terribly boring but detailed video hoping to remove all doubt, so we can keep up with you. Happy filming!

[HarleyTruck]

I bought all this exact gear for my N8. The Pro 24 mic with a battery in it. The Nokia Cu75 cable and the Radio Shack adapters on the yellow RCA male. I changed my default Accessories setting to Headset. I can record sound through the mic in the sound recorder but not in the Video Camera. Does anyone have any experience or ideas with the N8?

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

Shebinator why not buy this cable to connect your mic directly: startech.com/product/MUYHSMFF-­35mm-4-Pin-to-2x-3-Pin-35mm-He­adset-Splitter-Adapter-Male-to­-Female

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

Sorry I said wrong. Because the stereo to mono plug, if you use mono plug it Grounds the whole line and cannot work. This is the reason why only Stereo plug works.

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

@cobadrummer

You can use any mono mic with the n95, n85, n8 and rest phones that use 3.5mm mutlimedia inpput/output.

I made a custom cable which has one 4pin connector to phone and other end has 1 stereo jack and 1 mono jack for mic. Works like charm. How ever with this has the problem wiht stereo mics that it records only mics right side and leaves left wihtout recorded. So my custom cable should hae 2*stereo female plugs where mic input has left/right bridged so both channels gets mixed.

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

I am wonderign why not use mono mic because the input for phone is mono anyway and if you use merging adapter soit dosent need stereo to merge sound into one channel. So mono mic should work very good because the rca connector is mono so no need stereo adapters between.

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

Also You can test it yourself by inserting the included handsfree with N8 and record video while speaking to handsfree mic for mono mic.

[MEGADRIVEJeroi]

@BIGTRUCKENT Yes it will.

[BIGTRUCKENT]

will this work with Nokia N8

[HDErikBlog]

Just at a layer like a 3 rounds of elastic rubber or tape or thread on the jack and plug it in. its cheaper and less expensive.

[colashanacogh]

just use an ad 43