Jeez, CES is barely over and already NAMM is upon us. Unfortunately, this blogger is not in Anaheim for that event, but to be honest, I am still reeling from the few days I spent at CES with Team TechCrunch. Instead, I’ll happily watch the music industry event from a safe distance this year.
I did however spy the iRig PRE while I was at CES but it was not yet ready for prime time. It has been officially announced.
IK Multimedia, the makers of this microphone interface, describe the device as:
The first high-quality microphone preamp designed specifically for iOS devices that allows musicians to use their favorite high-quality stage or studio mics with their iOS device.
The microphone plugs directly into the standard XLR connector of iRig PRE with no need for extra cables or adapters.
Its adjustable thumbwheel gain control allows the user to easily make precise level settings. The onboard 9V battery provides the necessary voltage for phantom-powered studio condenser microphones for at least for 15 hours of continuous use.
The 3.5mm (1/8”) standard stereo headphone output allows monitoring while recording.
The small form factor and decent battery life will, no doubt, make this a fine addition to any musician looking to use their iOS device to affect their vocals at a gig or recording session.
As for the technical features:
- 40 cm (15.75”) TRRS cable to connect to any iOS device headset jack
- XLR input connector for microphones
- Gain control
- +48 V phantom power
- Headphone output
- On/Off switch
- Power/Phantom Power provided by 9V battery
- Battery life is approximately 40 hours with dynamic microphones and 15 hours with phantom powered condenser studio microphones.
Pricing and availability
iRig PRE costs $39.99/€29.99 (excluding taxes) and will be available in early Q2 2012 from electronic and music retailers around the world.