Decent smart phone with good mics for direct live recording?

[profiguy]

I'm looking for a good phone that can double as a portable audio recording device for live situations, specificslly with mics that wont distort early with low end.My old Samsung S9+ has so far served me somewhat ok, but it wish it had variable record level. Any suggestions?

 

[adason]

I use this. Not only far cheaper than cell phone, but far better. Use the stuff for what it is designed for.
https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-40...ocphy=1018598&hvtargid=pla-643807603822&psc=1

 

[JMFahey]

I use this. Not only far cheaper than cell phone, but far better. Use the stuff for what it is designed for.
https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-40...ocphy=1018598&hvtargid=pla-643807603822&psc=1

Excellent.
I still use the original where this one was copied from, a venerable ZOOM recorder.

I have the simple electret mic one, like yours, but there was an improved version with two XLR jacks to take external PRO microphones, Shure SM57 being a favorite.

 

[Conrad Hoffman]

+1 on the Tascam. I have an older DR-05 and it's remarkably good.

 

[abraxalito]

Asus Rog Phone 5 got a good review for recording (and playback). Its not a cheap option : https://www.dxomark.com/asus-rog-phone-5-audio-review-an-excellent-choice-for-nearly-any-use-case/

 

[tktran303]

+1 for the Zoom field recorder.

But if you’re looking for smartphone then it’s iPhone. Mainly because the mics are standardised and this most software have iPhone mic calibration

And just like you can pull out for phone for a quick snap; I can do a FFT of family piano, trumpet or violin…

 

[profiguy]

I have a tascam DR40 as well, but it suffers from RF noise interference issues when around other cell phones (kind of ironic). I recorded my sons jazz band and had constant CDMA band interference just from having my own cell phone in my pocket a few feet away. It ruined the entire session. After that i always used my Motu M4 with Reaper on laptop and it did phenomenal, but its a bulky setup and people kept on bumping into the tripod with my precious earthworks M40s. People have zero respect for this sort of thing. This is why i want a phone based solution that is immune to noise and good enough for that quick opportunity to capture something.

 

[profiguy]

Asus Rog Phone 5 got a good review for recording (and playback). Its not a cheap option : https://www.dxomark.com/asus-rog-phone-5-audio-review-an-excellent-choice-for-nearly-any-use-case/

The Black Shark 5 Pro got amazing reviews for audio. Just curious what chipset it uses. Most of the ESS Sabre chips sound a bit thin to me, although the Motu M4 I use has a version and its actually pretty good.

 

[abraxalito]

As far as I can tell, the Black Shark 5 Pro doesn't have a 3.5mm jack, there's a USB-C dongle to create a headphone output which is using an ALC DAC-amp IC. The DAC they use to drive the internal speakers might be from Cirrus, not sure.

 

[profiguy]

The specs do say it has a 3.5mm jack but no mention of chip set. I'm currently on a LG thinQ 7 with the quad dac output but the mics are miserable with bad weird preemphasis curve. Of course I can use a Shure add on mic which I may try, but the UI on this phone isn't nearly as slick as the Samsung S9+.