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IMIC-PRO-ISI
"IMIC™ with an Attitude"! Just plug this baby into the USB port of your laptop or desktop computer and your ready for professional, studio-quality live recording. This iMic™ is modified to incorporate flexible stereo gooseneck arms available with Audio Technica series microphones mounted on each end, allowing you to aim the mics very accurately at the sound source. Also incorporated is a metal adapter mounted to the bottom, ready to mount on a standard or desktop tripod (1/4" thread). This all-in-one professional stereo microphone system allows you to "Go Digital", recording directly into your computer for ease and portability. (Manufactured by Innovative Specialists / Griffin Technologies)
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Shown on stand with laptop computer (Not included) |
Top view with Deluxe Audio Technica mics (AT 831) |
Bottom View showing brass tripod adapter (included) |
Optional mini desktop tripod (ISI-MDT-1) choose from option box |
Front view mounted on mini tripod (Not included) |
Top view |
Close-up with Deluxe Audio Technica (AT 831) |
The iMic™ universal audio adapter is a USB device that allows the connection of virtually any microphone or sound input device to the iBook, G4 Cube, Titanium PowerBook G4 or any other Mac with USB ports. The iMic can also be used on most USB-equipped PC's running Windows 98 Second Edition (SE) or later. With the older versions of Windows (Win98 through WinME), you would need to use an audio application that is capable of detecting the iMic and providing it's own built-in controls for volume, balance, etc. These would include, but not be limited to:
- Sonic Foundry Sound Forge
- Cakewalk Pro Audio
- Steinberg Cubase VST32
- Emagic Logic Audio
- Syntrillium Cool Edit Pro
- SEK'D Samplitude Studio
The standard model of the IMIC-PRO-ISI comes installed with the Deluxe Audio Technica cardioid (AT831) series microphones mounted on each end of rubber-coated metal gooseneck arms. Removable premium high quality black foam windscreens are included.
You can choose from two additional microphones available (from the drop-down menu above), which include the "Premium" Audio Technica (AT853) and "Premium Slimline" series which have the same specs., but are much smaller in size. These microphones have four different interchangeable mic elements available: omni, cardioid, sub-cardioid, and hyper-cardioid. Additional elements (pick-up patterns) can be purchased separately for different recording situations.
A mono version is also available with a single gooseneck arm, which you can choose from the drop-down menu above.
Microphone Specifications:
Deluxe Audio Technica Cardioid (AT831):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >65 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 87dB without battery module, 102dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 40 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -42 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 116 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (131dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Omni-Directional (AT853):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -43 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Sub-Cardioid (AT853):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 30 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -43 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Cardioid (AT853):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 30 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -43 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Hyper-Cardioid (AT853):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >67 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 30 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -43 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Slimline Omni-Directional (Similar to 853's, but much smaller):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >58 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -40 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level:
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Slimline Sub-Cardioid (Similar to 853's, but much smaller):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >58 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 20 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -42 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Slimline Cardioid (Similar to 853's, but much smaller):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >65 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 30 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -40 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Premium Audio Technica Slimline Hyper-Cardioid (Similar to 853's, but much smaller):
- Signal To Noise Ratio: >58 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range: 83dB without battery module, 98dB with battery module
- Frequency Response: 80 - 20,000 Hz
- Open Circuit Sensitivity: -30 dB (5.6 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Maximum Input Sound Level: 110 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D. (125dB when powered by our battery module)
Microphone Features:
- Professional Studio-Quality microphones available with wide frequency response
- Excellent stereo image depending on positioning
- Setup is quick, and easy to use
- Extremely durable, rubber coated metal gooseneck
- Excellent for cardioids as well as omni
- Very lightweight and portable
- Provides excellent performance Vs cost
The iMic supports both stereo line level and stereo microphone level input as well as line level output for any USB capable computer. The mic input provides 5 volts D.C. "plug in power" for microphones that need this (most of the Sound Professionals and other similar mics fall into this category).
By using USB, the iMic provides significantly superior audio input and output performance over built in audio. The iMic is a must have product for people who are serious about getting high quality audio in or out of their computers. The iMic not only provides amazingly high quality performance but is remarkably inexpensive.
Key Features:
- Supports better than CD quality at up to 48 Khz sampling
- Works with virtually any microphone including unpowered (Mic level) and powered (Line level)
- When an external mic is plugged into the mic input, the built-in mics are defeated
- Both 1/8" stereo inputs and outputs
Specifications:
- Line input Sensitivity/Impedance –15.0dBu , Greater Than 20kOhms
- Mic input Sensitivity/Impedance –30.0dBu, 7000 Ohms
- Maximum Input Signal Level - Line input - 0.0dBu
- Maximum Input Signal Level - Mic Input –15.0dBu
- Output Level/Impedance minijack output –2.0dBu , 600 ohms
- Frequency Response (20Hz –20kHz)
- Total Harmonic Distortion (20Hz – 20kHz) 0.03% Line Level Mode 0.07% Mic Level Mode
- Signal to Noise Ratio 85dB
- Residual Noise 72dB below nominal input level
Supports:
- Stereo Line Level sources (stereo or mono)
- Stereo Mic Level Microphones (stereo or mono) with "plug in power"
- Stereo Multimedia devices
- Stereo Headsets
- Stereo Communications devices
Compatibility:
- Mac Requirements: Macintosh with USB port. Mac OS 9.0.4 or greater.
- PC Requirements: PC with USB port Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
iMic Data Sheet (in PDF format)
Rated 5 Mice by MacUser UK!! (Read the Review)
Rated Freakin' Awesome by MacAddict (Read the Review)
Why Use USB Audio?
There are a variety of reasons why USB audio is preferable to the built-in audio on existing Macs. The inside of your computer is electrically very noisy. High frequency noise from many sources can degrade a computer's audio input and output quality. USB audio provides a far cleaner and more effective way of getting sound in and out of the computer. The audio A/D and D/A circuitry is external from the computer away from noise that degrades audio performance. All signals are carried to and from your computer digitally through the USB connection. The net effect is audio quality that is far superior to what people have become accustomed to from their computers.
The Griffin iMic builds upon this advantage using the best USB audio codec available. The iMic uses the identical codec used in the professional USB audio solutions that cost 5-10x as much. In fact most users and reviewers agree that the iMic provides superior audio input and output quality to these professional adapters. Further, software available only for the iMic allows you to customize your audio input and output far beyond what can be done with any of these high end products.
Some of the other advantages of the iMic include:
24bit Audio Processing
Traditional Mac audio only supported a maximum of 16bit sampling, while the iMic hardware samples internally at 24bit. This means that the iMic has a much larger potential signal to noise (S/N) ratio, a wider dynamic range and superior high-end frequency response. In short, the iMic is quieter, more sensitive and clearer.
Isolates internal electrical computer noise
The power supplies are full of transient noise from the CPU, hard drives, CD drives and other computer components. The built-in Mac audio hardware can transfer that noise into the audio I/O. The iMic stays outside of your noisy computer system, attaching via the external USB interface.
Eliminates "Ground-loop hum"
Input "hum" can arise from small ground potential differences between signal inputs and outputs. The grounds between sound hardware "boxes" are established by the AC outlets, and through signal cables. Various factors can cause small ground potential differences between the sound input (computer) and output (the sound source). A one volt difference, while seemingly insignificant, can cause large loop currents to flow through the ground conductor of the signal cable. Depending on the circuit configuration of the audio hardware, the audio signal impedance and the impedance of the signal cable ground, the currents may cause induced voltages in the audio circuitry. This is a source of the familiar 'hum' problem. Since the analog signal is converted to digital form upon entering the iMic, the iMic is totally insulated from ground loop hum because there is no analog connection directly from the input to the output to form a ground loop.
Utilize industry-standard connections
Although typical Mac audio and the iMic both appear to have identical ports, they are not. Most recent Macs use a proprietary style of audio connector called "PlainTalk". Actually PlainTalk is supposed to refer only to the microphone connectivity, but it tends to refer more to the physical jack used on old PlainTalk-compatible systems.
Although the typical PlainTalk-equipped Mac does support 1/8th inch stereo line-level input, many people have problems with it due to the design of the proprietary PlainTalk microphone connection. PlainTalk is intended to accommodate normal 1/8th inch stereo connectors but the actual contacts in the jack do not always line up perfectly with standard connectors. This is an inevitable consequence of trying to support the nonstandard PlainTalk connection, which actually draws power from the Mac to power the PlainTalk microphone. Some people have to try several different manufacturers of adapter cables before they find one that fits, and some never find one at all.
Provide for microphone extension
There is no commercially available PlainTalk extension cable, since it is a proprietary interface used only by Apple for its microphones. If you need to extend the reach of your PlainTalk mike, you are out of luck. Since the iMic uses industry-standard connections, you can use practically every kind of extension cable on the market. Not only can you extend the audio connections, but you can also extend the USB cables for even more flexibility in usage and placement.
Hassle-free expansion
Lets say you have a G4/466 and a Powerbook G4 Titanium, neither of which have audio input built in to their systems. You want to be able to transfer old vinyl albums to the G4 tower by night, and do voice recognition with the Powerbook G4 by day. If you were to add audio hardware in the conventional way, you would have to buy a PCI-based sound card for the home machine and a PCMCIA card for the laptop. In both cases, this takes one of your valuable internal expansion slots and costs a small fortune.
With a USB Audio device such as the iMic you can easily move one piece of equipment between two or more computers with no hassles at all. Simply unplug the iMic from the vinyl-ripping G4 tower and plug it in the voice-recognizing Powerbook; no drivers to install, no loss of expansion ports, no time wasted prying open the case and swapping cards in and out, and perhaps most significantly no additional expense.
Warranty Information
