# Ideas on how to record guitar and voice on IPhone

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 23, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277 "2020-09-23T02:00:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277/1 "2020-09-23T02:00:15Z")

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I’ve started recording my acoustic guitar and singing. The problem is that the guitar drowns out my voice for songs that require a softer tone. Are there any microphones available that could correct this? I use the IPhone Voice Memo app for audio-only and the camera for the video version.

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**Author:** ![Dadtheinhaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dadtheinhaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dadtheinhaler)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277/2 "2020-09-23T13:39:39Z")

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If all you’re using is the iPhone or a single microphone, then experiment with placement. If the guitar is drowning out the vocal, then move the phone/mic closer to the vocal, if the guitar’s too boomy, move it away from the sound hole, etc. Absent separate vocal and guitar inputs _you_ are the mixer, so you’ll need to sing or play louder or softer or move your body relative to the mic depending on the situation.

If it’s important that the camera be at a certain distance or angle then you should look into iOS compatible microphones so you can separate the mic and camera.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277/3 "2020-09-23T22:06:37Z")

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Thanks. Yes I have the iPhone face me about 5 feet from me, from about knee height. I think the iOS compatible mike would be what I need, but I will try to raise the phone higher first.

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**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ideas-on-how-to-record-guitar-and-voice-on-iphone/921277/4 "2020-09-24T00:25:46Z")

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Another option is a **sound hole mute** for your guitar, which may help achieve a better balance between vocals and guitar. However, the mute may change the tonal characteristics a bit.