IK Multimedia iRig Stream Mic Pro

IK’s new iRig model offers a lot of features for your money.

These days pretty much everybody who makes microphones offers a USB mic, but IK Multimedia’s iRig Stream Mic Pro goes further than most by including a multi‑channel mode. Equipped with 24‑bit/96kHz converters, the mic offers a choice of polar patterns (cardioid, figure‑8, omni or stereo) and is based on a back‑to‑back pair of half‑inch electret capacitor capsules. While the iRig Stream Mic Pro can be used with any app that records or streams audio, it also comes with iRig Recorder 3 LE (iPhone/iPad/Android) software for audio and video recording. You also get MixBox CS (for iPad) and MixBox SE (for Mac/PC), which feature a selection of effects taken from the T‑Racks suite, including dynamics, EQ and reverb.

Power comes from the host device’s USB or Lightning port, and the iRig Stream Mic Pro is MFi certified, which means you can use an optional DC PSU to charge the connected Lightning device while using the mic. Mini‑DIN to iOS Lightning and mini‑DIN to USB‑C cables are included to facilitate connection to current iPhones, iPads and Android devices, as well as Macs and PCs.

Constructionally, the mic is housed in a chunky, non‑resonant plastic case and incorporates a metal desk stand attached using a swivel mount. A turn‑and‑press encoder surrounded by an LED ring occupies the front of the mic, with 3.5mm TRS jacks for the headphone out and aux input on the underside. A mini‑DIN connector on the back of the mic accepts the included USB or Lightning cable, and the power input is also on the back.

Usefully, the iRig Stream Mic Pro incorporates IK’s Loopback Plus, which allows the user to bring in audio sources from other software running on the same computer or mobile device. This makes it possible to route the mic signal into a separate app to add reverb, EQ or noise‑reduction processing, before...