Flash Memory in a Mic

In brief, the FlashMic is built around a Sennheiser omni-directional capsule, and has 1GB of on-board memory, which translates to up to 18 hours of audio at 32kHz – or 3 hours at 48kHz. The mic includes a USB port for data transfer to your PC, and a headphone jack. The street price of the FlashMic is around $1299, making this a decidedly professional device.

The FlashMic looks like Sennheiser’s wireless Evolution G2 100 handheld mic, which has a street price of around $500, so the question is why shell out the extra 800 bones for a little flash memory? In a word, simplicity. The FlashMic can operate as a self-contained unit, with Record and Play buttons, headphone and USB jacks, and sound settings right on the grip.

This stand-alone performance will appeal to users who only want to grab audio with a minimum of fuss, but the headphone jack also functions as an analog audio output. This enables the mic to do double-duty as an external mic that can be attached to any camcorder with a standard 3.5 mm audio jack. Still, $1299 is a steep price to pay for an external mic that records to flash media unless you’re a serious gadget freak with money to burn.