Fostex AR-4i Audio Interface for iPhone 4/4S/iPod Touch 4G, Battery Powered

by Fostex USA

Product Features

• Record/playback via dock connector with built-in AD/DA converter
• Equipped with 3 stereo inputs (Line/Mic) and 2 condenser cardioid mics
• 4-dot LED level meter for input monitoring; thumb wheel input gain control
• Supplied with sturdy hand grip
• Set-up app supplied free from Apple App Store

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 2 x 2.8 inches ; 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B005DNAB12
• Item model number: AMS-AR-4i
• Batteries 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,368 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #87 in Musical Instruments > Recording Equipment > Computer Recording > Audio Interfaces
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 20, 2011

Product Description

Designed to provide exceptional audio quality of videos captured with your iPhone 4/4S, the Fostex AR 4i Audio Interface for iPhone 4/4S and iPod touch 4G offers excellent quality stereo audio recording. The device features LED input level metering, gain control and headphone monitoring. The AR 4i is powered by 2 AAA batteries (included), and has a generous operation time of eight to ten hours. Two threaded tripod mounts offer compatibility with a tripod or camera rig, and a cold shoe accepts third party camera options. A dedicated, easy to use app for your iPhone 4/4S or iPod touch 4G is available as a free download from the Apple App Store. After you download it, you can easily control input level, microphone setting, equalization, filters, and more. In order to allow for compatibility with your fourth gen iPod touch, a dedicated adapter comes with the unit. The audio quality and versatile operation of the AR 4i make it ideal for both professional and in home applications. It's a perfect accessory for TV and radio reporting, live video streaming to the web, and even in home use to help you create high quality home videos. Founded in 1973, Fostex is an acclaimed manufacturer of location sound, multi track recording, and speaker products.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best iPhone 4 stereo audio interface September 1, 2011

By J. Geerling

This iPhone 4 addon is a must for any mobile filmmaker, podcaster, radio broadcast person, etc. It finally allows me to ditch my dedicated audio recorder, and lets me record, edit, and upload a recording to the web straight from my iPhone 4 (which I always have with me).

The included mics are okay for a conference room, a concert, or other similar settings, but the real power of this device is its ability to let me record with two lavaliere microphones (as I do for interviews, using two Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphones), or with a couple of handheld or tabletop microphones.

Some of the hardware features I really like:
- LED level meter (with three green and one red, for clipping)
- Input level control
- Three 1/8" mic jacks
- An external headphone jack

The level meter is invaluable, and not having to carry around a separate mic interface (preamp or something of the like) for this feature and level control makes the price well worth it.

Some things I don't particularly like (not deal-breakers, but annoyances nonetheless):
- Only one level control for both channels
- Hardware settings that can only be changed via an AR-4i app (I'd like some more hardware switches)
- The overall heft of the device, with two AAA batteries.

I'm very excited about this product, and will be adding more sound and video samples, and real-world usage data to my review on my website: [...]

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the best portable recording unit for the Iphone 4 and Ipod touch 4G October 28, 2011

By Jose Romero

Updated review(10/28/2011), I've been having serious issues with glitches every 5-6 seconds on my recordings, I was blaming the fostex ar-4i unit, I do apologize for it, I just found out it was the fire 2 field recording app the responsible for that issue. after switching recording apps, I got surprisingly clean and smooth line source recordings from motif xf6, korg pa800, psr-s900, ipad 2 w/ behringer uca222 and edirol ua-25ex and soundcraft m12 using the basic voice memo app from Iphone 4/Ipod touch 4G. this is a great unit worth to buy it despite its 1/8" inputs. very good AD/DA converters. I'm now beautifully recording my band practices in stereo mode . highly recommended if you already have an Iphone 4 or Ipod touch 4G, I tested them both.
I will try the sonoma fourtrack app to see how it performs.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Extend the iPhone for Interviews August 13, 2012

By J. Lewis

I purchased this for interview settings and I have been extremely impressed by the hardware and software of the Fostex AR-4i. The iPhone 4S has great video but the audio is not so good. This device has been a godsend while filming the last five interviews I have performed. When doing the intros, I use the software to set the channel to center, When the lav mics are plugged in (I just bought 20' extension cables from Radio Shack and used the included microphones and made a clip), the sound is controlled by the line input.

Note: I tried to use this with other mics like the Edutige and had issues because of the poles on the 1/8 in plug. Be sure to try plugging your own equipment into this device and listen through the headphones to make sure it works well.