One of Apple’s big news for the iPhone 16 Pro concerns a new function: Audio Mixing. The company has not only improved the quality of the microphones, but it can now also edit the way our video reproduces sound.

As a content creator, I use certain microphones to improve the quality of my content. I particularly like the Hollyland Lark M1, which is a quality-price alternative that works for both mobile phones and cameras because they connect via USB-C.

I wanted to compare Audio Mix with these microphones, since an iPhone worth over a thousand euros should not be afraid to face microphones worth 139 euros. Or yes?

What is audio mixing and how does it work?

As I mentioned in the review, audio mixing is a function that is activated from the Photos app itself after recording the video, we cannot force the Audio Mixing profile before recording. Specifically, we have four options:

• Standard: Capture audio without making adjustments in Spatial Audio.On the screen: Profile where only the voices of those on stage can be heard, even if there are people talking outside in the background. Designed for video blogs.
• To work: Profile that will improve the quality of the sounds to the level of a professional studio with soundproof walls, according to Apple. Ideal for video blogs or podcasts where sound is the most important thing. It simulates a microphone that is very close to us, even when the phone is very far away. Ideal for indoor recordings.
• Cinema: The profile that collects and highlights all the sounds around us like in a movie. Designed for recordings that include murmurs and ambient background noise on the street.

Testing the audio mix

The first test is pretty simple, I wanted try four audio mixing modes. I have organized the four modes into one video so that you can listen more comfortably.

As you can see, Studio mode is the most amazing of allI played background noise through my speakers at a fairly high level, and it was able to cancel out most of the ambient sound.

The sacrifice is obvious: the final sound quality is not the same as in standard mode. To achieve such aggressive cancellation, After processing the sound becomes a bit more metallicDespite this, the result he achieved is quite magnificent.

Screen mode is very similar and I believe it will be one of the most popular options, especially for vlogging. It highlights the voice of the main person on screen (us) and aggressively cancels out noise.

Finally, I wanted to compare the iPhone 16 Pro with the microphones I have at home for recording audio. Here the difference is quite high and as expected the microphones offer higher quality. In comparison, the iPhone’s sound is a bit more treble and less natural.

Despite this, it’s surprising how good the noise cancellation in studio mode is, and how similar the noise cancellation is to the external microphones we’ve been using. In short, Voice Mixing doesn’t completely replace external hardware, but it’s an option for all users who want superior sound quality without having to spend a single extra penny.

Image | Xataka

On Xataka | My next phone will be iPhone 16. I realized I’m not a Pro user anymore