mikme microphones

company and products

Mikme is/was an Austrian company and brand. They established their business in the audio market with former engineers of AKG.

2015, their first microphone „mikme gold“ was crowdfunded on Indiegogo (LINK) and was a big success. They’re raised 1192% (403,642$) of their initial goal.

2018, they made the next campaign and crowdfunded the „mikme silver„, which was a cheaper version of the same type of microphone and also a big success with 573% (48,641$) of their goal.

2019 was their last campaign with the „mikme pocket“ which is an audio recorder with mini XLR in. 370% (168,859$) of their goal was reached.

app

One of their key products is/was the „mikme app“, with this you are able to record, monitor and download the files. The last update was uploaded around March 2022 with the version 4.2.0 a few weeks after that the company called bankruptcy so I think we will not see bug fixes on this.

USB modes

Thanks to their developers they tried to create products what are not dependent from the iOS app. You can attach their microphones to your computer and use it in following ways:

• high quality USB recording device
  It automatically activates following options:
  – fixed sample rate of 48kHz
  – bit depth of 24 Bits
  – acts as a mono audio
  How to use this mode:
  1. disconnect your mobile phone & unplug it from your computer
  2. turn on the device
  3. connect your PC / Mac / Linux machine via USB
  4. wait until the light is blue and choose it as an input in your system
  5. adjusting the Gain works by pressing on the mikme button until it turns pink and then use the +/- buttons
• download recorded datas
  1. disconnect your mobile phone & turn it off
  2. connect your PC / Mac / Linux machine via USB
  3. turn on the mikme device by pressing the power button for 1 second
  4. wait until the mikme button glows yellow, now you can access it via your file browser
  5. if you are done, don’t forget to eject it before unplugging the device
  
  

change device settings

Until the app iOS app is working, you can change all the settings like gain, headphone volume, date/ time & power saving on your mobile device. For the time after the app, there is a way to modify this settings. You can create a text file with the name MIKME.INI and upload via USB in the root directory of the device. Until the link is working you can use their tool to create the config file, after their complete shutdown of their online presence, you can use this little help to create your own files.
LINK mikme settings file builder
Following parameters are allowed:
– If you want to leave your filetype and sample rate untouched, just leave it blank and do not write following:
M4A – 44100 Hz (M4A recordings are only possible @ 44k1Hz)
RecordMode = 0;
SampleRate = 0;
WAV – 96000 Hz
RecordMode = 1;
SampleRate = 2;
WAV – 48000 Hz
RecordMode = 1;
SampleRate = 1;
WAV – 44100 Hz
RecordMode = 1;
SampleRate = 0;
Microphone gain (can be adjust from integer 68 – 100)
MicGain = 68;
Heaphone out volume (can be adjust from integer 0 – 43)
DacGain = 43;
Power saving timeout (can be adjust in minutes 10, 30, 60, 180, 255=Never)
PowerSavingTimeout = 10;
Date and time
CurrentDateTime = 28.12.22.4;06:40:09

This is an example how the config file look like:

; Configuration file for Mikme Microphone

[audio]
MicGain = 81;
DacGain = 15;

[power]
PowerSavingTimeout = 10;

[time]
CurrentDateTime = 28.12.22.4;06:40:09

Here you can download my config file and adapt it for your config:

mikme button lights

Something about the lights on the device:

• USB connection = yellow/orange
• Auto Gain active = pink
• Standby = white
• recording running = red
• USB microphone mode or ready to record = blue

known issues

– iPhone 11 – not able to download the files from my „mikme gold“ to phone anymore.
– mikme Gold – the battery discharges itself without being turned on

technical specs – devices

technical specs – mikme GOLD

• 1” gold plated, true condenser capsule
• SNR: 78 dB-A
• Max SPL: 125 dB
• Audio frequency bandwidth: 18 to 22000 Hz
• Cardioid polar pattern
• Adjustable microphone gain (sensitivity): 0 to 30 dB
• Record in WAV or M4A
• Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz
• 24 bit sampling depth
• Processor: 2×168 MHz Cortex M4
• 920 mAh Rechargeable Li-Po battery
• Battery-powered operation time standalone recording: up to 3.5 hours
• Internal memory of 16 GB (equals up to 360 hours M4A or 34 hours WAV recordings)
• mikme iOS app for iOS 11 and newer
• mikme beta app for Android devices
• Can be used as an external USB microphone for Mac/PC. Works with:
  • Mac OS 10.8 and higher with USB 2.0
  • Windows XP and higher with USB 2.0
• Analog output for headphones and DSLR inputs
• Micro USB connector
• ⅜” and ¼” thread for mic stands and tripods
• Dimensions: 70 mm (2.75”) x 70 mm (2.75”) x 35 mm (1.4”)
• Weight: 162 g (0.35 lbs)

technical specs – mikme Pocket

• XLR connector for dynamic and clip-on microphones and line level signals (3-pol Mini XLR (TQG) Female)
• Provides 2.5 V power for connected condenser microphones
• Audio frequency bandwidth: 25 to 22000 Hz
• Adjustable microphone gain (sensitivity): 0 to 30 dB
• Record in WAV or M4A
• Sampling frequencies: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz
• 24 bit sampling depth
• Processor: 2×168 MHz Cortex M4
• 920 mAh rechargeable Li-Po battery
• Battery-powered operation time standalone recording: up to 3.5 hours
• Internal memory of 16 GB (equals up to 360 hours M4A or 34 hours WAV recordings) 
• 3.5 mm mini jack stereo audio output
• Zero latency monitoring of audio input signal using the headphones out
• Micro-USB connector
• Standby time: 6+ months
• ⅜” thread for microphone stands and ¼” thread for DSLR tripods and mic stands 
• Dimensions: 68 mm (2.68”) x 75 mm (2.795”) x 24 mm (0.94”)
• Weight: 97 g (0.21 lbs)

mikme standard lavalier microphone

• Omnidirectional polar pattern
• Back electret condenser
• Audio frequency bandwidth: 70 Hz – 18.000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 8mV/Pa (@1 kHz), -43 dB ± 3 dBV/Pa
• Max input SPL: 110 dB (@1 kHz)
• Signal to noise ratio: above 58 dB (@1 kHz)
• Colour: black matte
• Connector: 3 pin Mini XLR
• Mic head: 8 mm/0.3” (d) x 21 mm/0.8” (l)
• Cable: 2 mm/0.07” (d) x 120 cm/47” (l)
• Weight: 12 g

mikme lavalier pro microphone

• Omnidirectional polar pattern
• Back electret condenser
• Audio frequency: 50 – 20.000 Hz
• Sensitivity: 8mV/Pa (@1 kHz), -43 dB ± 3 dBV/Pa
• Max input SPL: 126 dB (@1 kHz)
• Signal to noise ratio: above 70 dB (@1 kHz)
• Colour: black matte
• Connector: 3 pin Mini XLR
• Mic head: 5.5 mm/0.2” (d) x 25.8/1” mm (l)
• Cable: 1.6 mm/0.06” (d) x 110 cm/43” (l)
• Weight: 12 g

bankruptcy

According to trendingtopics.eu (Link) Jakob Steinschaden wrote, that the bankruptcy proceedings startet 2022 with a passive of 1.518.500 €.

Update – 20240307 – Download Firmware

Thanks to Marc Planeck who was able to give me the last firmware version! I hope that many fans still have the opportunity to keep using their devices for a long time with this firmware.

works with:
– Gold
– Pockets

not working with:
– Mikme Connects (USB version, the update file is rejected by these anyway).

Process:

• Connect as a USB Mass Storage device to the computer.
• Copy the .mkm file onto it (to the root directory).
• Eject Mikme

The update should start automatically – if not (for old firmware versions), then turn off and on the Mikme again – then the process will start. This is indicated by the top LED blinking green/blue

I cannot assume liability for any potential firmware update issues. Each update is done at your own risk! The firmware has been released by the manufacturer, and my website only provides the download.

Update 20240307 – App in App Store again

The App is online again and you can download and use it again.

https://apps.apple.com/at/app/mikme/id927844460