Designed to make it as easy as possible to get started streaming, the Stream Solo is a tiny, affordable add-on to your mobile device. Greg Scarth finds out more.
The explosion of podcasting and streaming over the last decade has had a major impact on the world of audio technology. Early adopters had to construct their own setups using studio recording gear, but manufacturers have woken up to the fact that the needs of streaming, online radio and other growing sectors are different to those of traditional musicians. The IK Multimedia iRig Stream Solo is an audio interface at heart, but one designed specifically to make life easier for streaming. Designed for use with iPhone, iPad or Android devices, the Stream Solo offers three audio inputs and promises to make streaming audio as simple as possible.
The iRig Stream Solo is a small, lightweight black box with a cable leading to a 3.5mm TRRS jack, designed to connect to your mobile device (if your iPhone or iPad is a model without a headphone socket, you’ll need to use a suitable adaptor). Power comes from a pair of AA batteries (included in the box).
Controls and connections on the unit itself are relatively simple: there’s a pair of RCA sockets on the bottom of the unit to connect a stereo line level signal, while a pair of 3.5mm sockets on the top of the unit provide a headset connection (including the microphone input) plus a mono line output for connecting to a mixer or camera. On the sides of the unit, there are rotary controls for stream level and headphone volume, plus an on/off switch for loopback, which returns your device’s audio signal back to itself.
IK Multimedia claim that the iRig Stream series are the first audio interfaces designed for ‘sharing’, i.e. streaming. The major benefit of that is that they’re incredibly easy to use, even more so than other simple audio interfaces. The line level signal going into Stream Solo the would typically be the output of a mixer or possibly a stereo line out from an audio interface, while the microphone signal is mono. You can use any standard headphones with a built-in microphone and 3.5mm TRRS plug, or one of IK Multimedia’s own iRig microphones, which offer higher sound quality than most headsets. Setup is entirely straightforward no matter what streaming software or app you use on your device, audio quality is good and there are no issues with glitches or audio dropouts. Battery life is quoted at 50+ hours when using alkaline batteries, which should mean you’ll get plenty of use out of the Stream Solo between battery changes even if you’re a hardcore streamer.
The Stream Solo is a classic case of a piece of equipment which is ultra-simple, ultra-focused but effective at what it does. It’s well priced and easy to use even if you’re a complete newcomer to the world of audio and streaming. It’s also worth mentioning that there are other options in the iRig Stream range if your requirements are more advanced. The larger iRig Stream is a slightly more advanced option which still handles three audio sources but connects to your device via USB or Lightning connector rather than the headphone socket. The top-of-the-range iRig Stream Pro ups the connections to four inputs and two outputs, including a dedicated microphone/instrument input which can accept signals from standard microphones or guitars. Whatever your needs as a streamer, there should be something in the iRig Stream range to suit you.
Greg Scarth
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