TL;DR: I used a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter, the “Listen Live” accessibility feature (or alternatively the Ferrite Recording Studio app), and a pair of over-ear Bluetooth headphones to listen to a live audio-described FM broadcast through my iPhone, while still being able to take notes using VoiceOver. Full write-up, gear list, and step-by-step instructions below.
THE PROBLEM
I attend a Bible-based convention every year where two FM channels are broadcast live in sync with the program. One channel carries raw audio for the hearing impaired. The second, newer channel carries the program audio plus an audio-described track for the Blind and Low-Vision (BLV) community, providing detailed descriptions of the many videos shown during the program.
My goal was to listen to this live, with headphones, while still being able to take notes on my iPhone using VoiceOver.
WHAT I TRIED FIRST (AND WHY IT DIDN’T WORK)
My first thought was that headphones supporting Bluetooth Multipoint might solve the problem. Unfortunately, that feature only lets you toggle between two audio sources — it doesn’t let you listen to both at once. So that was a dead end.
Then I realized what I really needed was a way to bring the FM audio directly into my iPhone, so it could be managed like any other audio source (think Spotify or Pandora). That way, everything could be handled on-device with VoiceOver, including the benefits of audio ducking.
THE SETUP THAT WORKED
The key piece of hardware is a microphone adapter with a 3.5mm TRS male jack on one end and a Lightning plug on the other, made to interface with the iPhone. This adapter is really designed for two-way use — like a headset with a microphone — meaning it handles both listening and transmitting. That dual-purpose design creates a small workflow quirk, explained in the steps below.
For getting the incoming audio out to my ears, I tried two software options:
1. Listen Live (built-in Accessibility feature): This is normally a hearing-assistance feature that turns your iPhone into a high-quality microphone, broadcasting to your headphones or AirPods. Interestingly, it can also work with external microphones — so when a compatible microphone is plugged in, the feature automatically switches from the internal iPhone microphones to the external source.
2. Ferrite Recording Studio (app): I had previously purchased this app and remembered it has a Monitor mode, which lets you listen to incoming audio through the adapter without actively recording it.
In practice, Listen Live only worked with my AirPods Pro — it did not work with my other over-ear noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones, for reasons I couldn’t determine. Since the convention program ran four to six hours a day, I preferred the comfort of my over-ear Amazon Basics headphones over the AirPods, so I used Ferrite instead.
STEP-BY-STEP SETUP (IMPORTANT: ORDER MATTERS)
As a VoiceOver user who can’t see the iPhone screen, I found that the order of operations is critical. Here’s the sequence that worked:
1. Plug the Lightning adapter into your iPhone, and connect the other end to the FM radio receiver.
Note: At this point, the adapter becomes the iPhone’s audio output device, which means VoiceOver will suddenly have no audible output.
2. Only after the adapter is connected, turn on your Bluetooth headphones (already paired previously). The iPhone will automatically detect them and switch VoiceOver and all other audio output to the headphones.
3. Launch the Ferrite Recording Studio app.
4. Using VoiceOver, flick right until you reach the “Monitor” button, then double-tap it. You will now hear whatever is coming in through the FM radio.
5. Adjust levels as needed:
– Use the FM radio receiver’s volume control to adjust the incoming audio level.
– Use the iPhone’s volume controls to adjust VoiceOver’s output level.
PRACTICAL NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
– Battery life: Despite using an older iPhone SE (3rd generation) with a weakened battery, I was still above 50% by lunch intermission. I topped it off with a portable battery pack during the break.
– Headphone features: I made sure to choose headphones with noise cancelling and a transparency mode, controllable via a single button that cycles through ANC On, Transparency Mode, and ANC Off. The Amazon Basics headphones were sturdy, comfortable, and gave audio feedback when powering on/off and switching modes, so I always knew their status without needing to look.
– Battery life (headphones): These headphones had an impressive battery life — somewhere around 50 hours — so I could likely have gone the entire weekend without recharging them.
– Noise cancelling bonus: Because of echo and ambient noise in the room, the noise-cancelling feature significantly improved the listening experience — an unplanned but very welcome benefit.
– Auto-Lock: I had to turn off Auto-Lock in the iPhone’s Display settings. Otherwise, if I went too long without touching the screen to take notes, the phone would lock. I set Auto-Lock to “Never” and dimmed the screen to help conserve battery instead.
– Note-taking: With everything else handled, I was free to open the Notes app and take notes throughout the program using a Bluetooth keyboard.
WHAT I’D CHANGE
If I changed anything, it would be investing in a higher-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones. That said, the $20 Amazon Basics pair performed far better than I expected — genuinely impressive for the price.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This setup solved my exact problem: listening live to a program with audio description, while still being able to take notes independently using VoiceOver. If you’re BLV and dealing with a similar situation — live audio description at a conference, convention, or event — I hope this setup gives you a solid starting point.
If you’ve found other solutions to this kind of problem, or have suggestions for improving this setup, I’d love to hear about them.
PRODUCTS PURCHASED:
Amazon Basics Headphones
Microphone Input 3.5mm to Apple Lightening Adapter