iPod iTalk module for recording

[John Flynn]

I am currently using a mini-disc for field recording. I am considering getting an iPod with the iTalk recording module for field recording. I am not looking to make CDs or anything, I just want to record lessons and jams and come out with WAV or MP3 files so I can slow them down with Transkriber and/or email them to band members.

I have heard differing opinions. The iPod literature hints that the iTalk is good enough for music recording. Some people I talked to doubted it, but they hadn't actually used the module. Any thoughts or experiences? Any suggestions as to alternatives?

[ootee1]

I owned the Belkin recorder. I say owned because after using it a few times I realized it was a worthless piece of drivel. If I wasn't being plagued by the sound of the hard drive spinning up then it was clipping. Did I say it was worthless? I've read that the iTalk is a bit better. It has automatic gain control and I think the ability to run an external mike through it. But again, from what I've read, the iPod limits the data rate to 8KHz, 16 bit -mono which doesn't seem like it would be any good for recording music. Plus I've read that it really sucks the battery down quickly because the hard drive has to keep spinning. I believe there's another thread addressing hard drive recording devices. You might be better off just getting a tape recorder and uploading to your computer. That being said, I would definitely get an iPod anyway!

[kudzugypsy]

OT, but i think the iPod could possibly be the best money i ever spent on a musical device. i first got one to take on a long vacation, loading the things i'd thought i would like to hear. i soon realized what a great learning tool it was. i can load 100's of fiddle tunes and play name that tune with the random shuffle. the instant access to ANY tune in your library is just priceless.
i always thought of the iPod as some metro-toy that all the hipsters had. let me tell you, once you load your entire CD collection on one of these, you will NEVER go back.

that being said, i have also thought about how to record with it, but figured out that it wasnt really intended for live music recording.

[mikeyes]

According to the experts I talked to the Ipod is too limited right now to record with any fidelity due to the software built in. The Belkin is not able to do the job as mentioned above. But if you own one you know that it can play back with the best of them so at some time Apple will figure out (or one of the clones will) that if they make it a recorder too, they might be able to market it to an even larger crowd.

I don't know if the software is wired in or updateable but right now the web is trying to update my Ipod and I won't let it. You can get a 60 MB version now that will store pictures, so why not a good recording software package one of these days?

Meanwhile I have over 500 albums on mine and love it.

[glauber]

I heard good things about iRiver, but haven't tried one myself. I have an old Pogo Ripflash and that works reasonably well for recording music as 192Mb/s stereo MP3s (but you'll need an amplified microphone, which will run you another $100-ish.

I still use the minidisc (Sharp 190) for anything that i really care about, because it's better quality and has better level control.

[WJF]

I use the iRiver HP-120 (20GB)almost every day ... had it since the summer and I can tell you that it is possibly the best tech purchase I've made in years!!! The thing rocks!

I'm not trying to start a flame war here but have to confess that after researching devices of this type, I couldn't really understand what the allure of the iPod was (is) when compared to iRiver ... at least in the categories that I cared about ...

FM Tuner ... IPod = No iRiver= Yes
Record to uncompressed Wav *or* to MP3 on th fly ... iPod=No iRiver=Yes
Capacity = same (both at 20GB)
Battery Life ... big advantage to the iRiver ... at least a solid 16 hours on a charge!!
Size = iPod slightly smaller but for added features of iRiver an easy trade off

Anyway ... for anyone in the market for this type of device, I wouldn't hesitate for a nanosecond to recommend th iRiver! No financial interest here, just LOVE the thing!

[mikeyes]

No flames as far as I can see. Ipods are too expensive and don't do enough. But... They are the first and the innovator was Steve Jobs. There will be more of these kind of media storage units out there and they will be able to do a lot more as the demamd grows including quality recording.

BTW, I said 60 MB when I meant 60 GB in a former message.

[Brian KC]

WJF, is the Iriver capable of recoerding live as an ipod will?
Thanks,
Brian

[Dave Reiner]

I've been using my iRiver HP-140 to record live (through a decent Sony mic) for quite a while. It has a somewhat clumsy interface, but a nice remote and excellent recording quality at your choice of rate. It doesn't have the playlist capabilities of an iPod, but I bought it for recording at music camps and concerts. My Mac recognizes it as a disk drive when plugged in via USB; so do PCs presumably.

Dave

[WJF]

Hi Brian KC

Yes ... The iRiver will record to your choice of uncompressed WAV file or MP3 with your choice of bitrate.

Record whatever you like, plug it in to your PC via USB and the iRiver gets recognized as a hard drive so you can copy your files off or add new files to it. Couldn't be easier!

The radio is nice feature too that the iPod doesn't offer. The more I use my iRiver the more I love it!!

Anyway ... hope this helps!