I'm thinking of getting an iTalk to use with my iPod G4 (not the latest with video) for session recording. I know I can only get 8khz 16bit, but perhaps it's enough for tune learning purposes?
I noticed that it was mentioned briefly in an earlier discussion, but I'd love to hear from anyone who might have tried the setup. Perhaps there's even a small sample file to share?
You are correct about the limits; and the sound quality is NOT CD quality and it depends on what you are trying to do with it- snag tunes to learn or make CD quality field recordings. However, there is a linux site that talks about recording in mono or even stereo with the help of linux. See http://ipod.hackaday.com/entry/1234000147025394/ as a starter. I know someone who has done this; but this is not for the faint of heart. I have a 2nd Gen iPod that I am trying to figure out how. The geek factor for running Linux on an iPod is priceless- the utility is less than that (maybe). Your mileage may vary.
It IS easier but more expensive to go buy a digital recorder- M Audio springs to mind... on the gadget scale a 10+.
Best of luck. If you do install Linux please share your experiences.
I think it will be good enough for tune learning. I started recording our session with a tiny little MP3 player no bigger than my thumb. Recording quality was terrible - it would make your 8khz 16bit sound like a Hi-Fi. But it was good enough to learn from, and I used it extensively with great success.
Later I got an MP3 player that could record in stereo and stuff, but the low quality one was fine for learning. I wouldn't spend too much money on it though, because you'll eventually want to upgrade. Stereo makes such a difference.
As far as I know, the iTalk will only record at 8kHz and I've heard a lot of reports of crashes and so on with it, although other people are happy. The Linux hack will let you record at much better quality (I think up to 96kHz) but apparently you can't set the input level. I don't think you need an iTalk for the Linux hack - you just plug an ordinary microphone into the headphone jack.
The Video iPod (5th generation) can't record at all - don't get me started - I asked for one for Christmas especially for recording sessions because the technical specs said it could record at 44kHz but there is no way to record on it at the moment. Maybe if we wait a few more months for the much-promised add-ons to appear.
I wouldn't recommend iPod for these reasons. You're better off with something that's actually built to record.
Recording quality on an iPod with the iTalk improves markedly if you use a real mic along with the iTalk (i.e. to over-ride the built-in condenser mic on the iTalk). Simply plug the mic into the same hole on the ITalk that you would otherwise use to plug in your headphones. This setup still does not get you stereo recording, but for mono it's pretty damn good. This is what I'm doing with mine, as I happened to have a good mic already that I was using with my minidisc recorder.
Another alternative as previously mentioned is to install Linux on the iPod. I have a friend who's done this and he likes the results. I'm considering doing it myself. According to my friend, it's not really that much of a risk, although the Linux setup has been known to crash. If it does, you can always re-install the native iPod OS and boot from there. Provided you have backed up all the music from your iPod onto iTunes beforehand, you can then reload the music and be back to square one. However, as also mentioned earlier, there is the geek factor to overcome if you choose to go with Linux...
But that geekiness is priceless in the right circles. I did get my hands on the M audio digital recorder. That is super sweet; you can put 1G flash in it; record at PCM and even provide phantom power for a real mic. It loads on your computer as a hard drive and you can drag and drop files!!
If I didn't have my minidisc which works ok-don't ask about down loads, I'd POP $300+ and buy the M-audio recorder in a heartbeat
I've used the iTalk with the 4G iPod and it's been fine for snagging tunes at a session. The recordings aren't anything you'd go out of your way to listen to, per se, but they're fine for snagging tunes. Send me your email and I'll send you a sample.
Jerry H: At least one accessory that will let you record on the 5G iPod were announced at MacWorld last week. Don't think anything is actually shipping yet, but see the link below:
Also, iPodlounge reported that Belkin had a working prototype of a recorder at MacWorld
"Belkin TuneTalk Stereo ($50): Having evolved considerably since its earliest concept renderings, Belkin’s new TuneTalk Stereo audio recorder for 5G iPods was a working prototype, and created the highest-quality recordings we’ve yet heard on any iPod. A simple and compact physical design makes it easy to record anything you want while on the go, including through a bottom-mounted line-in port for superior-quality wired recording. (Gotchas: Stereo separation with internal microphones can be limited; gain control is still user-adjustable rather than automatic.)"
Supposedly, Griffin is also going to be releasing some sort of recorder for the new iPod.
iPod + iTalk = ?
iPod + iTalk = ?
I'm thinking of getting an iTalk to use with my iPod G4 (not the latest with video) for session recording. I know I can only get 8khz 16bit, but perhaps it's enough for tune learning purposes?
I noticed that it was mentioned briefly in an earlier discussion, but I'd love to hear from anyone who might have tried the setup. Perhaps there's even a small sample file to share?
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by Pontus Adefjord
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
You are correct about the limits; and the sound quality is NOT CD quality and it depends on what you are trying to do with it- snag tunes to learn or make CD quality field recordings. However, there is a linux site that talks about recording in mono or even stereo with the help of linux. See
http://ipod.hackaday.com/entry/1234000147025394/ as a starter. I know someone who has done this; but this is not for the faint of heart. I have a 2nd Gen iPod that I am trying to figure out how. The geek factor for running Linux on an iPod is priceless- the utility is less than that (maybe). Your mileage may vary.
It IS easier but more expensive to go buy a digital recorder- M Audio springs to mind... on the gadget scale a 10+.
Best of luck. If you do install Linux please share your experiences.
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
I think it will be good enough for tune learning. I started recording our session with a tiny little MP3 player no bigger than my thumb. Recording quality was terrible - it would make your 8khz 16bit sound like a Hi-Fi. But it was good enough to learn from, and I used it extensively with great success.
Later I got an MP3 player that could record in stereo and stuff, but the low quality one was fine for learning. I wouldn't spend too much money on it though, because you'll eventually want to upgrade. Stereo makes such a difference.
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by Shrog
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
As far as I know, the iTalk will only record at 8kHz and I've heard a lot of reports of crashes and so on with it, although other people are happy. The Linux hack will let you record at much better quality (I think up to 96kHz) but apparently you can't set the input level. I don't think you need an iTalk for the Linux hack - you just plug an ordinary microphone into the headphone jack.
The Video iPod (5th generation) can't record at all - don't get me started - I asked for one for Christmas especially for recording sessions because the technical specs said it could record at 44kHz but there is no way to record on it at the moment. Maybe if we wait a few more months for the much-promised add-ons to appear.
I wouldn't recommend iPod for these reasons. You're better off with something that's actually built to record.
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by JerryH
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
I have a crappy one i use with mine...."for tune learning" - at a session - its perfect
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by Hugo Chavez
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
Recording quality on an iPod with the iTalk improves markedly if you use a real mic along with the iTalk (i.e. to over-ride the built-in condenser mic on the iTalk). Simply plug the mic into the same hole on the ITalk that you would otherwise use to plug in your headphones. This setup still does not get you stereo recording, but for mono it's pretty damn good. This is what I'm doing with mine, as I happened to have a good mic already that I was using with my minidisc recorder.
Another alternative as previously mentioned is to install Linux on the iPod. I have a friend who's done this and he likes the results. I'm considering doing it myself. According to my friend, it's not really that much of a risk, although the Linux setup has been known to crash. If it does, you can always re-install the native iPod OS and boot from there. Provided you have backed up all the music from your iPod onto iTunes beforehand, you can then reload the music and be back to square one. However, as also mentioned earlier, there is the geek factor to overcome if you choose to go with Linux...
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by johnkerr
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
But that geekiness is priceless in the right circles. I did get my hands on the M audio digital recorder. That is super sweet; you can put 1G flash in it; record at PCM and even provide phantom power for a real mic. It loads on your computer as a hard drive and you can drag and drop files!!
If I didn't have my minidisc which works ok-don't ask about down loads, I'd POP $300+ and buy the M-audio recorder in a heartbeat
# Posted on January 19th 2006 by I_Fel
Re: iPod + iTalk = ?
Pobe,
I've used the iTalk with the 4G iPod and it's been fine for snagging tunes at a session. The recordings aren't anything you'd go out of your way to listen to, per se, but they're fine for snagging tunes. Send me your email and I'll send you a sample.
Jerry H: At least one accessory that will let you record on the 5G iPod were announced at MacWorld last week. Don't think anything is actually shipping yet, but see the link below:
http://www.xtrememac.com/audio/earphones_recorders/micromemo.php
Also, iPodlounge reported that Belkin had a working prototype of a recorder at MacWorld
"Belkin TuneTalk Stereo ($50): Having evolved considerably since its earliest concept renderings, Belkin’s new TuneTalk Stereo audio recorder for 5G iPods was a working prototype, and created the highest-quality recordings we’ve yet heard on any iPod. A simple and compact physical design makes it easy to record anything you want while on the go, including through a bottom-mounted line-in port for superior-quality wired recording. (Gotchas: Stereo separation with internal microphones can be limited; gain control is still user-adjustable rather than automatic.)"
Supposedly, Griffin is also going to be releasing some sort of recorder for the new iPod.
Jeff W.
# Posted on January 20th 2006 by jeff_willner