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Belkin iPod Mic and Media Reader FAQs
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It's clear, at least to me that Apple is working on many more "sound" related advancements to the 4th generation iPod we will probably see before the February Pepsi promotion. These accessories are very nice and a good example of how extensible the iPod is. Look at all the. cool accessories Apple already has for it and growing.
I think we will probably see a 4th generation iPod that has a line in but will still require an external microphone for recording. We will also see tighter integration with digital cameras and next camcorders. I am hoping we will also have the ability to record and play video to an external device.
You can already use your iPod to store videos and play them back on your Mac or PC. What would really be cool would be an advanced dock that integrated not only with your audio as it now does but with your video in and out. I think Apple is on their way to taking the iPod up another generation.
I think we will probably see a 4th generation iPod that has a line in but will still require an external microphone for recording. We will also see tighter integration with digital cameras and next camcorders. I am hoping we will also have the ability to record and play video to an external device.
You can already use your iPod to store videos and play them back on your Mac or PC. What would really be cool would be an advanced dock that integrated not only with your audio as it now does but with your video in and out. I think Apple is on their way to taking the iPod up another generation.
I guess you're trying to be funny. I'm talking about a portable device that can be held in one hand and oriented in any direction, not something you have sitting on the table. In any case I don't think what you suggest would really work since if it could just "slip in" it could also slip out and there goes your $400 iPod bouncing off of the floor. Also, the act of removing cables from a simple slip-fit device could cause the iPod and audio dock to disconnect (just as easily slip apart). Thus, I think you really need some type of secure physical connection between the two pieces. And you also want something that is easy to undock, not something that you might have to pry off of the iPod. I was suggesting a device that would fit over the sides of the iPod and include an adjustable, sliding friction lock that would make the joining very secure. In any case, any type of docking connection like this (even a simple "slip fit") is going to add significantly to the size of the device and that is unfortunate. Apple should have considered the option of a hard attachment point when they designed the iPod.
Now if all you wanted was a desk-top device that allowed audio inputs then yes you could have a device similar to Apple's current dock -- just set it down or slip it into the dock.
Nice way to belittle what I had to say.
I am too. If you had a device with a thin, bracketed design that you could slip the iPod into with the mic on it somewhere, it would work better than just plugging a big heavy unit onto the end of the iPod.
It's called designing a mechanism to lock it in place.
I wasn't talking about a dock anyway.
[mod. edit - Insult]
Here's a cheap mockup of what I was thinking of (the prongs sticking up bracket around the iPod):
I think we're both talking about a similar arrangement. Except in my design there would be a thin rechargeable battery along the back side and a sliding lock on the side (a friction grip). It wouldn't encase the entire length of the iPod (maybe two thirds) and (obviously) you would want to keep everything as small as possible. The battery would perhaps extend the playback time to 20 or more hours. In addition to the audio i/o, there would also be a standard Firewire port (so you could do without Apple's docking cable).
However, after some more thought on the matter I've come to the reluctant conclusion that it's unlikely we'll ever see such a product. There's just no elegant way to do this and the market is probably too small for any company to invest in producing such a device (imagine if you designed such a product and then Apple came out with a new iPod that used a different form factor). Apple is probably the only company that could take the risk in designing such an add-on, and I feel confident that Apple would have designed the current iPod differently if it had plans for any such devices.
I think we'll see at least one more microphone product for the iPod (hopefully designed a little more functionally than the Belkin unit), but I doubt we'll see any higher-end audio input devices designed for mobile applications. Someone may introduce a more feature-rich set-top dock but I don't see much possibility for a high-end, portable audio unit or a second attempt at a card reader (on the latter, given the market and design limitations the Belkin card reader might turn out to be the best that we can expect).
I hope someone comes up with a product that allows for higher quality stereo line in, for several reasons. First of all, the microphone being located directly attached to the iPod has a major disadvantage...it picks up the noise from the hard drive in the iPod. I go into more depth in my review of the mic on macteens.com which should be posted tomorrow, but for any decent recording the mic needs to be physically separated from the iPod. Also, a line in would be great for bands and DJs who would like to record live sets on the road.
I could see it cabled to a second unit with a belt clip. As much as I don't want a Storm Trooper belt of accessories, I also don't want to clamp more plastic around the iPod itself.
Cut a slit in the bottom of the current iPod belt holster, and loop a small U cable to another unit the same size or smaller.
One of the problems with the wide dock connector is that you need a pretty big connector to strain relieve the wiring...
If you forwent the battery, you could redesign the belt holster itself with a dock connector at the bottom, and widen one of the sides to accept an 1/8" jack...
Ok, I'm convinced there's more to come... Thanks for the pointer to the Wolfson Micro part-- what a sweet little device!
Mic input and stereo lines in. Power for a mic. Capable of sampling at 44.1, 48 and 96kHz.
Dug around and found the controller-- dual 90MHz ARMs. Capable of real time MP3 encoding (apparently not AAC).
Yeah, a good audio recording device is certainly possible.
For the camera freaks, it looks like the controller is capable of acting as both USB device and USB host. With the right firmware, this should be able to wire straight to a camera for downloads if all of this is going to the Dock connector.
I never realized how much was in that little guy-- it really is an impressive unit!
people do use voice recorders
I carry a Sony voice recorder everywhere I go. It's a fantastic device that allows me to sort my voice memos into unlimited folders. I can then move them around, name them, merge them, split them, etc.
A good quality memory stick voice recorder is about $500 canadian.
As soon as I got my iPod I said that if this thing could also double as a voice recorder I'd be in heaven.
Though I think the Belkin microphone is ugly as hell, it's pretty much what I need. My only concerns is whether the iPod recording software will allow me the flexibility of the Sony recorder, meaning, can I create folders, name recordings, etc. I'd also like to be able to NOT transfer the messages to my computer and delete them directly on the iPod.
If the mic/software allows the user this flexibility, this item will indeed take off (Sony has various models of voice recorders and many other companies make them as well so there is definitely a market for them).
However, I'm starting to think that the above is a very BIG if.
For those of you who were hoping for a Sennheiser shotgun mic or something, whatever...
I understand your interest in a directional stereo mic, but I think it's hardly more practical or in demand than turning the pocket hard drive into a dictaphone.
I carry a Sony voice recorder everywhere I go. It's a fantastic device that allows me to sort my voice memos into unlimited folders. I can then move them around, name them, merge them, split them, etc.
A good quality memory stick voice recorder is about $500 canadian.
As soon as I got my iPod I said that if this thing could also double as a voice recorder I'd be in heaven.
Though I think the Belkin microphone is ugly as hell, it's pretty much what I need. My only concerns is whether the iPod recording software will allow me the flexibility of the Sony recorder, meaning, can I create folders, name recordings, etc. I'd also like to be able to NOT transfer the messages to my computer and delete them directly on the iPod.
If the mic/software allows the user this flexibility, this item will indeed take off (Sony has various models of voice recorders and many other companies make them as well so there is definitely a market for them).
However, I'm starting to think that the above is a very BIG if.
For those of you who were hoping for a Sennheiser shotgun mic or something, whatever...
I understand your interest in a directional stereo mic, but I think it's hardly more practical or in demand than turning the pocket hard drive into a dictaphone.
Lol
that's funny if you have lectures with 200 students. And they all have an ipod hahaha. then it gets pretty crowded in front of him.
and would you leave your $400 ipod unatended?
Originally posted by iwantanewmac
Lol
that's funny if you have lectures with 200 students. And they all have an ipod hahaha. then it gets pretty crowded in front of him.
and would you leave your $400 ipod unatended?
He's going to look like some sort of TV spokesman with 200 microphones in front of him as he speaks.
Quality?
The review on ipodlounge.com of the new microphone is pretty positive in terms of quality. I'm pursuaded, though Apple could've made a much better mic.
The review on ipodlounge.com of the new microphone is pretty positive in terms of quality. I'm pursuaded, though Apple could've made a much better mic.